Los Angeles

Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Or as I experienced it, the city where the next zombie apocalypse breaks out. And not due to failed special effects from the film studios, but rather because of the masses of completely drugged and run-down bums besieging the whole city. On my first day, I visited Santa Monica and Hollywood, in the evening I had dinner at a burger restaurant that was advertised on the internet as the ultimate fast food restaurant. To make it short: the whole day was like the burger there. It must have been cool and trendy at some point, but that was at least 30 years ago and since then the world has kept turning. And to pick up on the film theme again, I found Hollywood and Santa Monica as worth seeing as an Adam Sandler movie. Remarkable about L.A. is also the fact that although L.A. is one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world, a rental car would have been a better means of transportation than public transport. But please don't make the whole thing sound too negative. The next day I went on a fantastic hike through a canyon in the Hollywood Hills, with a breathtaking view over this seemingly endless city. The hike is called 3 Hours, 3 Peaks. It is recommended to start the hike on the east side, head north into the canyon, and then return on the west side. However, as you ascend the highest peak last this way, I approached the hike exactly the other way round and started with the highest peak. I am just the son of my mother and the grandson of my grandpa and always know better than any hiking map, as I have climbed all the 3000-meter peaks of the Alps on my father's shoulders at the tender age of four. My God, I am a stupid, arrogant idiot. With my brilliant idea, I did indeed climb the highest peak by around 9:00 a.m., but I was also exposed to the blazing sun all day at 36 degrees Celsius and desert-like terrain, instead of hiking in the pleasant shade of the canyon. It was damn hot. I was rewarded with stunning views, finally some solitude in L.A., and a unique experience. And to reassure Dad: thanks to sun protection, no sunburn. Now off to Big Island, Hawaii. Until then, lots of love!