After getting through a very tough immigration centre with lots of questions asked (good on them) I tried to look as if I knew exactly where I was going.
People had told me not to accept any offers to carry my bags and to hold on tight to my handbag.
In fact I felt totally safe and navigated my way outside to find a cab.
I grabbed the first yellow cab I saw and asked the driver how much it would cost to get to the hotel. He gave me a price and off we went.
I didn't want to miss anything and was gazing out the window as soon as we sped off. A couple of times on the trip I wondered if we were going to make it. The cab driver would speed along then slam on the brakes, toot his horn, then repeat the process again and again. Half an hour and $US35 later we made it to Hotel Erwin. I could see Venice Beach from my room. Exciting!
It was around 3pm and I wasn't due to meet with the others until 5pm.So I went exploring. Wow. The beach, the sand, the people. There were crowds of people gathered around some street performers. I watched for a while then wandered along looking at the array of souvenir shops, food joints and the melting pot of locals and tourists walking around or selling art or trinkets on the sidewalk.
At 5pm I was changed and waiting in the lobby to meet the rest of the group. We were off to do some window shopping along Rodeo Drive.
What a place. The palm-lined street is spectacular and the shops ... well we were rather afraid to go in. This place just oozes wealth. Cars worth more than my home were everywhere, including the one pictured. One of our group told us it was one of the most expensive cars in the world.
We headed for The Beverly Wilshire, which was the primary filming location for the 1990 movie Pretty Woman, intending to have a drink before heading off to dinner but unfortunately we couldn't get a seat.
For dinner we caught a cab to The Bazaar by José Andrés. The Spanish inspired tapa restaurant is gorgeous. The place was huge but the seating was arranged so you felt as though you had a lot of privacy.
The food and wine was outstanding. A small sample of what we ate was braised wagyu beef cheeks, local baby beets and these incredible philly cheesesteaks which were filled with rich creamy cheese.
If you are ever in Los Angeles check it out and don't leave until you have wandered around the "shop with no walls" with luxury brands displayed in glass and steel virtrine showcases toward the back of the restaurant, and visited the dessert bar.
It was a huge dilemma choosing just one thing from the mouth-watering selection.
* Linda Hall flew courtesy of Air New Zealand.
