Los Angeles – USA Part 1

I travelled to Los Angeles (LA) from 31st May to the 5th June 2017 primarily for a family function, a family reunion of sorts. Even though  LA is 10 hours away from London I decided to only go for 6 days as I did not want to spend too much time in the States.  My perception of the states I must admit has been coloured by  the recent political situation. However I  was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed LA and I wish I stayed a little longer.

The Essentials
Flights: I flew with Air New Zealand, it was  a direct flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles JFK airport for £467 including a checked in luggage.
Accommodation: We stayed at an Airbnb Apartment in West Hollywood for £380 for 5 nights. It was a beautiful 2 bed apartment with two bathrooms so we essentially had a private bathroom, the apartment was centrally located being a short walk to  Beverly Hills and a 10 min taxi ride to  Hollywood Boulevard.
Transport: We used Uber to get most places and the most we paid was about £7. We also had a family member who took us around. But I recommend hiring a car to as you can’t freely move around without a car.

I am going to split my trip to LA into small post so here we go ………………………………………

LA PART 1
Runyon Canyon Park
The first thing activity we did was visit Runyon Canyon Park. Having developed a taste for hiking from my trip to the Lake District in England (which you should certainly check out) I asked a few people the best hike to do and most recommend Runyon Canyon Park as it is an easy hike and the way up is scenic. The hike indeed was very pleasant and we completed it in just over an hour. We decided to go against the flow (unintentionally I should add) and did the hike the harder way, by that I mean we walked up the recommended route down and walked down the recommended route up but even with that the hike was fine. So if you do intend to visit, wear appropriate footwear, carry a bottle of water, have a good camera ready and use the recommended correct route; start on the hiking trail on the right hand side of  the entrance.

Pictures From The Hike

Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
The Family at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
The Family at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Hollywood sign from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Hollywood sign from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
View from Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Padlocks on Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Padlocks on Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Me at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Me at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Me at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Me at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
My sister and I at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
My sister and I at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
My Sister and I at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
My Sister and I at Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA
Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles, USA

 

Overview
Runyon Canyon Park was a nice opener to the trip and it was a great introduction to LA, I truly recommend  going on the hike if you can, even take a picnic as there are areas you can sit down at the base, midway or on top of trail  to relax  soak up the environment and eat some food.

What next?
Do you want to find out what we did in LA then follow my blog to find out more and also to be notified as I upload more posts.

Eiffel Tower & Sacre-Coeur – Paris

As part of my trip to Paris in May 2016, I visited the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur Bascilica and went on a night-time cruise on the River Seine. This post covers  those experiences and shows you the great sights I saw.

Eiffel Tower
We paid approximately £14 for our tickets for the Eiffel Tower, we didn’t pre-buy our tickets, I really wish we had as we queued for 1 hour 30mins  to get out tickets and then another 30 mins to get  into the lift that took us 3/4 of the way up. Getting to the top requires two separate lift journeys. One from ground to 3/4 up the tower and another to take you up to the topmost viewing platform.

The Tower is an amazing structure and a remarkable feat of engineering. The views from the tower are stunning. Paris is  even more so a beautiful city when viewed from the tower, especially when the mostly white buildings that make up the city glisten in the sun. It was very calming on the tower even though it was busy with lots of people around. The air and the scenery allowed me to escape into a place serenity.  It is truly a worthwhile activity to do, but book your tickets in advance and go early to get the most out of the experience.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Up Close of The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Up Close of The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
View from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Me on the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Me on the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Night Cruise on the River Seine
We wanted to see the city by night and we felt the best way to experience the city would be on a cruise on the River Seine as the cruise take you through the heart of the city and past iconic landmarks. We paid approximately £20 for the cruise which includes a hot drink and a crepe. The night cruise was well worth the money, I personally being on the water as I find it very calming. The boat wasn’t busy so i was able to move freely to get the best views.

Eiffel Tower at Night, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower at Night, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower at Night from the River Seine, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower at night from the River Seine, Paris, France
Paris, France by Night
Paris, France by Night
Notre Dame at Night From the River Seine, Paris, France
Notre Dame at Night From the River Seine, Paris, France
Notre Dame at Night From the River Seine, Paris, France
Notre Dame at Night From the River Seine, Paris, France
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris, France by Night From the River Seine
Paris, France by Night From the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine
Paris France by Night on the River Seine

Sacré-Cœur
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, is more commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica or often simply called Sacré-Cœur. Sacre-Coeur is a popular landmark, Parisian landmark and located in the summit of the art district of Montmarte. The Basilica is worth a visit for great views of the city, to get a Parisian caricature from a street artist and to spend some time in the park and gardens located at the base of Sacre-Coeur.

Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur Bascilica, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur Bascilica, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur, Paris, France
Sacre Coeur Bascilica, Paris, France
Montmarte, Paris, France
Montmarte, Paris, France
Street Art, Paris, France
Street Art Montmarte, Paris, France
Street Art, Paris, France
Street Art Montmarte, Paris, France

Overall
There are loads to do in Paris, the city is chic, artsy and  romantic. It may be a while before I return to the city but I am sure I will visit again to enjoy Parisian culture. Want to know other things to do in the city check out my previous blogs here and here.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip drop leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.

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