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Los Angeles-the Getty Museum-Part 1

Los Angeles-The Getty Center

 Recently, my wife Carol and I, had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles.  One of the places I have always wanted to see was the Getty Center.  I had seen many photos of the property that had stunning views of the LA area.

I have visited many museums and have seen many amazing works of art. While there are certainly many interesting  exhibits in the Getty Center; I thought it would best serve the interest of the reader to devote this blog to photos of the architecture of the museum and  the grounds.  If all you did was just spend a couple of hours strolling the grounds, that in itself would almost be enough. 

The Getty opened to the public in 1997.  The architect, Richard Meier was chosen to design the Getty Center.

The Getty sits high on a hill overlooking the 405 freeway on the north side of Santa Monica.  Admission is free (unusual).  Parking is $15, free after     5 p.m.  I asked the question about free admission and the response was that Getty wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the museum irrespective of the ability to pay an admission fee.

The parking is at the bottom of the hill with the entrance on the west side of the 405.  A modern tram takes you up to the museum.  Check out the photo here:

I am going to do a series of 5 posts so stay tuned for some very interesting photos of the architecture of the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

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Taipei and back in 61 hours-(Part 9). Off to see Dr. Sun Yatsen and time to go home!

9 a.m. — I dashed across the street to the subway station and headed east to the Sun Yatsen Memorial. Good thing I had taken the trial run the night before! 

The museum wasn’t yet open to the public but I convinced the guard let me stick my head in the door and take a photo of the statue of Sun Yatsen.

I paused for 15 minutes on the grounds watching older couples do traditional dancing to beautiful Chinese music.

Returning on the subway, I ran to my room, packed my roll-a-board and grabbed a taxi to the bus stop 6 blocks away in front of the Lai Lai Sheraton. No time to walk.

I had 15 minutes before the bus, hurried into the lobby of the Lai-Lai and purchased a pair of earrings for my wife for Mother’s Day. I only had $80, the manager wanted $90, and I paid her $70 telling her I needed $10 to get home from Taipei.

I had been in Taipei for only 16 hours.  What a blast! I arrived at the airport at 12:30; left at 2 p.m., changed planes in San Jose and Dallas and was home at 7 p.m. Sunday to wish my wife “Happy Mother’s Day”!

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Taipei and back in 61 hours (Part 8)-Do I really have time to buy custom shirts and eat breakfast?

8 a.m. –I returned to the hotel and got custom fitted for (4) four dress shirts from a tailor in the lobby. She agreed to ship me the shirts in 3 weeks. Cost was $100. She wanted to be paid in cash, in greenbacks.    I was now down to $80 of my original $200. 

Some people have since asked me how I knew I would ever get the shirts if I paid in U.S. Dollars and had no credit card receipt.  I figured that if I didn’t get the shirts, it would make a great story.  If I did get the shirts, then it would also make a great story about faith in mankind!

I got the shirts in 3 weeks, just like she promised!  Everytime I wore them I felt like I was back in Taipei.

 

8:30 a.m. — I was in the hotel restaurant for breakfast and met a Quantas flight crew who was intrigued by my story.  They invited me to a party they were going to have that night, but I told them I had to leave for home in a few hours because I was only in Asia for a 61 hour vacation!  Including travel time!

 

 

I finished breakfast and was back out on the streets of Taipei

Remember last night, when I took that last 15 minutes before midnight and did a subway ride to familiarize myself with the subway system?  It was about to pay off.

Next-back on the streets and headed to East Taipei to see Dr. Sun Yatsen

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Taipei and back in 61 Hours-Part 7-The steets of Taipei early in the A.M.

The streets of Taipei-early in the a.m. 

  I had my suitcase packed strategically so I could peel clothes out in the order that I had planned to use them-no reason to waste precious time. 

 The next morning I was on the streets at 6 a.m. The city was waking up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I I walked to the beautiful Chiang Kaishek Memorial–an incredible site.  I met a kindly gentleman there who took pictures of me with my camera so I could prove I was actually there. Here are some photos of the memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 a view of the city skyline from the top of the CKS

 

  I then walked quickly through the streets, window shopped, observed a floral show, visited government buildings, bought some pastries at a bakery, and stopped for a few minutes to meditate in a peace park and wolf down the pastries!

 

 

Taipei-continuing my walk-check out the spelling

 

Next-Do I really have time to order custom made shirts and eat breakfast?

 

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