When I opened up the e-mail informing all new interns of the location for training, I could not have been happier to see that we were assigned to go to Los Angeles instead of San Jose. Don’t get me wrong. San Jose is interesting with all the technology firms and other companies headquartered there, but Los Angeles offers a much more interesting nightlife and culture.
During our first couple days, we didn’t have much time to go exploring, but did get a chance to have a social at the Santa Monica pier where I swear we saw someone that looked like Jesus on the boardwalk (no shoes, long hair and white robe included) and had a chance to ride some of the rides.
We even got a chance to see the Staples Center all set up for one of the Twilight movie premiers.
The real fun was on the weekend, though. Rather than fly back to Seattle on Friday and back to LA on Sunday, I stayed in the area for a mini vacation and some great sightseeing. I got an amazing five-star hotel through Priceline which was on the same street as some of the well-known production companies such as MGM and Fox and within walking distance of Rodeo Drive. Did you know that if you want to use the signature "Beverly Hills" sign in a movie or something, you have to pay tons of money because apparently it is copyrighted? Who knew?! I sure did feel like a bit of a princess being able to spend time in such a nice place! One of my friends even told me that the hotel was featured on America’s Next Best Model!
I bought a 2-day pass on a double-decker bus tour which had a departure from Rodeo Drive and other popular places all over the city. Within one day I was able to see the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (or LACMA), the tar pits, Melrose Avenue (where I got the most fabulously sequined dress), the Los Angeles Market and finished my night at one of the largest outdoor malls in the LA area. It just happened to be conveniently located right next to my hotel! J
Even though it was $25 each way to get a taxi from my hotel to the Getty Center, it was well worth the fare. It was amazing to walk around the grounds and view the amazing architecture, gardens, sculptures and artwork that cover the walls of the many buildings. I even took a garden tour and learned all about how the gardens were created to not only appeal to visitors visually through interacting with the designs in the buildings, but also audibly because of the different sounds that the leaves of the trees made when they moved with the wind.
Before meeting back up with the other interns, I found time to walk around the Fashion District and even buy some great silk fabric that I want to make into a dress!
During our next week of training, we found the most amazing rooftop lounge which I would highly recommend for anyone traveling to LA. The Standard was a great place to unwind from a long day of learning all about how to audit (and apparently a place frequented by one of Kanye's ex-girlfriends)!
