The City of Angels — The Wanderers

Here we are again, the wonderful, the brillant, the greatest city of all time. This one holds a special place in my heart. I have been there a few times already but it never ceases to amaze me. Los Angeles, "the city of angels" lives up to its name. It is really hard to explain why this city is so different than what we usually know; a strange mix of cultures, vibes, communities and landscapes but it works and it works well.

After a 12 hour journey we made it safely to the land of the free and home of the brave. What a chance to be able to explore this world so easily, if you are willing to endure some jetlag and travel discomfort you will be blessed with the something greater than you would have ever imagined.

We picked up our car and headed straight up to our spot for the first 3 nights: a lovely house located in mid-city LA, very close by to all the main areas.
We often go for an Airbnb rather than a standard hotel, mainly because it has more of a local vibe, that I find necessary to get a grasp of what a city is about.

Even though we were exhausted, we headed to Guelaguetza for dinner, and what a surprise. We had the most delicious mexican food at the best possible price. This place was supposed to be cool but I did not expect such a warm and great atmosphere (they have live music on every week night).

After a short but well deserved sleep, we started our second day with the famous Runyon Canyon morning hike. It's a thing here in LA, you get up and make the most of your day! And why not starting with hiking to the top of the canyon to enjoy the breathtaking views of the city. One thing that is striking in California is the abundance of landscapes. People often forget that you have in the same state 9 national parks (going from the snowy Sequoia park to the most arid place on earth: The Death Valley), this is truly a blessing. It is heaven for outdoors lovers like us.

The hike wasn't too hard, it surely does require a certain level of fitness but nothing crazy. Just bring some water and enjoy your surroundings. As previously mentioned the vibe here is LA is something else. People are relaxed, and genuinely nice which makes you feel at ease.

We spent the first 3 days, driving around LA, exploring everything. From the Griffith park observatory at sunset, to Grand central market we got a good glimpse of the different areas. Here's few spots we went to and would definitely recommend:

- Venice Rose Café
https://rosecafevenice.com/
- Malibu Farm on Malibu Pier
https://www.malibu-farm.com/
- North Italia
https://www.northitaliarestaurant.com
- Grand Central market
https://www.grandcentralmarket.com/
- Slurpin Ramen
https://slurpinramenla.com/
- Egg Slut
http://www.eggslut.com/
- Guelaguetza
http://www.ilovemole.com/

I hear a lot of people complaining about the city traffic, and yes it is daunting but we managed to do well and always tried to avoid rush hours (7-9 / 5- 8). It is important to know this type of information before going places as the journey can easily become a nightmare if you do not plan accordingly. So bare in mind, LA traffic is no joke!

Having said that, I wanted to clear up few things about preconceived ideas people have of the city. If you dare to ignore the stereotypes, you will find a city full of character, a variety of food like nowhere else, stunning landscapes and strong communities living next to each other.
Los Angeles has a lot to offer to anyone with an open mind and heart, to anyone willing to live its life at its fullest.

It was our first stop, the first of a long journey through California. We had 15 days, one badass car and countless songs on spotify.