The city of dreams – Los Angeles

LA was the last major stop for us during our California trip and we had 2 days to spend there. The following 2 days were reserved for driving up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco and stopping at Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-sea, and Monterey on the way.

We had booked our stay in Hollywood considering that most of the attractions are located there. As we entered the city, we headed straight to the Griffith Observatory to see some great views of the city from an elevation (it is situated at a height of over 1,100ft).The observatory is a popular tourist attraction with clear views of the Hollywood sign, and a huge collection of space and science-related displays. The best part is that there is no entry fees, so it is a must-see!You can go around the observatory to see downtown LA, and even the Pacific Ocean!
Since Saru was still recuperating from the back strain she got from the hike we did in Lake Tahoe, she didn’t go out much.

The 2nd day I first headed to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, comprising more than 25,00 five pointed terrazzo and brass starts embedded in the sidewalks.And to better appreciate the beauty from the top where observatory is located, I went back to the same spots in the evening. I am glad I did so since the city gave a different look then. For me, the bonus was this spectacular Sunset!Later in the night, I went atop the observatory where they have a telescope – that day they they were positioned towards Jupiter and I loved seeing the planet. There are many other telescopes too in the lawn which are free for public viewing.

Think about LA and one would like to visit the super-famous Universal Studios, which is not far from the Observatory. We were not convinced with spending so much ($105 per person) to see something we were not so inclined to see. But if you are, don’t miss that!