Monday, 11 November 2024

Los Angeles

Today is my last full day in LA and there is only one thing on my agenda, besides packing for tomorrow's flight home, my scheduled visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. I purchased my 11am ticket on-line as soon as I knew when I would be here. I had originally thought I would drive from the hotel, but since the LA transit system works so well and is very inexpensive, I decide to avoid the traffic and save the money that would otherwise go to parking.

I walk the three short blocks to the Metro Center Station, where all the downtown lines converge. The trains come pretty rapidly since this is a work day. I take the "D" line west four stops to the end of the line (there is a plan to extend this line all the way to Santa Monica), but as of now the "D" is the shortest of the seven underground Metro lines. When I exit the station I immediately catch a westbound bus that takes me all the way to the museum on Wilshire Avenue. Total time: about 40 minutes; total cost: $1.75. I arrive well before eleven, but there aren't many visitors today, so I get immediate admission.

The Museum is located in a restored department store building, with a brand-new domed Dolby Theatre attached. The exhibits range over four floors and cover film history, all aspects of film technology, and close examination of individual films (Casablanca and The Godfather trilogy, for example).  Although I spend almost three hours, there is too much to absorb in one visit. In addition to the permanent exhibits, there are also special temporary exhibits, such as the current one on the Jewish founders of the major Hollywood studios. There is also a gift shop, restaurant, and coffee bar.

Dolby Family Terrace

Full-Scale Model of "Bruce," from Jaws

Sidney Poitier Lobby

Judy Garland's Ruby Red Slippers

Poster Collection of the Films of Pedro Almodovar

To return to my downtown hotel I just follow the same transit route in reverse. That gives me enough time for a nap and to get all my gear together for tomorrow's travels.

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Los Angeles to Tucson

There isn't much to report about traveling home. I retrieve my rental Kia and leave the hotel at 9am. It takes three freeways to reach LAX, but even with morning traffic I arrive at the car rental return facility in about 45 minutes. Although the return area functions for several different companies, the process is quick and efficient, and in almost no time I am on the free shuttle to Southwest Airlines terminal. I am most pleasantly surprised that at this time in late morning there are very few travelers. In fact, the security check area is literally empty and I have never gotten through so fast.

My flight leaves on time at 1:05pm and arrives in Tucson at 3:30 (there is now a one hour time difference between Arizona and California). My friend Anita meets me at the airport and we stop at Dominick's Italian Restaurant for dinner. Since I am not really sure what is going on with the lockdown at Mountain View, I decide to spend the night at Anita's at Tangerine Crossing.

On Wednesday morning we have breakfast at First Watch in Oro Valley and then I am at home, finally, around 11am.

So ends a quick California trip. LFLatSea will return very soon with more details about the trip Will and I are taking to Peru from 4-25 December. I hope my readers will join us on the journey.