[highlight]Leia em Português[/highlight]

Being in Los Angeles, even if it is for the first time, is like reliving moments you saw in movies, with a different emotion. It is like you have been there before. There were times I felt I was in Chips, The Towering Inferno or Earthquake, Charlie’s Angels, among others.

Traffic in Los Angeles near the airport
Traffic in Los Angeles near the airport

Los Angeles and Hollywood are different cities, but close to one another. It is as if they are neighborhoods from a big city: the big Los Angeles (LA), is the second biggest in the USA and has more Mexicans than Mexico City. Since it tends to have earthquakes, there are few skyscrapers. The buildings are spread all over town, so the distances and the blocks are huge..

Dodgers baseball match
Dodgers baseball match
Venice Beach street market
Venice Beach street market
With Californian friends
With Californian friends

The most beautiful thing about LA is that you can go to the beach, take a walk downtown, go horseback riding, go trekking on the mountains or ski just a mile away. The coolest thing is the people. Californians are in general dynamic, friendly, open, centered, well-read and travel a lot. They are hospitable and welcoming people, so I made friends very easily and some invited me to art exhibitions, parties and baseball games.

Bike fall
Bike fall

I went to California three times. On the first two times, I stayed in VENICE BEACH, an alternative place. The beaches are beautiful, with dry weather, rocks, cliffs and palm trees. The ocean is dark and cold, but it is safe to swim. I stayed in a hotel design with a trendy pub on the terrace, with an amazing ocean view. This beach is pretty nice, although it seems a little dangerous at night, because of the bums. The graffiti on the walls, the stores and curious things from the underground world. It is all very interesting. You can rent a bike and ride along the beach, but be careful with the slippery sand – check out my knee on the picture and the bad fall I had.

Venice beach view from the hotel top
Venice beach view from the hotel top
Havainas Party
Havainas Party

In VENICE BEACH, there are lots of nice restaurants, but the nicest region is on the north, in the beach of Santa Monica, where I enjoyed a “Havaianas” party. It is incredible how the sandals are everywhere on the planet. It was fun to listen to a bad mix of CARIOCA FUNK and samba in this party. It was beautiful, by the pool of a nice hotel and even better people.

The last time I went to California, I stayed in a hotel downtown and it was also amazing. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES is going under severe reconstruction. Plenty of new bars and restaurants, cultural and artistic events and people coming and going. To find what to do, just walk downtown. You will find whatever you want to do, especially after 6pm on the weekends.

Downtown
Downtown
Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame

I was lucky to go to a HALLOWEEN PARTY in WEST HOLLYWOOD. Awesome! Everybody wears a costume and go outside to have fun and their energy is completely contagious.

Besides all this, it is worthwhile visiting the WALK OF FAME in HOLLYWOOD and go trekking in the canyons up north. The exotic plants in this desert area and the view of the city from the mountains is beautiful. California and its people are beautiful. Let’s pray the Big One* never happens!

* Big One is how they call the great earthquake everyone is afraid to happen someday.

Trekking in the canyons
Trekking in the canyons

[box]

TAKE NOTE
I recommend staying at the HOTEL ERWIN in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.

PALIHOUSE is a lounge restaurant very cool, frequented by American celebrities and personalities, in the heart of West Hollywood.

[/box]

Translated by Lúcia Maciel
Contact: luciamaciel@territorios.com.br

© All rights reserved. Pictures and report 100% originals.

3 Comments

  1. Stop the presses! Please see who is big in Brazil these days…I’ll give you a hint: one of them is me!! Posting comments is strongly encouraged and will win you points with Brazilians (Best looking people on the planet).

Write A Comment

Pin It