It is a picture of a wishing well, a wishing well at the Getty Centre. Isn't it wonderful? You can see all of the wishes gleaming in the sunlight. I made wishes for all of you, yes, every single one. If they come true, let me know (one of them already did). Fortunately I had a lot of pennies.
I remember when I asked people what I shouldn't miss in LA, the Getty Centre came up every time. It's an art museum atop a hill, about 10 minutes away from where we live. And yes, okay, it has some good art - a Van Gogh ('Irises'), the odd Renoir - but really, what makes the Getty special, for me at least, is the place.
You park at the bottom of the hill and take a tram to the top. It's a slow gentle ride, narrated by a soft lilting American-accented voice, the CEO I believe. It's funny, but it was reminiscent of those post-apocalyptic films where everything runs in perfect order and bodiless voices provide instructions as members of whatever cultish community it might be, sit on the tram or walk through the park. I don't know why this tram-ride made me think of that, maybe because I've just seen the Giver (do not see this movie!), but there it is.
At the top, you disembark, and the first things you notice are the quiet (no traffic), and the brightness of the sunlight bouncing off the white structures.
(I had to wait a while for the other tourists to have their photos taken so that I could get my own touristy shot. At least I wasn't taking any selfies.)
Just look at that space. It's so tranquil. I loved the way the buildings cut into the sky, and the big open courtyard, with it's dry water-feature - they've switched it off because of the ongoing drought. The feature looks totally different without water, like a prehistoric rock garden. I suspect it looks better dry than wet. (Note: thanks to R for letting me borrow her phone to take these pictures after the demise of my own.)
I could just sit in this courtyard and wander in a haphazard fashion around the gardens happily for hours. If ever I have a free afternoon, I think I might take the bus here and sit and read in the shade (warning: parking is $15!).
And while I know I downplayed the art, a good Van Gogh never fails to make me happy.
As with most van Goghs, I stood in front of this one and stared for a while. Sometimes I wish all of the other people in a gallery would just go away and stop posing next to the paintings, so that I could be alone and gape, because really, what other reaction would be appropriate?
Miss and love you all.
xx
