Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
Mar 4th 2007, 7:42 pm
#17
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
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Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
The OP made some valid points about the homeless, urban sprawl, house prices and the attitude of many Angelinos. There are plenty of nice places in and around LA, it depends what you are looking for. A little hard to sum it up in a day or two. I've always considered the Cock & Bull a bit of a rough dive pub, he described it as nice............ each to their own I suppose.
Mar 4th 2007, 7:50 pm
#18
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
Well the wife always wanted to go to LA during the Oscars so we took a few days off and headed down there, and too be honest I was notthat impressed, don't get me wrong it was OK but I was expecting it to be better.
We stayed in Marina Del Rey and the International hotel, we arrived at 1am after finding out that the Enterprise Car Rental company at LAX closes at 10pm after we booked a car through them. Closing at 10pm in LA???!!!! That meant we had to get a taxi to the hotel, lucky it was close! So we got the hotel, and went to our room, opened the door and turned right around as it was a smoking room with single beds, back the desk, new room card off to the new room opened the door and switched the lights on to hear screaming comming from the room, some poor couple were already in the room and enjoying a nice sleep until we come charging in. After making our excuses and leaving finally get an upgrade and can bed down for the night!
What did we do, went to NBC studio (dissapointing), Universal (dissapointing), Venice beach (some weired people there, but great vegan food stand), Redondo Beach (OK), Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica (nice high street but pier was crap) and the place is full of bums all over the place I could'nt get over it, took a drive along the PCH which I really enjoyed and stopped a few places along there to get out and have a walk around, some great vewis of the coast and downtown LA, had some good food there and found a nice British Pub in Santa Monica called the Cock and Bull which did a great fish and chips and the place was just full of British people which was really strange to hear the accents and watch football on TV.
Why did'nt I think LA was so great? Too spread out, maybe I was expecting too much, I can't really put my finger on it. But I am glad I went but doubt if I will ever pay to go there again and would never like to live there, maybe up the coast from LA, but I doubt it. Plus I got the Sunday paper and the house prices are mental!
We stayed in Marina Del Rey and the International hotel, we arrived at 1am after finding out that the Enterprise Car Rental company at LAX closes at 10pm after we booked a car through them. Closing at 10pm in LA???!!!! That meant we had to get a taxi to the hotel, lucky it was close! So we got the hotel, and went to our room, opened the door and turned right around as it was a smoking room with single beds, back the desk, new room card off to the new room opened the door and switched the lights on to hear screaming comming from the room, some poor couple were already in the room and enjoying a nice sleep until we come charging in. After making our excuses and leaving finally get an upgrade and can bed down for the night!
What did we do, went to NBC studio (dissapointing), Universal (dissapointing), Venice beach (some weired people there, but great vegan food stand), Redondo Beach (OK), Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica (nice high street but pier was crap) and the place is full of bums all over the place I could'nt get over it, took a drive along the PCH which I really enjoyed and stopped a few places along there to get out and have a walk around, some great vewis of the coast and downtown LA, had some good food there and found a nice British Pub in Santa Monica called the Cock and Bull which did a great fish and chips and the place was just full of British people which was really strange to hear the accents and watch football on TV.
Why did'nt I think LA was so great? Too spread out, maybe I was expecting too much, I can't really put my finger on it. But I am glad I went but doubt if I will ever pay to go there again and would never like to live there, maybe up the coast from LA, but I doubt it. Plus I got the Sunday paper and the house prices are mental!
Mar 4th 2007, 7:51 pm
#19
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
blackpool's grade II listed north pier....it's still good fun 
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/pi...rth%20pier.htm
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/pi...rth%20pier.htm
Mar 4th 2007, 7:51 pm
#20
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 47
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
Mar 4th 2007, 7:55 pm
#21
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
True I did not see every nook and cranny of LA but who has, I had lived in Liverpool for 32 years and did not see everything but saw enough to want to get out.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
Where are you, in the UK or US?................................ Oh yeah and LA has got to be better than Cleveland FFS.
Mar 4th 2007, 7:56 pm
#22
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
True I did not see every nook and cranny of LA but who has, I had lived in Liverpool for 32 years and did not see everything but saw enough to want to get out.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
Mar 4th 2007, 7:56 pm
#23
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
True I did not see every nook and cranny of LA but who has, I had lived in Liverpool for 32 years and did not see everything but saw enough to want to get out.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
I thought me and the wife saw quite a bit in the time we had, I did like some things about LA:
1. No Smoking, anywhere!
2. Excellent vegaterian and vegan choices.
3. Weather was nice, 65F beats 15F and snowing any day of the week.
4. Close proximety to the sea which I do miss.
5. Tonnes of dogs being walked by healthy owners.
BUt still a dissapointment, I guess I was expecting more glitz and glamor and suppose I had built up my hopes too high. On the plus side I did give my wife her first "Cleveland Steamer" which was kind of fun.
Well I don't mean to offend anyone with my veiws of LA if you live there and like it great, I was dissapointed. I have visited several large cities in the US, Chicago, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Seattle and Miami and LA comes right at the bottom of that pile to be honest.
Mar 4th 2007, 7:58 pm
#24
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 47
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
They did'nt even take credit cards, how f**in' British is that!
There was an authentic diner in Maria Del Rey we visited also which was nice for breakfast, I forget the name now. Can any Angleinos help me out here?
Mar 4th 2007, 8:00 pm
#25
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Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
Mar 4th 2007, 8:03 pm
#26
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
blackpool's grade II listed north pier....it's still good fun
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/pi...rth%20pier.htm
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/pi...rth%20pier.htm
http://www.santamonica.com/index.php...ions_pier.html
It has a 100 year old carousel that you can ride for a lousy $1, featured in the movie 'The Sting', a few bars and restuarants including Bubba Gump and a Mexican restaurant. There's an Aquarium, video game amusement arcade and Pacific Park amusement park with a roller coaster and numerous fair stalls. You can fish off the pier, although the bay contains the country's highest levels of DDT. Underneath the pier is a bike path where you can rollerblade or bike, and in the summer there are very busy volleyball areas....................... . Not exactly a cultural Mecca, but it's a beach pier?!?!
Mar 4th 2007, 8:07 pm
#27
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
Norms? Denny's?
Mar 4th 2007, 8:16 pm
#28
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Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
1990, that was 17 years ago, do you think it may have changed since then? There was only about 20 or so people in there when we went on a Thursday night, we did'nt stay too long, just a couple of over priced pints and a half order of fish and chips then out the door.
Mar 4th 2007, 8:18 pm
#29
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Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
I love Venice Beach just because it is full of cool weirdos.
Walking from Marina Del Rey into Santa Monica is an excellent source of amusement in my opinion
Walking from Marina Del Rey into Santa Monica is an excellent source of amusement in my opinion
Mar 4th 2007, 8:20 pm
#30
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Just came back from LA, and not too impressed to be honest
You didn't happen to see a rollerblading Ratsafarian did you?
