TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

 

J Paul Getty Museum – Los Angeles

We are so fortunate to have such an awesome museum available to us.  The Getty sits high on a hill off of the 405.  To me it resembles a fortress as you approach it.  I personally feel that while the Getty Museum hold 1000’s pieces of art, the building itself is a work of art.

I prefer to get there early.  The museum is free, and as of today parking is $15.  You’ll park at the bottom of the hill and ride a tram up to the museum.  You’ll be met right away with information regarding the tours that are available for that day.  There are cafes, food carts and a restaurant all available to eat at.  Remember to take some time to take in the beautiful views off  the balconies of the buildings.  We experienced a breathtakingly clear day!  We could see downtown LA  one direction and the Pacific ocean and Catalina Island  the other direction.  You could easily spend the whole day taking in the Getty experience!

The Getty houses European paintings, drawings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, decretive arts and photographs.  Who doesn’t want to experience Monet, Rembrandt, and Renoir just to name a few and yet I’m always drawn to a painting of a little girl in front of a white door.  The vibrant the colors on the manuscripts & painting that date back to the dark ages amaze me.  However, I love experiencing the rooms that are set up to depict a taste of what life was like centuries ago.

So are you a little bit curious about whom J Paul Getty was?  (I always love history & architecture!)  He founded Getty Oil Company and the Guinness Book of World Records named him the richest private citizen in 1966.  He was an avid collector of arts and antiquities, and that is where our story comes full circle! 

 

Where did we eat you ask?!  I always like to try out what sounds like LA “landmark” restaurants.  Well I kept hearing the, “I like Titos Tacos, you like Titos too” tune when their commercial came on the TV.  Then I started hearing that celebrities’ liked going there, so that was enough to peak my interest.  Soooooo, Titos Tacos is only about 15 minutes from the Getty and it WAS a very popular place!  At 2pm we stood in line for about 10-15 minutes.  Prices were not bad at all.  Since it is so packed it was tricky finding parking and a table!  I encourage everyone to try it out!  Titos Tacos, 11222 Washington Pl, Culver City, CA