In the City of Angels

Two years ago we stepped off the plane at LAX and drove around LA, Santa Barbara and Las Vegas. This time our plan was to drive from LA to San Francisco through the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). After buying the dirt-cheap flights from SAS (€490 each) we realized through Minna's relatives in San Francisco that it would be impossible. One of my bucket list items was blocked by heavy rain which had caused several sections of the PCH to be damaged and they would not be fixed before Christmas. So we had to change our plans.

The first three days would be spent in Los Angeles shopping, watching ice hockey and sitting in traffic jams.

The accommodation:

Hotel Villa Delle Stelle right in the middle of Hollywood. Actually it wasn't really a traditional hotel but our room was called Urban Cottage. Just two blocks away from Hollywood Boulevard it was within walking distance from the Chinese Theater and the Church Of Scientology. It was surrounded by several studios. Caroline was really helpful and provided some wine and cheese as a welcome gift. The Urban Cottage was actually an apartment with a bedroom and kitchen/living room and another living room and two big-screen TVs.

The wheels:

European this time. I booked MB GLA (or similar) with €55/day, LDW and drop-off in San Francisco included. I got "similar": Volvo XC60 with rear camera and navigation.

The itinerary:

The first breakfast at the Farmers Market. Wide selection of establishments to choose your breakfast from.

The first late lunch at the Mission Cantina. On Tuesdays tacos $1 each and $5 Margaritas. Excellent and genuine tacos recommended by Carolina from Villa Delle Stelle. Just across the street from the hotel.

La Brea tar pits. Since I was young I have been fascinated by the La Brea tar pits. I think it was a Donald Duck magazine from which I learned about the pits. So there is a place in the middle of LA where the oil well is so close to the surface of the earth that it actually seeps through the lawn and from the pond to the surface. And what is even more fascinating is the fact that during thousands of years different animals have been stuck in the tar and died in the puddles of goo. Sabre tooth lions, mammoths and sloths have been dragged into the pools of tar and now they are being excavated from the pits and put on display.

Anaheim Ducks - Calgary Flames hockey match in Anaheim. The first playoffs game for Anaheim. The game was actually sold out but Ticketmaster had a system where the tickets could be resold. It was really easy to buy the tickets as the view from each seat in the Honda Center was shown as a picture on the website. You could see what would be your view to the rink. Also, the ticket prices started from $36 so it wasn't even very expensive. Especially when you consider that everyone got a Ducks shirt and a small towel. Nice. Out tickets were $70 each.

Walk on Hollywood Hills: Recommended by Caroline from the hotel, we stepped off the beaten track and tried to find the hidden stairs of Hollywood. We managed to find only one flight of stairs but it was worth it. Nice views to the Hollywood sign and possibility to see how people lived on the Hills.

Before we headed north we went to do some shopping on Rodeo Drive.