LA, - just a short stay

---

LALA - land

We have a stop-over and I have friends there, therefore we decide to stay a couple of days, my second visit after 18 years. LA is an interesting place: it's close to the beach with good surf, has mountains close by and the weather is pretty nice most of the times (expect when we arrive of course). There are (wannabe) actors everywhere, you recognize many places from movies and TV shows and there is also the chance of spotting celebs. However Lala land is a bit too massive for us.
We stay at my friend's crib in Beverly Hills (thanks Kurt!), check out LA downtown, Hollywood and Venice. Venice beach looks pretty familar, as it is the location of many films and TV shows like Baywatch. It is also the Mecca of Body Building with the orginal Gold Gym and muscle beach, an outdoor gym, where Arni, the Governator himself, worked out in the 70s and 80s. Both gyms gained faim through the BB documentary classic 'Pumping Iron'. Of course I take the opportunity and work out at muscle beach and visit the famous Gold Gym. Furthermore Suicidal Tendencies, one of my favorite band's, have a tatoo shop in Venice. We skip Universal Studios, as I ve been there last time I was in LA, and we've already done it during this trip in Osaka. Instead we go to Disneyland, which is nice, but almost the same like 18 years ago (hardly any new attractions). We enjoy a couple of nights in LA downtown in a crack neighbourhood and pack our bags again for the next part of the trip. I say goodbye to Els, as she will go to Canada for two weeks to visit a friend and I will continue the adventure on my own heading down to Mexico on my quest to learn Spanish and try surfing once again.

So far the trip has been planned more or less. I just have on more flight to Mexico, but don't know if I still have the will and/or money to travel further South. I am also not sure how travelling on my own will be after 8 months of travelling with Els. Everything is open and possible from now on.
To be continued...

---

Photos

bay watch sunset
venice beach

pumping iron at muscle beach
venice beach

pumping iron
famous muscle beach at venice

crazy RV
venice beach

chinese theater
venice

Walt Disney Concert Hall
Downtown LA

stroler parking
disney land

posing with Goofy
dsiney land

Suicidal's Tatoo shop
venice beach

pumping iron arni style
gold gym, venice

Comments

[Vevelshemor]

The Mecca
After seeing your pictures, I'm in the mood to watch "Pumping Iron" again! Love it!