Los Angeles

Language

The official language is English but there is a massive immigrant population and so many languages are spoken including Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

Best travel time

Los Angeles has a semi-arid climate with heavy rain during the first three months of the New Year. Temperatures in the winter are usually around 24C during the day and about 14C at night. In the height of summer, the heat can be intense at 28C – 32C but Los Angeles pioneered air conditioning and so it is perfectly possible to go from frying on the sidewalk to shivering with cold in a store or restaurant.

Communication

There is wide availability of landline, broadband and cell phones.

Traditions and Culture

The dream of living in Los Angeles and surfing in the Pacific is one that is realised by many people. Los Angeles may not be Heaven on earth but for many of its residents it offers a brilliant way of life. The weather is good, the roads are wide, parking is easy and there is a constant buzz because of the Film and TV industries. The Hollywood district of Los Angeles may not be where the rich choose to live but it’s the Hollywood Dream Factory that gives Los Angeles its vibrancy together with its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and numerous parks and sports facilities. In one word, the greatest tradition in Los Angeles is brunch on Sunday. Other days of the week, people drive to coffee shops and order classic American breakfasts or simply bagels and coffee. Iced tea with lemon is a very popular drink and discussing the ups and downs of stars and movies is a traditional pastime. People arrive in Los Angeles looking for the good life and some people find it in spades. But for those who do not aspire to be a TV or movie star, the city offers an easy way of living if residing in certain areas. There is no doubt that for the tourist or visitor, Los Angeles looks to be pure Hollywood dreamland, with diners and movie houses, beach babes and surfers, so often seen on the silver screen. Of course, the truth is that Los Angeles suffers from gang violence and drug-related crime, but the unattractive underbelly is usually far removed from the vision of holidaymakers.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the principal local Christian belief, but there are many other forms of Christianity practiced in the city complemented by those of the Jewish faith many, of whom, work in the entertainment industry.

By bus

Buses in Los Angeles are frequent but most people, if given a choice, would always drive themselves.

By plane

Los Angeles International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in the world. Renting a car on arrival in most cases is not a problem but there are also plenty of taxis available for people suffering from jetlag.

Sights

Most people when visiting Los Angeles want to see the world famous Hollywood sign and to visit stunning buildings such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, Grauman’s Chinese movie theatre, the cylindrical Capitol Records building and the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.

Food

Fish and steak are staples as is Mexican food. Chinese and various other cuisines are also readily available. Eating out in Los Angeles is inexpensive on the whole, especially when compared to prices in London, Paris and Rome.