Of course if you come all the way to Los Angeles, you have to visit
the world’s oldest McDonald’s??!!
If you’re still paying attention after that, I imagine you’ll make it to the end of this post. That McDonald’s is in Downey on the way from my parents’ house to my sister’s house. Ferda and I had to stop for a photo.
On a cold midweek day in February Megan took us on a walk up to the Griffith Observatory, the most visited public observatory in the world, according to the onsite sign — so many superlatives.
The wind made it cold, but it also made for a brilliant clear day. Looking north:
and looking south:
Megan also took us to some of her favorite places in downtown L.A. The Walt Disney Concert Hall:
A very short railway called Angel’s Flight — closed because, guess what?!, they were filming a movie:
The Biltmore Hotel, also commonly featured in films set in L.A.:
The Los Angeles Public Library:
with this painted dome:
that at the time reminded me of the dome of the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque in Esfahan. However, we can see that there’s really little resemblance:
My favorite was the Bonaventure, one of John Portman’s famous atrium hotels.
The concept was to create a city within a city with the first five floors or so containing restaurants, shops, and even grocery stores, accessible to the public and well integrated with the surrounding area.
However, Westin purchased the building and essentially closed the retail floors, even locking some of the street level access doors. How sad.
Our other Los Angeles (County) excitement was go to an orchid show in Rancho Palos Verdes with some friends. Just like visiting the Orchid Garden in Singapore the orchid show was best 10 usd we spent in California!
After lunch at the Pike, Ferda and I had a bit of time to wander around Long Beach before heading back to Orange County.
