I have never been fond of Los Angeles. In all the years I have lived in Northern California, I can literally count with my fingers the number of times I have traveled south, particularly, to Los Angeles until our very last visit.

Our most recent three day weekend spent there was so much fun. Here are some images of my very enjoyable stay in Los Angeles, another city I have added to my list of favorite places on Earth.

The Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard

I couldn't believe it had been over twenty years since I visited this popular tourist spot in Los Angeles.  I first visited it last 1989 with my mom and sister's family during my very first visit to the United States.  I was still studying in Madrid, Spain at the time and I had come to the US to spend the Christmas holidays with my family in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Some names of celebrities on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  I recognized a lot of the names but I only took pictures of the names I knew well and liked the most.

I didn't realize that the Kodak Theater, one of the newest sights I wanted to see in LA, was right next to the Grauman's Chinese Theater.  I also didn't know that the theater was located inside a mall called the Hollywood and Highland.  At any rate, it was quite popular among tourists and visitors to LA.  It was packed when we were there on a regular weekend.

Cashing on the popularity of the Kodak Theater, many other commercial establishments have also set up shop around it.  There is a ZARA right in front of it.  A Hard Rock Cafe, always a hit among domestic tourists, right next to it as well a host of other American chain of apparel stores.

ZARA in front of the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard

The colorful facade of the Hard Rock Cafe right beside the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Boulevard

Other landmarks around the Kodak Theater were the El Capitan Movie Theater as well as the Old Masonic Temple where Jimmy Kimmel now holds his late night shows .

I took this picture from the restaurant up in the Hollywood and Highland Mall right across the street after we had our Mediterranean lunch.

A closer view of the Masonic Temple where the Jimmy Kimmel Live TV program is taped and held.  It is a nice building.

A walk down the Hollywood Boulevard took us to the Monument Dedicated to Women.

I like it.  The women columns reminded me of the Academy Awards statuettes even though the Oscar trophies in reality represent a man who looked like one lady's uncle.

Another landmark on Hollywood Boulevard is the Roosevelt Hotel.

One of the rooms in the Roosevelt Hotel.  Very quiet.

I love the hotel's painted ceilings.  Very old world.  Very European.

From here, we finally headed to the Hollywood and Highland Mall to look at the arch.  I must say it was impressive.  Actually, I loved it.  It reminded me of the gates of Paramount Studios.

This arch is without a doubt the thing to see in the mall.  The people who congregated on the third floor of the arch took pictures of the Hollywood sign.  It was far but still visible.

The Renaissance Hotel was behind the arch.  I wouldn't mind staying here the next time we visit Los Angeles.  It looked pretty cool from the outside but uber expensive, I bet.

Other views of the mall, home to the Kodak Theater

Hollywood Boulevard has changed.  Although a large stretch of the boulevard is still lined with tacky souvenir stores, I still remember seeing it years ago when it hadn't undergone the facelift and boy did it look awful.  The Kodak Theater certainly turned it around.

This was taken at the mall with the Hollywood sign in the far, far right.  Can you see it?

One of the reasons why we decided to visit LA was to see the Getty Museum.  It did not fail to impress.  The European art collection was extensive.  We were particularly excited to see the exhibit about Cambodia.  We had visited Siem Reap in 2007 and went to the ruins of Angkor for three consecutive days.  It turned out the exhibit was minimal and therefore not so exciting.  The exhibit about Paris, Life and Luxury was nice though.  The museum buildings were plentiful, minimal in design, and modern.

This is the waiting area for the tram at the Getty Museum.  As soon as visitors to the museum park their cars, they go to this station for the tram to take them up to the museum up the hill.  Very few people chose to walk but there were a few who did at the time of our visit.

This is the poster advertising the current French inspired exhibit at the Getty Museum

I saw this painting in the Louvre in Paris on two separate occasions, once in 1988 and the other in 2000.  This painting of Louis XV where he proudly shows his long shapely legs is actually a replica and in fact a third copy of the original on exhibit in France.

A French room at the Getty

A French bed circa 1830s on display at the Getty

A huge tapestry at the Getty.

A few years ago, I spent a whole day in Valladolid, Spain studying tapestries as part of my Master's studies in the Spanish Language and Culture.  Apparently, centuries ago, it was big among European aristocrats to collect tapestries as part of their art collection.  Many were made in Northern Europe, i.e. Belgium and the Netherlands.

An antique cabinet at the Getty.  What a cabinet!

Meet Juno, Venus, and Minerva.

The views of Los Angeles from the Getty Museum is breathtaking.

The Getty Museum grounds

A visit to Los Angeles is not complete without a stop in Beverly Hills.  Everyone knows it is a place for the super rich.  However, it is not the only place in LA where the super rich live.  There is Bel-Air, Brentwood, and Malibu.  I particularly fell in love with the Wilshire Boulevard where all the chi chi condo buildings are located.  What elegance and opulence!

I have been to Beverly Hills a few times before this latest trip.  However, it dawned on me that this place is really no different from many of the upscale malls we have in Northern California or any rich place in the US or any part of the world for that matter.  It is a commercial center made up of brand name stores like PRADA, VERSACE, and GUCCI the likes of which we too have Union Square or Post Street in San Francisco.  What sets it apart from the rest is basically the people who shop there.  They shop with attitude and it is fun to watch.  It is very surreal.

This is Beverly Hills folks!

Close to the Beverly Hills sign, we chanced upon these beautiful ceramic flowers sitting in the garden across the street.  They too sat by the entrance to the famous Beverly Hills enclave.

Now this is Rodeo Drive.  No big whoop really.  Just kidding.  It is really lovely and very rich looking!

This is the famous VERSACE store on North Rodeo Drive.

PRADA, anyone?

Stores on Rodeo Drive.  Can you spot the Jimmy Choo and Lalique boutiques?  Given that it was a very hot day when we visited, many people here were dressed in cool summer clothes.  Very laid back shirt, shorts, and sneakers.  I believe there were more tourists gawking than locals when we were there.

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel

The very first time I visited this hotel years ago, I was truly impressed at how the hotel staff looked.  They were oh so good looking!  All of them, men and women.  They definitely had the LA look and I was dumbfounded.  This time around I didn't even notice personnel at all as I was more interested in the lobby's decor.

This is the hotel's facade.

Now, the hotel's main entrance

Images of the Beverly Wilshire lobby

What can this be?

This is a statue of a female body on the island between North Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  Mind you, this is now a landmark in Beverly Hills, appearing in post cards to boot.

Moi in Beverly Hills.  The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is on the left.

.  What a city!  I enjoyed my first day in Los Angeles.  Tomorrow, the Walt Disney Hall in the old historic downtown of Los Angeles.  See you there!