My Travels

Went to Orlando for a conference and stayed in the Lake Buena Vista area. Didn't stay at the Disney hotels (where the conference was held). Although my friends who stayed there had nice rooms. The Hampton Inn is in the middle of a revamp and it was interesting to see the changes going on in the hotel. Ironically, I found a really great Thai restaurant near the Florida Mall. Thai Bistro City restaurant on Sand Lake Road was pretty tasty. Had the duck curry and Pad Kee Mow (sp?). Also tried a sushi restaurant, it was OK. Visited Epcot Center for the first time. Actually, the first time I've ever gone to a theme park in Orlando. One of these days, I'll go to Disneyworld....

I had an opportunity to stay in the 'mid-city' area of Los Angeles recently. A couple miles northwest of downtown LA, the area has benefitted (depending on your viewpoint) the changes of the 'gentrification' of downtown LA and the surrounding areas. As prices have marched north, more and more people are coming back to downtown LA to live and work. I recently stayed at the Wilshire Plaza Hotel and it was a pleasant surprise. A former Radison (?) property, the hotel is right across the street from a Metro station (Wilshire and Vermont). Super easy to get around w/o a car and is convenient to Hollywierd plus downtown LA. For those interested in greater distances, Universal City is at the end of the red line as well as Pasadena on the gold line.