Anem a Disney Concert Hall

After admiring L.A. City Hall, my germana gran and I walked over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry. Cars traveling on Hope and 1st Street slow down as they near the concert hall to admire the unusual structure amist the more traditional buildings surrounding it. We entered an open staircase that led us to the top of the building, giving us an east view of downtown. 

The concert hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic where one day I will make it a point to attend a concert. The concert hall has the Frank Gehry stamp of curving stainless steel and spectacular right angles. The concert hall looks a lot like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain which is another incredible work of art.  In my adopted town of Barcelona we have the giant bronze fish sculpture standing on the waterfront, designed also by this genius architect. 

Adeu!

Our Lady of Angeles

Leaving the Disney Concert Hall, we headed north to Temple Street to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles. It is an austere and contemporary cathedral designed by Spanish architect  Jose Rafael Moneo. The cathedral is the antithesis of the Gothic churches I have visited in Europe. The exterior of the cathedral does not have gargoyles looking down upon worshipers or dark grey aged stone that lends the customary bleak look to these buildings, but instead sharp geometrical lines and ocher colored concrete. Our Lady of the Angles abounds with natural light pouring through alabaster windows. There is a sense of peace and lightness when you walk through the cathedral. The absence of somber gloominess is a relief from the typical cathedrals in Europe where a constant sensation of solemness accompanies the visitor.

I enjoy visiting this cathedral for its warmth and simplicity felt throughout, including the chapels. When I return to Barcelona I will contrast these pictures with the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eualia in Barcelona for a visual comparison to better understand the sensations felt.

Adeu!

The large organ on the right comes from Iowa.

One of twelve candle holder angels representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. 

25 tapestries depicting 135 saints and blesseds from around the world. 

The Campanile

El Ajuntament de Los Angeles

After my sister and I finished our lunch in Little Tokyo, we headed to L.A. City Hall, one of my favorite buildings in downtown. It was only a two block walk from the restaurant on 1st Street and I felt comfortable with my camera hanging from my neck. Years back I wouldn't have walked the streets so boldly with a camera in hand, but today I was one of many guiris walking the streets in downtown. The Metro Rail has improved sight seeing in L.A. by making it a pedestrian adventure for outside visitors accustomed to a subway system for getting around town. The subway system is as good as in Barcelona and even cleaner! I do have to say certain metro stops require the physical presence of security to deter some troubling characters on the metro platforms.

Adeu!

Agafem L.A. Metro Rail

I didn't recognize the ciutat I toured by Metro Rail with my germana gran. So much has changed in Los Angeles as witnessed riding the Gold line on our day trip of the city we grew up in. We began our trip at Atlantic Blvd. and boarded the train excited to know our excursion did not involve  a car, parking fees, and expensive gasoline. The cost of a single ride is $1.50 for a one way ticket or $5.00 for an all day pass for use of the extensive metro system. These noias had every intention of getting their money's worth for what we considered a fabulous deal for five dollars each.

I never imagined we would one day see a metro system in Los Angeles. Years back the thought of riding a metro train in L.A. seemed absurd because Angelinos are known for driving their cars two blocks instead of anar a peu to a 7Eleven. We were astonished at the amount of people using the metro to travel and tour the city, and even more impressed by the amount of tourists walking the streets of downtown L.A. with cameras in hand. I felt safe walking through parts of Los Angeles that were once bleak and lifeless.

Our first sight seeing stop was Little Tokyo and continued onward to L.A. City Hall. Each day I will post pictures of each site we visited.

First stop: Little Tokyo Village Plaza.

Adeu!

My germana gran

Messages left on wish trees in Little Tokyo Village Plaza.