The Beauty of Solo Traveling Westward (Part 2): A five-day fulfilling trip in LA

When it comes to the American West, what comes to mind are western cowboys, western-themed movies, and California beach sunshine... As the second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles (LA) enjoys the title of "City of Angels" and "City of Technology" With a reputation of integrating science and technology, culture, technology, trade, and education, it is the most developed city in California and one of the must-go or transit cities for international flights to the West.

The flight from Las Vegas to LA took place at around 5pm on March 7 and arrived at around 7pm. After picking up my luggage, calling for a taxi, missing something, and waiting, it was already past nine o'clock when I arrived at my friend Ty's accommodation on Westwood Blvd.

We are strangers to each other. We come from two different cities. In a foreign country, we got to know each other and stayed together out of trust in each other.

Tips:

1. App recommendations before traveling

Ctrip Travel : Booking services such as air tickets, hotels, tickets, group tours, car rentals, etc. are very convenient. But one thing is that if you are traveling alone, there will be a difference in accommodation between the departure city group and the local group, and the latter will cost a lot more. and must be paid.

Fliggy Travel : Similar to Ctrip. But some tickets are slightly cheaper on Fliggy.

Google map: A must-have for traveling abroad, the most reliable travel guide. During my two weeks in the United States, I basically relied on Google for navigation. Reminder: Route 1, the Grand Canyon, etc. do not have network coverage, so you need to download offline maps before traveling.

Uber: The essential ride-hailing tool in the United States. Reminder: Before calling a taxi in the United States, be sure to enter your address accurately and have it clearly marked. Because the driver picks up people based on their location and does not call to confirm. If the location is inaccurate and the driver cannot find the person, the order will be canceled after two minutes.

Tencent Translator: A good app for language translation. Helps overcome certain language barriers.

2. A few tips on booking air tickets

Air tickets to and from the United States can be booked on the official websites of American airlines such as AA and UA, which have two advantages:

But there is a problem. The official website for booking tickets is in English. Some details are easy to overlook. For example, whether it is a low-cost ticket, non-refundable or change information is not obvious, and there is no special font or color to emphasize it. If it is a low-cost ticket, it is a non-refundable ticket and can be canceled, but there is no refund. I also suffered the loss of being dumb and lost my round-trip air ticket.

For example, when booking tickets from Ctrip or Fliggy, there will be clear words on the ticket that the ticket cannot be refunded or changed, so the above mistakes will not occur, but there is no way to choose the seat. After all, on long-distance flights, the comfort of the location is still very important.

3.About calling cards

It is recommended to use the American Verizon native card , which can be selected according to the travel date. There are 10-day, 15-day, one-month and other cycles. The traffic is limited or unlimited. It basically covers domestic and international phone charges, which is very cost-effective. For example, a 15-day card, 7G traffic, unlimited phone calls to the United States and China, costs 135 yuan. Verizon's signal is better than T-mobile's.

You can also activate an international data package with a domestic mobile phone, but the cost is very expensive. Unlimited data for 7 days is more than 170 yuan, and the phone fee is additional.

4. American public transportation

As a country on wheels, public transportation in Los Angeles, including bus and metro, is quite cheap compared to taxis and ride-hailing apps. Bus is basically 1.25 to 1.75 knives, and metro is basically 1.75 knives (plus 1 knives for the initial ticket purchase). There is no need to choose a route, enter a destination, and issue a ticket directly. The American bus is very strange. There are no routes or route points on the route signs in front of the platforms. The marked route map is difficult to understand, let alone which direction to go. Basically, you have to confirm with the driver every time you take a ride. Los Angeles Metro is divided into red, blue, and yellow lines, and the lines are relatively easy to understand.

I learned that UCLA was more than half an hour's walk away from my residence, so I went alone on the morning of March 8. I have always had a great yearning for American universities. And for UCLA, there is another underlying feeling.

Walking around the UCLA campus, that strange yet familiar feeling arises spontaneously. The quiet campus, with Italian red and white brick buildings, is well-proportioned on the huge campus. Standing in Dixon Square on the North Campus, regular lawns are surrounded by straight or curved red and white sidewalks, contrasting with the Italian-style buildings on both sides.

Sitting on the lawn in the sun, I felt envious as I watched the students of different skin colors passing by. On this nearly century-old campus, what arouses in me is not the nostalgia for college life, but the endless regrets in my heart.

After walking out of UCLA, Ty and I took the bus to Santa Monica.

Santa Monica, the oldest pier on the West Coast of the United States and the end of Mother Road Route 66, is also a must-see attraction in Los Angeles. The long pier, endless crowds, many groups of people on the beach leisurely basking in the sun, seagulls pacing or flying low, walking and flying on the beach as if nothing happened. From time to time, there are street performers singing on the pier. Some are enthusiastic and unrestrained, interacting cordially with the pedestrians who stop by, or they are reserved and reserved, playing and singing alone. Standing on the pier, looking at the endless vast and calm Pacific Ocean, the waves are sparkling under the sunlight. The sea breeze blows, and there are waves of coolness.

Here, you can sit on the soft beach, take a break and enjoy the peaceful time. You can sit on the pier and listen to the soothing music played by the artists. You can swing by the beach and laugh together; You can sit in the cafe on the pier, drink coffee, and enjoy all the scenery in front of you...

Bubba Gump Shrimp, which became popular because of "Forrest Gump", has stills hanging on the walls, and the "Forrest Gump" movie is constantly playing on the TV. The enthusiastic waiter came up to us from time to time, raised his thumbs up with both hands, and asked "good? good!" over and over again. We ordered two shrimp dishes, fried shrimp and stir-fried shrimp. The portion was so large that we didn't finish it. As for the taste, it doesn’t feel as good as the legend says. Personal taste may vary.

Walking out of the restaurant, the sun gradually sets over the sea. As it gets closer and closer to the sea level, the golden light shines, and the entire beach and pier are filled with orange. The mottled sea surface is like a huge mirror, reflecting the shadow of the sunset, which is either colorful or radiant. When the sun touches the sea level, the surrounding area is red, and the entire sky is dyed blue and yellow. . Flying seagulls and pedestrians on the beach have become black dots in the background rendered like a canvas.

In the morning, I took an uber and headed alone to Universal Studios, a must-visit place in Los Angeles. Tickets are about 530 RMB online.

The park is divided into upper and lower parks, mainly located in the upper park. Transformers, The Mummy, and Jurassic Park are in the lower park. A park map can guide you through the entire park. There are very few people on weekdays, and the queue time for each theme park is very short.

I was confused when I first entered. After experiencing the roller coaster for 2 minutes, I finally understood the park map. In the most highly regarded Harry Potter park, the architectural style of England is very similar to the magical world. The edges of the snow-covered roofs, crystal clear glass hanging, and the cobblestone streets exude a strong magical atmosphere.

At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Castle, deposit bags and queue. I was still frightened after the roller coaster. When I was depositing my bag, I asked for permission and rode the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride with 6 Japanese friends. In the 4D image world, the scenes are constantly changing. In the magical world, follow Harry Potter as he rapidly advances and rotates through the long and dark castle, flies over the vast sea, and passes through the towering mountains. In the thrilling and In the excitement, scream loudly, as if you are on the scene...

During the whole process, I held the hand of a Japanese girl next to me tightly. Amidst the cheers of many teachers and students of Hogwarts College lifting Harry up, and in the thrill of physical and mental stimulation, I ended the wonderful flight. .

After Harry Potter, when I went to experience the Transformers, Minions virtual roller coaster, and The Simpsons virtual roller coaster with the same effect, I no longer had the feeling of panic and nervousness, and I enjoyed the whole process. Despite this, I still didn't fully overcome the weightlessness, so I chose to give up at the last moment of my mummy. In the "The Walking Dead" Walking Dead Experience Hall, on both sides of the eeriely lit aisles are actors who are locked in a horror house and made up to make them hideous. Their faces are completely disfigured, their clothes are stained with blood, and they have zombie-like figures. When passing by, people try to rush out of the door or break out of the window. The lighting and sound effects make people feel frightened.

During the one-hour studio center tour, you can experience many scenes from the movie, such as the Fast and Furious super-powered roller coaster, the fire scene, and the town in Desperate Housewives, etc.

A day's experience, after experiencing fear, thrills and excitement, it is fulfilling and satisfying. This is not only an immersive film and television journey, but also a self-game against inner fears.

It was rainy in Los Angeles that day. Walking on Hollywood Boulevard studded with star-shaped medals on both sides, next to each pink five-pointed star edged with bronze are the names of Hollywood celebrities, whether actors, directors, hosts, musicians, or theater groups. . It's just that there are very few that I know well.

On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, the Dolby Theater where the Oscars are held, and Madame Tussauds are all places worth visiting. The Chinese Theater is an architectural style that combines Chinese and Western styles. It stands adjacent to the Dolby Theater. It is world-famous for the handprints and footprints of superstars on the square. It has also become a place where world celebrities are proud to have their prints printed here. The Dolby Theater is the venue for the Academy Awards ceremony. You can buy tickets on the first floor and visit inside. Because the tickets for the day were sold out, we were unable to enter.

I left Los Angeles on the evening of March 10th and returned on the afternoon of March 14th. In the remaining day and a half, I spent half a day in Beverly Hills and one day in Getty Center.

Beverly Hills, known as "the most exclusive residential area in the world", is the most famous city-within-a-city in Los Angeles. It is also a dream place for the world's richest people and a residence for Hollywood stars. Walking on both sides of the wide avenue lined with coconut trees, there are luxury villas looming in the jungle one after another, luxurious and mysterious. Living here has become a symbol of wealth and fame.

Rodeo Drive is dotted with world-famous stores with different architectural styles. The splendid decoration in the store is dazzling. Walking into every store, the exquisite and expensive jewelry, expensive and fashionable clothing, novel styles of bags, and the price marked on each item will make the cash-strapped person secretly vomit. Only when you come here can you imagine the so-called "happiness of rich people, you can't experience it at all", the happiness of "just looking at things and buying them without asking the price".

Getty Center, the world's richest private art institution, is famous for its architectural design that perfectly combines space and natural lighting, its integrated indoor patio and outdoor garden design, and its collection of precious celebrity paintings, sculptures, and home furnishings. world. As a free and open art museum, its rich exhibits and strong artistic atmosphere have become a holy place for many tourists and an educational foundation for children. Here, you can see children coming to study everywhere, sitting around in front of the paintings, answering or asking questions freely under the teachers' explanations and guided questions.

In the four halls in the east, west, north and south, from marble sculptures of ancient Rome and Greece to manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, furniture and other rich and detailed displays spanning more than ten centuries, people can wander in the corridors of history and art. of ocean. Those exquisite carving arts, lifelike paintings, and meticulously crafted home furnishings are astonishing. If you lack understanding of history, art, religion, Greek mythology, etc., the visit process can only be a superficial taste.

This is known as the Eye of Los Angeles. Standing on the observation deck above the museum, you can have a bird's-eye view of the entire Los Angeles: the looming red-tiled villas in the mountains and forests, the towering buildings in the city, the winding mountains in the distance, and the Pacific Ocean visible to the naked eye. Coastline, as far as the eye can see.

Strolling in the central garden of Getty Center, you can see the red and green flowers, the small gurgling water, the green pedestrian paths, and the museum with simple and smooth lines. Under the blue sky and white clouds, it is harmonious, beautiful, comfortable and comfortable.

Stay away from the bustling city, get away from the busy and complicated life, wander in the ocean of art, and have a spiritual journey, a visual feast, and a cultural shock. This trip is enough!