Recently, my wife and I spent ten days in the City of Angels, La-La Land, AKA Los Angeles. While large places that necessitate driving everywhere are not my cup of ube shake, LA has enough attributes to keep a visitor interested . . . for about a week. First, one cannot debate that the climate is ideal, with temperatures in the low to mid eighties, and clear skies as the summer norm. Next, you can’t argue with the palm trees . . . tall ones, short ones, leafy ones, and spiny ones. The houses and public buildings in LA are to die for (dahling, I simply MUST have the name of your architect). Then, of course, there are all of the iconic landmarks–the Hollywood sign, the movie lots, the massive Getty Museum, the Chinese theater, stars on the sidewalks, and my person favorite–the La Brea Tar Pits. When my kids were little, I told my older daughter that the tar pits were just a big, freshly tarred parking lot . . . to this day, she thinks I was serious. If pressed, I can single out the two elements of LA that were my favorites. First, there is the amazing array of automobiles–Rolls Royces, Maseratis, BMers, Benzes. However, nothing can compare with the number of beautiful people, of both genders and all ages, who are roaming the streets. Many of these are involved in the TV and movie biz; but, countless others are wannabes and just very good looking people, wearing wonderful clothes that reveal their perfect sun tans. Do you think that niece on your mother’s side is a pretty girl(?) . . . forget about it! The people out in LA have a huge head start on being and acting bootiful. Oh, yes, one additional item that exceeded expectations was the food. Funky salad restaurants, ethnic foods from places you probably didn’t know exist, and my personal favorite, ‘real’ Kosher food, can be found everywhere–albeit for a price.

My least favorite things about LA are: the traffic (I know . . . you’re shocked). Please let me assure you that the really heavy stuff can be easily avoided, depending upon your place and hours of employ. However, one needs to drive to get anywhere in this sprawling metropolis. Having lived most of my adult life in communities with populations smaller than five figures, this represents a shocking circumstance. My other issue is with the people I met out there. They say that New Englanders are cold; however, you don’t know cold unless you’re trying to ask directions in LA. Now, granted, exceptions do exist; just as not all of Attila’s men collected ears. 

So, what was the outcome of our exposure to southern California (you ask)?  We left wishing our daughter and son-in-law health, happiness, and prosperity in their adopted home. We will look forward to our annual visit with both of them. 

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