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In the past, when visiting Los Angeles, we have stayed around Hollywood somewhere. You can see the 2012 photo album by clicking on the pictures below (in Hollywood). If you are contemplating visiting, you may be interested to read about out unfortunate experience 2017 here... 

This time we rejected Hollywood in favour of downtown LA. The Millennium Biltmore. It's central and a lot nicer than the places we've stayed over there.

The Millenium Biltmore Hotel and the nearby Public Library
- lower right - a most impressive building

During the afternoon I spent an hour or so in the Public Library, waiting for Wendy to return from her grand shopping expedition to the outlets. I also took a walk up the street (hill) to the local Art Museums: The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) and the BROAD.  I would visit the BROAD another day.
To see some of the artworks at MoCA and BROAD click on the pictures below.

I subsequently discovered that they can be reached, without climbing the hill, by staying on the lower streets. These lead around to the local produce market and the Angels Flight Funicular. You know: 'Funiculi Funicular'. It costs $1 to be taken up. But it's a longer walk.

There is also a bus service, for less than a dollar, but it's infrequent or you can take the Metro to the markets (one stop). 

Chess players near the Mall metro station; The gallery/concert precinct; Angels Flight Funicular; In the metro station;
In the Walt Disney Concert Hall foyer; Local architecture of interest (Art Deco etc)

To see some of my photos of the art in MoCA and the BROAD click on the image above (top-right).

The BROAD is adjacent to the architecturally spectacular Walt Disney Concert Hall. It's more impressive outside than in the foyer (see above) but I understand that the auditorium itself is equally marvellous.

  Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA. Architect: Frank Gehry

 

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Travel

Ireland

 

 

 

 

In October 2018 we travelled to Ireland. Later we would go on to England (the south coast and London) before travelling overland (and underwater) by rail to Belgium and then on to Berlin to visit our grandchildren there. 

The island of Ireland is not very big, about a quarter as large again as Tasmania, with a population not much bigger than Sydney (4.75 million in the Republic of Ireland with another 1.85 million in Northern Ireland).  So it's mainly rural and not very densely populated. 

It was unusually warm for October in Europe, including Germany, and Ireland is a very pleasant part of the world, not unlike Tasmania, and in many ways familiar, due to a shared language and culture.

Read more: Ireland

Fiction, Recollections & News

A Digger’s Tale

- Introduction

 

 

The accompanying story is ‘warts and all’.  It is the actual memoirs (hand written and transcribed here; but with my headings added) of Corporal Ross Smith, a young Australian man, 18 years of age, from humble circumstances [read more...] who was drawn by World events into the Second World War.  He tells it as he saw it.  The action takes place near Rabaul in New Britain. 

Read more: A Digger’s Tale

Opinions and Philosophy

Overthrow and the 'Arab Spring'

 

 

Back in April 2007 I was in Washington DC and wandered into a bookshop for a coffee.  On display was Stephen Kinzer's  National Best Seller: Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.  So I bought it to read, before bed and on the plane. 

It is a heavily researched and work; very well described by the New York Times as: "A detailed passionate and convincing book... with the pace and grip of a good thriller."  And like a good thriller it was hard to put down.  I can recommend it.

Read more: Overthrow and the 'Arab Spring'

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