Getty Center, Venice, Santa Monica

Garden as sculture, Getty Center, LA

Thursday, Friday - Two days to atttune to time zone and accents, and to explore LA. It's a huge, buzzing city, not exactly attractive but fun; people mostly very friendly; nice that there are many more trees than I expected, and mountains on the horizon. It's been quite foggy most of the time - tour guides insist it's 'marine layer' rather than pollution.

Thursday I took a 'combo' tour of the city - four hours at the Getty Center then a drive aroud the city sights. Getty was quite amazing, the architecture and gardens as captivating as the artwok inside. Perfectly proportioned modern/classical buildings of musical travertine limetone laden with fossils; the garden described by its creator as sculpture in the form of a garden to activate all the senses. Hollywood, Beverley Hills pretty much as expected; the Walk of Fame a bit of a let down, a rather grubby pavement and lots of 'stars' names on the pavers that I didn't recognise.  Venice was quirky - great mural of Jim Morrison.

Friday I went to Santa Monica on the Big Blue Bus. About 45 mins ride for 0.75 cents. SM had a suprisingly old fashioned seaside air, with shimps and funfair on the pier. It was a great sailing day, so lots of boats in the bay. I enjoyed a walk along the seafront Pallisade Park and rides on the roller coaster and ferris wheel.

The last few days in LA have been a great prelude to the main adventure. Today, in a couple of hours I head off to Denver, with trepidation and aspiration.