On the 6th of May we took a drive to Pasadena which is really just up the road from us. Our target this day was, the unknown to us, Norton Simon Museum/Art Gallery. Little did we know this is one of the world’s best private collections. This gallery is rated the #1 attraction in Pasadena and a surprisingly good way to spend a day. The collection includes artefacts and masterpieces from S.E.Asia along with collections of Old Masters, Impressionist, Modern art and more.
For more detailed information see www.nortonsimon.org
We enjoyed viewing the art (originals!) from some of the ‘masters’ including (in no particular order) Renior, Matisse, Picasso, Bottecelli, Raphael, Rubens, Chardin, van Gough, C’ezanne, Gaugin, Rivera, Monet, Degas and that’s just some I recognised. There were many other which made for interesting viewing. On the lower level was a huge display of fantastic South and South East Asian sculptures and paintings, some going back over 2000 years. I have included photos below of just some of those masterpieces.
Along with the painted arts was a terrific collection of sculptures mostly laid out around the lake by the café. We had a lovely relaxing stroll around the grounds enjoying the magnificent garden and statues including Rodin’s famous “The Thinker” (pic below). The food in the café was excellent and inexpensive and scored 10/10 from me due to them stocking the best ginger beer in the world, Bundaberg Ginger Beer (my daily medicinal drop).
Should you decide to visit LA we highly recommend coming to Pasadena to spend at least half a day in this terrific gallery/museum. (BTW Senior tickets are only $12USD – parking is free).
On Monday (7May) we drove the coast south of LA to Huntington Beach (Just for you Sharon – Pics below too). We’ve now driven the LA coast from Huntington to Malibu beaches. And all on the wrong side of the road! You can see in a moment the surf culture at Huntington. It was reminiscent of the Central Coast Of NSW and Byron. While having lunch at a beach café I could hear the conversations around me and I started having flashbacks from the ‘60s and ‘70s. So cool man!
After a feed we made our way back north along one of the most fascinating stretches of coast anywhere. Oil rigs by the roadside, million dollar beach houses, canals all very interesting. Eventually we made it to our next attraction though later than we would have liked. USS Iowa is one of 6 Iowa class battleships planned though only 4 were built. As a former RAN sailor I was keen to get aboard and climb over this monster and we did in the limited time left before the ship closed.
As many of my navy mates would know the largest calibre guns during our period of service in the RAN were 5” on the Adams class destroyers (my ‘old lady of the sea’ was HMAS Perth). Iowa also had 5” guns however they were considered “Secondary AA guns”. The main armament (upon commissioning – modernisation changed this) was her 16” guns that propelled 2 ton rounds beyond the horizon for 20 nautical miles. She eventually carried Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles and Phalanx cannons. For more interesting reading try the link below. Iowa has some gallant tales to tell.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iowa_(BB-61)
When they closed the ship for the day it was 1700 (sorry 5pm – I slipped into naval mode then). Getting a bit peckish we continued north along the cliff tops to Redondo Beach. Wow, what a drive! If you ever get to do this though go in the opposite direction to us (head N to S) so the parking is on your side of the road. None the less the drive was spectacular and we soon found ourselves eating at “Tony’s” on the pier while watching the sunset over the Pacific. Everlasting memories this stuff.