The Getty Villa

In the aim to give Bruce some culture on his visit, we took him to the Getty Villa in Malibu on Sunday. He thinks we are the host and hostess with the mostest. He has no idea.


The villa has a view of the ocean. It was built as a replica of an Italian villa complete with a roman-style road (rather bumpy) leading up to the villa. Lots and lots of marble. Simply spectacular. The best part about it is it was free and parking is $8 per car. Some folks brought picnic stuff and ate on the benches by the large pool. There are plenty of benches in alcoves to enjoy the various views. In all, it was a great idea. It is just as good at the Getty Museum.


We spent 2 hours perusing which was just enough to see all the exhibits. I would probably suggest spending 3 hours to go at an even more leisurely pace. There is a cafe on the grounds but we did not try it so I don't have much to say about it. The other thing I would like to do at some point is come back when they have a performance on. Oh, I forgot to mention there is an outdoor amphitheatre.


http://www.getty.edu/visit/events/villa.html


Below are a few pictures we took while enjoying the villa.

Water Features:

This pool greets just inside the atrium.

This is the large large pool on one side of the villa with lounging statues on each end.

Busts & Statues:

Caesar: He wanted more power than the senate was willing to give him. Ides of March ...

He looks terribly annoyed

Zeus was the swan in this statue

Hercules?

Athlete

Old and young women of antiquity

Sarcophagi

A mummy

Jewellery

Fertility Goddess

Los Angeles! Griffith Observatory & MONA

With Bruce here, I wanted to show him some of LA, what better way to start than with the Griffith observatory. The drive up there was a little slow due to the traffic. The place was packed the regular parking lots were full and folks were parking down the hill and walking to the top. Considering how hot it was we decided to move on.

Next on our list was the Museum of Neon Art -- figured we could do something a little different from a mainstream museum. We asked Maude (GPS) how to get there and she said 501 W. Olympic. Off we go. We get there and it looks a bit off but we are not deterred we only look harder. We did find a museum but it happened to be the FIDM museum. FIDM= Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. It was closed. Bruce was quite pleased because a friend of his was going to be attending the institute and at least he could say he had been there. So easily pleased!

Both John and I finally asked a couple of security guard people where the MONA was and they said it had moved to 4th st. I called to verify and that was indeed the case. I am thinking it is time to update Maude. The museum had moved about 2 years ago.

Mona proved to be a hit. It was a little crazy inside with holes in the ceiling but the pieces were unique. Some were a little old and a few were not working but it was indeed a unique find.

Art and Sunset in Huntington Beach

Mural on a wall off Main Street

Sections of the Mural

Interesting how these waves below look like waves in Japanese art


And God reached down and guided man's surfboard

Reveling on the pier

A day for Fido at dog beach

Sunset at Dog Beach

Dusk at huntington beach