Safari Across America – Dallas, Los Angeles

We flew to Dallas, Texas from Washington, DC. A sprawling megalopolis, Dallas is often lumped together with neighbouring Fort Worth and Arlington, and the entire area is known as DFW Metroplex. The first morning, we visited the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial, a massive monument dedicated to the memory of the late US president. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 as he rode in a motorcade through downtown Dallas. The alleged killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, is believed to have fired the fatal shots from the sixth floor of Dealey Plaza. We were fascinated by Kennedy’s life and work and moved by his tragic death, all displayed at the Sixth Floor Museum.

Nearby, is the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture. The beautifully restored old courthouse contains some of Dallas’s most fascinating historical artifacts. In the evening, it was time for authentic Mexican cuisine of chilaquiles, ceviche and guacamole.

We found time to visit the Dallas Museum of Art in the Arts District. The museum has an impressive collection, from ancient artifacts to contemporary artworks, including items from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman times, Chinese porcelain, European art and furniture from 16th to 19th centuries. At lunch, we enjoyed mouthwatering chicken shwarma and seafood salad from a food truck at a nearby park.

Across the road was the Nasher Sculpture Center. With its collection of modern and contemporary sculptures in the heart of the city, the architecturally pleasing facility features rotating exhibits from the gallery's permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibits.

Our last port of call was Los Angeles, or LA, the cultural and commercial centre of southern California. Nicknamed the ‘City of Angels’, the sprawling metropolis is known for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and ethnic diversity.

We were lodged at Koreatown, close to Hollywood. The diverse and populated neighbourhood is notable as the home of the US film industry, including several of its historic studios. We had Korean cuisine for dinner with kimchi, fried sea bass, white rice and seafood salad.

The very first evening, we dashed to Hollywood Boulevard, probably the most visited street in LA. Parts of the boulevard are popular tourist destinations. The Hollywood Walk of Fame there has more than 2,500 brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. The stars bear the names of famous actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, as well as fictional characters. They commemorate achievements in the entertainment industry.

The Dolby Theatre is a performance hall on Hollywood Boulevard. The theatre has hosted the Oscar award ceremonies since it opened in 2001. It is next to the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre and El Capitan Theatre. We also visited the Hollywood Sign, a landmark  located on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills. We also spent some time at nearby Paramount Pictures studio.

Over the weekend, we drove to Disneyland Park. It is the only theme park that was designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. The park is now divided into eight themed areas _ Main Street, USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, Frontierland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square and Adventureland. We managed to hop into a few of the themed lands. It would have taken a few days to cover the whole park. We were lucky to enjoy a parade by favourite cartoon characters, like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.

 On a sunny day, we drove for an hour to the Getty Center, well known for its architecture, gardens and fabulous views of Los Angeles. The museum features pre-20th Century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures and decorative arts, as well as 19th and 20th century American, Asian, and European photographs. It also has a collection of outdoor sculptures displayed on terraces and gardens.

On the final day, we drove to Beverly Hills, home to many actors and celebrities. The city includes the fashionable Rodeo Drive shopping district. We visited Malibu Beach, which is also home to Hollywood stars and affluent residents. Nearby is the Santa Monica beachfront. Its pier remains a popular destination for family amusement, shops and restaurants, which are open till late. We relished miso soup, fried calamari and fried vegetable rice at one of the Japanese restaurants there. After a hectic and memorable trip, it was time to draw the curtain and return to our sweet home.

Photos: Writer.

Reference: Wikipedia.

Safari Across America – Dallas, Los Angeles

We flew to Dallas, Texas from Washington, DC. A sprawling megalopolis, Dallas is often lumped together with neighbouring Fort Worth and Arlington, and the entire area is known as DFW Metroplex. The first morning, we visited the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial, a massive monument dedicated to the memory of the late US president. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 as he rode in a motorcade through downtown Dallas. The alleged killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, is believed to have fired the fatal shots from the sixth floor of Dealey Plaza. We were fascinated by Kennedys life and work and moved by his tragic death, all displayed at the Sixth Floor Museum. Nearby, is the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture. The beautifully restored old courthouse contains some of Dallass most fascinating historical artifacts. In the evening, it was time for authentic Mexican cuisine of chilaquiles, ceviche and guacamole. We found time to visit the Dallas Museum of Art in the Arts District. The museum has an impressive collection, from ancient artifacts to contemporary artworks, including items from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman times, Chinese porcelain, European art and furniture from 16th to 19th centuries. At lunch, we enjoyed mouthwatering chicken shwarma and seafood salad from a food truck at a nearby park. Across the road was the Nasher Sculpture Center. With its collection of modern and contemporary sculptures in the heart of the city, the architecturally pleasing facility features rotating exhibits from the gallerys permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibits. Our last port of call was Los Angeles, or LA, the cultural and commercial centre of southern California. Nicknamed the City of Angels, the sprawling metropolis is known for its warm climate, beautiful beaches and ethnic diversity. We were lodged at Koreatown, close to Hollywood. The diverse and populated neighbourhood is notable as the home of the US film industry, including several of its historic studios. We had Korean cuisine for dinner with kimchi, fried sea bass, white rice and seafood salad. The very first evening, we dashed to Hollywood Boulevard, probably the most visited street in LA. Parts of the boulevard are popular tourist destinations. The Hollywood Walk of Fame there has more than 2,500 brass stars embedded in the sidewalks. The stars bear the names of famous actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, as well as fictional characters. They commemorate achievements in the entertainment industry. The Dolby Theatre is a performance hall on Hollywood Boulevard. The theatre has hosted the Oscar award ceremonies since it opened in 2001. It is next to the famous Graumans Chinese Theatre and El Capitan Theatre. We also visited the Hollywood Sign, a landmark located on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills. We also spent some time at nearby Paramount Pictures studio. Over the weekend, we drove to Disneyland Park. It is the only theme park that was designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. The park is now divided into eight themed areas _ Main Street, USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Mickeys Toontown, Frontierland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square and Adventureland. We managed to hop into a few of the themed lands. It would have taken a few days to cover the whole park. We were lucky to enjoy a parade by favourite cartoon characters, like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. On a sunny day, we drove for an hour to the Getty Center, well known for its architecture, gardens and fabulous views of Los Angeles. The museum features pre-20th Century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures and decorative arts, as well as 19th and 20th century American, Asian, and European photographs. It also has a collection of outdoor sculptures displayed on terraces and gardens. On the final day, we drove to Beverly Hills, home to many actors and celebrities. The city includes the fashionable Rodeo Drive shopping district. We visited Malibu Beach, which is also home to Hollywood stars and affluent residents. Nearby is the Santa Monica beachfront. Its pier remains a popular destination for family amusement, shops and restaurants, which are open till late. We relished miso soup, fried calamari and fried vegetable rice at one of the Japanese restaurants there. After a hectic and memorable trip, it was time to draw the curtain and return to our sweet home. Photos: Writer. Reference: Wikipedia.