John Dee: Los Angeles: cars, cathedrals, cops and more

I went to the Los Angeles County Art Museum (LACMA) in downtown LA to catch the last day of an exhibition by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. He has been commissioned by the new director of LACMA to devise a plan to rationalise their several buildings and related spaces into a more rational estate. It's fascinating, because he is the third to be asked to address this problem in the last twenty years. I'll write about it at length in the future. On the way out from LACMA I stuck my head in another gallery and came across this large installation by artist Chris Burden. What fun

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the third-largest cathedral in the world and serves as the seat of the archbishop of Los Angeles. The cathedral was completed in 2002 and was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. The great cathedrals of Europe were traditionally built next to rivers but in Los Angeles, the cathedral is next to the 101 freeway. Architect Rafael Moneo has likened the freeway to a modern day river that serves an an artery for commerce and transportation in the city. The view of the cathedral is so clear from the freeway that many Angelinos refer to it as "Our Lady of the 101."

And being Los Angeles, this cathedral has its own parking garage

Los Angeles Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. The station opened in May 1939 as the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, one of a number of union stations built in the early 1900s. Built on a grand scale, Union Station became known as "Last of the Great Railway Stations" built in the United States. Union Station was partially designed by the Parkinson's brothers, who had also designed City Hall.

I didn't know about the station and only "discovered" because I'd been told that was the best place to catch the rapid bus back to Santa Monica. What an amazing place it turned out to be, beautifully preserved and busy with commuters

Los Angeles City Hall

City Hall again, this time reflected in the LAPD headquarters building

Outside the front entrance patrol officers and their superiors evaluate a prototype next-generation car against an existing Ford.

I was amused by the cash machine in the lobby of the police hq

From a distance I wondered why this building had such small windows (it's right in the middle of the city)

It's the cells

Mulholland Drive: a gorgeous late afternoon drive through the Hollywood Hills, about 15 miles, comes down by the Hollywood Bowl. Stunning views and places to stop.

Take this drive with someone who is a great driver! It winds and twists and turns and Can be fast, People ride your bumper on the road, and there are only a few pull-in places from which to take in the views.. For added fun, study a map to the stars home? Make sure it’s a clear day. We went up Mulholland Drive via tour bus, the view was absolutely stunning.

You cannot possibly know the beauty of California unless you drive the canyons between Malibu and the west valley, including Mulholland Drive. Decker Canyon is one of my favorites - the beauty of the hills is breathtaking Ocean