Geography and history
Los Angeles has approximately 4 million inhabitants, according to data released by the US government in 2010.
It is the largest city in California and the second most populous in the US, after New York, with 8.2 million inhabitants , and is ranked as the 13th largest metropolitan area in the world. LA County has 17.7 million people spread across much of the southern California coast.
The city is sunny for most of the year, with a hot and dry climate.
Surrounded by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, municipalities that make up Greater Los Angeles, the coast is 120 km long.
It goes from Malibu to Long Beach.
It rains little and the water temperature at the beach is very cold, but it doesn't scare the surfers.
And a word of advice: drinking, smoking, and practicing nudism are crimes on Los Angeles beaches.
Los Angeles was founded on September 4, 1781, in the name of the Crown of Spain, with the name El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula (The Village of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels of the Porciúncula River). It became part of Mexico in 1821, after its independence from Spain. In 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were acquired as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, becoming part of the United States; Mexico retained the territory of Baja California. Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4, 1850, five months before California became a state of the United States.
Often known by its initials, "LA," and nicknamed the "City of Angels," Los Angeles is today a global center for business, international trade, culture, entertainment, media, fashion, science, technology, and education. It is home to world-renowned institutions covering a vast array of professional and cultural fields and is one of the most important engines of the United States economy. In 2008, Los Angeles was ranked the sixth most economically powerful city in the world by Forbes. As the third most powerful city in the United States, behind only New York and Chicago, it is considered one of the largest and most important financial centers in the world.
Los Angeles
Parks, Hollywood, and shows make Los Angeles the entertainment capital.
The movies made her famous, but Los Angeles has a lot to offer.
There are theme parks, museums and musical shows, a vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches.
Several areas, such as Beverly Hills or Malibu, remind us of movies and TV series and
The feeling intensifies on Hollywood Boulevard.
The iconic Mount Lee sign and the Chinese Theatre beg to be photographed, but the area shows its decay with the infestation of (terribly) costumed people who charge to pose with tourists. This, however, does not overshadow the fun spread throughout the city.
There are many studios to visit, such as Warner, Sony, and Paramount (these are just a few that offer tours), and theme parks to burn off energy, such as California Adventure, Disney, and Universal.
The city is home to at least three important museums: the Getty Center, the County Museum of Art, and the Natural History Museum.
With its expensive shops, Rodeo Drive may be impractical for most people, but it's still an interesting tourist spot.
Furthermore, anyone who really wants to open their wallet can point their GPS to the Camarillo area, 40 minutes from Los Angeles, where there is a huge outlet mall.
It's impossible to walk around Los Angeles, and having a car makes it easier to enjoy the city's vibrant nightlife.
There are many bars, nightclubs, and restaurants in Hollywood, Santa Monica, Sunset Boulevard, or Venice Beach.
Shopping
Anyone visiting Los Angeles with the intention of buying clothes and accessories should know that the city is a Mecca for luxury goods.
A stroll down Rodeo Drive, the shopping district of Beverly Hills, opens doors to some of the most sophisticated and expensive stores in the world.
There, you can find jewelry stores such as Tiffany & Co. and De Beers, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferré, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, and Chanel.
Those hoping to spot celebrities on Rodeo Drive may be disappointed.
Typically, stores deliver the items directly to the celebrities' homes.
Britney Spears and Nicole Kidman risk visiting the place, but the stores usually suspend service to the public to accommodate them.
But if you don't intend to spend a fortune, you can also buy many inexpensive, high-quality items in the outskirts of cities.
Please note: the sales tax charged on all goods and services in California is 8.5%.
SOURCE = UOL