The Verdict on Los Angeles

Today we spent the day in the L.A. metro area. We saw so many sites:

• Venice Beach


• The Sunset Strip


• The Hollywood Walk of Fame


• La Brea Tar Pits


• West Hollywood


• Rodeo Drive


• Beverly Hills (which is also where we are spending the night)


• Melrose Place


• Downtown L.A. (financial center, the Mexican Pueblo, Union Station, The Disney Music Hall by Frank Gehry)

After everything I've seen in L.A., in general I find it to be a city of contrasts. With the exception of Melrose Place, which was quiet, relaxing, ritzy, and had every wonderful fashion designer imaginable (Oscar del la Renta, DVG, Alexander McQueen, Monique Lhullier, etc.), the city is sprawling and inconvenient. There are also a lot of strange people. On two occassions - one in Venice Beach and the other on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - we were actually harassed.

Do I think L.A. is a place everyone should visit? Absolutely. Everything on the list above should be visited except Venice Beach because it is run down and it has seen better days. I would also say driving down the Hollywood Walk of Fame is necessary but getting out of the car is not. Go to Melrose Place instead. You won't feel like you need to take a shower afterwards.

Even though I was less than impressed with L.A., I am still in good spirits. However, since I didn't give this city a glowing review, I didn't think it would make sense to put up a picture of L.A. Instead, I decided it would be best to include a picture of something I know I like 100% of the time: my marriage and Ireland. You're probably wondering how I could possibly have a picture of something with such a vague description, but it's possible. It's a picture of Gavin and me after a day of touring L.A. in our Irish t-shirts. Thanks, Peg! These shirts are so fun, and we had such a great day wearing them around California.

I'll leave you in suspense about tomorrow, but I have a feeling it's going to be the best day yet. Until then everyone...