Los Angeles 2013

In late September I traveled to Los Angeles with six co-workers, for a conference for my work. While the daylight hours were devoted to seminars, I was able to do some exploring in the evening, taking public transportation.

The first evening all seven of us took The Big Blue Bus #3 from our hotel near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Santa Monica, about a 45-minute trip. Once in Santa Monica, we spent some time at Third Street Promenade, full of restaurants and shops.

Street musician

Sur la Table - My daughter-in-law Laurie loves this store!

After a bit of shopping, we walked a few blocks to Santa Monica Pier for dinner.

Entrance to the pier - didn't go out on it.

Realized a couple of hours later that I had been very close to the ocean, but didn't see it. Big regret.

Lobster, restaurant where we had hoped to eat, but the wait was too long.

Walked across the street to eat here.

Ate on the patio, as the wait was very long. Good food.

After dinner, we walked a few blocks to the bus stop and caught Bus 3 back to the hotel. I was able to lend my experience with public transportation in reading the bus schedule.

Second evening, on my own. Walked a few blocks to eat at a Greek restaurant. Planes landing at nearby LAX.

At the corner near the restaurant. Planes practically overhead. Best photo I had in the dim light.

Another plane landing, at sunset

Aliso's Greek Taverna

Found the restaurant by doing a Google maps search near the hotel. 

Haloumi cheese - from Cyprus, stands up to frying.

Had seen this cheese a few times on food shows, had to try it. Chewy and salty. May not order again, but I can say I did it once.

After delicious chicken entree, ordered dessert - Galaktoboureko. Say that fives times fast.

Similar to a bread pudding, but made of phyllo

View from my hotel room - planes landing to the right

Planes taking off to the left 

Third evening, on my own again. Took hotel shuttle to LAX to have dinner at Encounter Restaurant, in the building above.

Like the Greek restaurant, learned about Encounter in Google search.

Entrance and elevator

Elevator plays spacy music.

See link for music and restaurant info:

http://www.encounterlax.com/

View from my table

Switched to other side of table. Much better!

Check out the lava lamps. Very Jetsons-like. Found out later that restaurant was designed by Walt Disney company. No doubt.

Columns in the distance change color.

Another view of the color-changing columns

The food was so-so but the experience was fantastic. After dinner I caught the shuttle back to the hotel. Most of the passengers were from other countries, judging from their accents, and not surprising since the shuttle stop was at an international flights area. For a bit I felt like I was the outsider, traveling in some foreign land.

I had a great time in Los Angeles, exploring and discovering some interesting places. I'll be back sometime.

Debbie

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