Blogs from Westwood Village, Los Angeles, California, United States, North America

Hello from the city of angels, the valley of ten million insanities, Lalaland, L.A. or whatever you want to call Los Angeles, California. I arrived at LAX last thursday afternoon and it was already warmer than I thought (and definitely hotter than in Switzerland this summer). The first thing I learned was that we are spoiled in Switzerland with our rush hours and public transportation. If you're stuck in traffic in LA that means you're stuck for at least an hour on a seven-lane freeway and everybody tries to drown the other people's music with their own. Also there are tons of Bentleys, Cadillacs, Maybach Landaulets, Bugattis, Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis and Fisker Karmas (which i personally like the best). It might surprise you that I know these cars names but my cab driver explained the advantages and ... read more

I am visiting Los Angeles for a short visit to participate in the Los Angeles Film Festival taking place from yesterday through June 28, 2009. Arrived after flight from Houston on Continental Airlines. Arrived early at Terminal C, checked in quickly and checked one bag, $15.00 fee, then learned that my aircraft was at gate 3 in Terminal E. This is the new world of IAH, you check in on Continental then find that you are actually flying from E and have to walk 1/2 a mile to get from the security screening, then another hike to your gate. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time. We were able to use the President's Club because of my friend's Elite status. But my feet are hurting. Ride was a little bumpy today. The pilots did their ... read more

Just a test... read more

The Travelodge I stayed in (Denise had already returned to London) was just round the corner from Westwood Village, not a quaint little village as we would understand it in Britain, but built-up, commercialised and with 6-lane highways running through it! Nevertheless it has a lot of character with palm tree-lined avenues, lots of little restaurants, and Mexican-influenced architecture. The houses in the residential sector are all unique, ranging from the small hacienda-style to mock classical collonaded mansions. There's a large Iranian community here, which surprised me (for no good reason other than the effect of listening to George Bush's anti-Iranian vitriol) and there's one main street which is full of Iranian restaurants and shops, interspersed, bizarrely enough, by Jewish artefact shops. The 'village' is also home to some cool art deco cinemas, often with only ... read more