Getty Center

I took a short early morning walk with Tracey, James and Alice onto the nearby ridge (the same walk I did with David and Alice on my first evening). Some good birds especially a load of California Quail with at least 6 well grown young. Also seen was a California Thrasher.

Today the highlight was a visit to the Getty Center.

The tramway to the Center

Buses and cars are left in a massive multilevel park (for a small fee, which is the only fee that is required) then up the hill to the Center by tram, travelling slowly by a cable system in frictionless carriages riding on a cushion of air with everything electrically powered. The number of people arriving in the carpark, even for mid week, looks daunting but they all seem to disperse somehow in the immensity of the Center. The availablity of all sorts of brochures and facilities is inspiring and remarkable in that it is provided absolutely free! There is extensive use of travertine stone for facing and pavement. The form of the building as a complex of linked shapes is stunning.

The entrance Hall

The architecture, the specially created gardens and a premiere presenetation of 16 portrait paintings by Rembrandt were part of the cultural feast but also two other interesting ongoing exhibitions, amongst a total of seven, were very well worth a look. Both of the ones we chose to visit were on photography, one on the works of Paul Strand and the other a centenial tribute to the innovative work of Frederick Sommer. We had a very good lunch in the cafe. I had a quick look in the east Pavilion at works of the period 1600-1800 and by then we were all exhausted!

Tracey, James and I have a wonderful day.

Tracey and James at the Getty Center

Many American Crows again pass over at 1930 hrs. A Barn Owl slipped by at the bck of the garden just as the light had faded.