Cali time

I spent three days last week in LA for a client meeting. It was much more real than I expected. Granted my previous expectations were crafted by Hollywood and so not very trustworthy, but other than a noticeable predominance of large breasts, the people were pretty normal. Of course, we spend most of our time downtown, near the airport, in East La or in South Central rather than Beverly Hills or Hollywood. We did drive through, or rather by, Beverly Hills. It was the first night there, I was exhausted and had the backseat of the car all to myself. So I struggled to keep my eyes open.

It seems to me that there is not one LA, there are many, each with its own character. And for a place seemingly obsessed with body image, there are junkfood places galore. There's an eating holiday waiting there. Tamales, chilidogs, fish tacos...

We could not stay at the museum's usual hotel (apparently very quirky with the best breakfast in town). So we stayed at the Biltmore (THE Biltmore - steeped in history, it is ). There was another conference in town so the desk attendant upgraded the two guys I was traveling with to a suite so that he could gain an extra room. They were moved to the Music Suite. Name on the door, grand piano in the sitting room, ugly dog sculpture and everything. We were wowed at first but the bloom came off the rose after the first morning when it was discovered that the suite was not actually comfortable for hanging around. I got upgraded, too. I named it the Ottoman Princess room. It was really two rooms and one wall had been partially removed in order to frame The Bed. It was huge, comfy and beautiful. There was a partial canopy. I only wish I had gotten a picture.

Paul is very into super tasty hole in the wall food, so we ate very well. Including stopping at Maria's Tortillas right before we got on the plane to eat some melt in your mouth tamales. Sooo good.