Here and there but mainly there.

[RWJ777]

You've got a good eye; some of those pics are really very good. Thanks for sharing.

 

[turtlemichael]

Our time in LA was very busy.

We went to a concert at the Disney Concert Hall downtown. It was a classical concert conducted by Zubin Mehta. The hall is amazing and so was the concert. We went to LA County Museum which had a couple of special exhibitions on. One was Caravaggio and his disciples. In fact there was a lot more from the disciples than from Caravaggio but it was still good. The other was a comprehensive exhibition on Stanley Kramer and his movies.

Additionally, we made our way out to the California Science Center where they had a Cleopatra exhibition and of course where the Space Shuttle Endeavour had recently gone on display. Apart from being trampled by thousands of ankle biters the Space Shuttle was great to see. The size is breathtaking particularly after comparing it to the Gemini and Mercury capsules also on display. When it is permanently set up, the details are currently in the planning stage, it will be even more spectacular as it will stand end on end with multi-level walkways around it.

The Shuttle is relatively easy to get to by public transport, at least from Downtown. The newly opened and very impressive Metro Expo Line goes from LA to Culver City and will eventually go to Santa Monica when completed in 2015. It is an light rail service and goes past the front door of the Science Center. I’d recommend the Science Center as a place for an outing, particularly for kids but also for adults. It’s free of charge though you do pay for a visit to the Space Shuttle.

Additionally we had a couple of excellent meals and met up with friends who had come up from Palm Springs. One of the meals was at Da Pasquele, an Italian restaurant in Little Santa Monica Boulevard, a 3 minute walk from the Beverly Hilton. Food, service, wine atmosphere and price were all excellent.

 

[turtlemichael]

The Stanley Kramer exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

 

[turtlemichael]

Lacma

 

[turtlemichael]

Around LA, and the last full day of the trip.

 

[ellen10]

Great pictures thanks for sharing

 

[turtlemichael]

All good things come to an end and today, December 19, is the day to fly home. Filling in the afternoon we saw Zero Dark Thirty on the first day of its US release. Watching a movie about torture is perhaps not the best conditioning for a long flight.

A few days before our new configuration 747 had been changed out to an old one. I was initially disappointed to lose new flat beds but we managed to keep 3E/F on the substituted plane which meant we had first class seats with business service. Not too bad a substitution from our point of view.

The flights LAX-BNE-CNS were uneventful. We had received a Qantas email a few days before telling us we were part of a trial of pre-ordering supper. That worked ok even though both things we ordered were on the menu anyway. We got them very quickly before bed. Good service across the Pacific If it was a trial, and I know it has been around a while, it was surprising that there was no follow-up from Qantas asking how it had worked.

So we are now home after 33, 675 miles, according to Mileage Monkey, 1530 SCs and 63,500 Qantas points, very few bad experiences and some great and unforgettable times.

I’m now well into planning the next two jaunts. Late July to early November later this year it’s across the US, to London and the Edinburgh Festival, 6 weeks in Paris, a cruise from Istanbul to Athens via Israel and Egypt on Silver Spirit, a 10 day train trip from Berlin to Cologne, Leipzig, and Dresden and a few days in Hong Kong on the way home. Then in the first half of 2014, it’s a trip to Prague, on to South Africa to watch cricket for 3-4 weeks and cross Victoria Falls and the game parks off the bucket list, a cruise from Accra to Barcelona on Silver Wind, another 5 weeks in Paris then home via Canada and the US.

Life is clearly good.


LAX terminal 4 F/C Lounge




Opposite 3F


Breakfast

 

[drron]

Loved it.Good to see another forward planner.Actually I really enjoy the planning.Our trips are shorter and I have planned 3 for this year and two already for 2014.Life is indeed good.

 

[turtlemichael]

Loved it.Good to see another forward planner.Actually I really enjoy the planning.Our trips are shorter and I have planned 3 for this year and two already for 2014.Life is indeed good.

Thanks drron. I'm looking forward very much to your upcoming report on South Africa and your cruise up the coast.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Well done on finishing your report, as you could probably tell I haven't done much progress on any of my reports.

Thanks for the photos and the comments, each of us has a different perspective on things so it is always good to read another point of view.

Going to New Orleans has now moved up on my bucket list.

 

[froggerADL]

Loved it.Good to see another forward planner.Actually I really enjoy the planning.Our trips are shorter and I have planned 3 for this year and two already for 2014.Life is indeed good.

Glad to see Julia hasn't stuffed up the good life too much for you!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks great effort.

I hope your health remains good to fulfill your future plans which I appreciated reading!!

 

[amaroo]

Really enjoyed your TR.

The Paris section is brilliant with many new restaurants to visit:mrgreen:

Happy travels.

 

[amaroo]

San Antonio December 1-5

Our four nights in San Antonio went in a flash. Friends from Dallas came down for one evening which was great and boozy fun. The River Walk is amazing. It goes for about 13 mile and is a unique tourist attraction. Other highlights for us were seeing Nutcracker at the amazing Majestic Theatre, visiting the Alamo, hiking through the stylish King William District and doing a National Trust house tour, and visiting one of the old missions. The area is full of history and an excellent place for a few days.

Just a note to say thanks for the TR.

After reading & re-reading your excellent TR, we've decided to change our proposed plans and instead - head to San Antonio for last few days of our x-mas/NY holidays

Your very compelling comments backed up with first class reviews from other resources made the decision easy..........looking forward to going somewhere that was never on the radar - cheers.

 

[turtlemichael]

Amaroo, many thanks. Just noticed your comments. Hope you have a great time there.