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7/14/2015

Summer visit to The Getty Museum

Over the weekend we decided to take a break from theme parks (not really much going on and this is really our "off season") and decided to take in some culture at The Getty.

This was our first visit to the main Getty since 2008 so we were excited to head back. One of our first ever updates on Park Journey was actually to the Getty Villa back in December 2013, be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of those updates to see the other wing.

Written by Gregg Condon

After taking the tram up the hill the bright white entrance to The Getty

Looking down the stairs towards the San Fernando Valley

Bust of J. Paul Getty

We started off with the European art (click on any of the pictures to see a larger version)

In addition to the amazing art at the Getty, it boasts some of the best views in all of Southern California

Love the natural light that comes in to light some of the galleries

Moving on to the home furnishings portion of the update and of course some amazing tapestries.

More of the amazing views. Once you exit one of the wings of the museum you are pretty much greeted with some amazing views, it's a nice break in between exhibits.

Scrunchy Face ...

Some of my favorite artists

Lastly, the Getty rock garden. There were also more fountains on our previous visit but they have been turned off due to the CA drought.

We hope you enjoyed this look at The Getty, for more information on the foundation and the museum locations be sure to visit their website. Admission to both museums is free but do require a $15 parking fee. The Getty Villa does also require reservations due to it's smaller size.

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12/12/2013

The Getty Villa - Part 2

This is part 2 of our trip to the Getty Villa for our 18th Anniversary. if you missed Part 1 you can see the pictures here.
As I mentioned in Part 1 of the update, we were both completely amazed at how much we loved the Getty Villa. We had heard it was great, we've visited the regular Getty but something about the intimate nature of the Villa really stood out to us. Not only is the artwork beautiful but as we showed in Part 1 of our update, the setting is just as amazing.

As you walk the "Path to the Museum" you can pick up a map in a variety of different languages. These maps have great descriptions of the Exhibitions, Gardens and Galleries.

The main entrance to the Getty Villa

We started with the upstairs exhibits. Unfortunately one of the Changing Exhibitions was closed as The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning had just closed the day prior to our visit. A new exhibit (Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections) will be opening in April. Another excuse to visit again. =)

Our first exhibit was for the Neolithic and Bronze Age Arts.

There are lots of pictures to share, be sure to click on the individual pictures in the various galleries below to see all the Villa has to offer.

In between the individual galleries there are some amazing displays of sculptures and gravestones.

This is apparently a Bear. We didn't see it.

The Gravestone of Pollis

A very interesting Sarcophagus

The Gravestone of Philoxenos and Philoumene

The Athletes and Competition Exhibit

This next two Exhibits will interest quite a few of you I'm sure

Men in Antiquity

The exhibit features some incredible busts.

The Head of Emperor Augustus

The Head of Emperor Caligula

Head of a Balding Man. Perhaps one of my Ancestors? =)

Unfortunately no pictures were allowed in the Tiberius Exhibition but it was fantastic. We really enjoyed reading the timeline and seeing all of the artifacts.

So nobody feels left out, there was also a Women in Antiquity exhibit .

The Greco-Roman Egypt exhibit features the Mummy of Herakleides

Back on the Ground Floor, most of the exhibits feature some pretty amazing statues.

This was probably my favorite room of the entire Villa.

As you approach the central statue of Hygieia-Aphrodite you are surrounded by Muses on either side.

That's going to wrap it up for Part 2 of the update. This is by no means all there is to see at the Getty Villa. We certainly don't want to spoil everything or you'd have nothing left to experience on your own. But trust us, it's worth the journey.

For more information on the Getty Villa you can visit their website.

Tickets are free but the Villa itself requires reservations. Parking is $15 per car.

We will have another update next Monday for the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park, some work is being done on the Pier prior to next Spring. We will also have an update from the Reagan Library's new Spy Exhibit and their Christmas Tree exhibit sometime next week.

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If you have any comments, please share them below.

12/10/2013

The Getty Villa - Part 1

This year my wife and I celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary at the Getty Villa. We had been wanting to get out to the Villa for a few years and were finally able to. The Villa is absolutely breathtaking.
Situated just off PCH in the Santa Monica Mountains you feel like you are much further away from PCH than a few hundred yards.
There is so much to see that this update is going to have to be done in two parts. The first part we'll look at the outside portions of the Villa, the beautiful gardens and fountains.

Upon parking at the Getty Villa you have to head up and down a few elevators (or lots of stairs) to get to the main entrance. The way the Villa is set up makes great use of the setting in the Santa Monica Mountains while not disturbing too much of the natural beauty in the area.

As you walk up to the main entrance to the Villa you are treated to some fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. It was an absolutely beautiful day thanks to the recent rain and wind.

There are many plaques and signs throughout the grounds. This one features the names of the Getty Trustees and the project team that worked on the reopening of the Villa in 2006.

As you approach the main Villa you are treated to a great view of the Amphitheater and the main building.

The main entrance to the Getty Villa.

We'll head inside the building later this week, but today we are going to concentrate on the amazing grounds surrounding the Villa itself.

The Mediterranean setting of the gardens really blends seamlessly with the Roman exhibits inside the Villa.

More great views of the ocean and the Villa's main drive which simulates the ancient streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Even the Parking Structure is authentically Roman. =)

The only statue in the Villa visitors are allowed to touch.

We of course had to have a little bit of fun with it.

The Outer Peristyle (or Formal Gardens) had to be my favorite garden at the Villa. Not only does it offer a great view of the Villa itself but it really does seem like something directly out of the Roman Empire.

Some great Bronze Replicas of statues and busts are found throughout the garden.

The description of this one was simply "deer".

Heading into the Inner Peristyle.

Some of the busts and statues have some creepy eyes that like to follow you around. It would be interesting to see these late at night.

The East Garden features a replica of an ancient fountain in the House of the Large Fountain at Pompeii.

Later this week we'll have Part 2 of our update featuring the great exhibits inside the Villa itself, including:

For more information on the Getty Villa you can visit their website.

Tickets are free but the Villa itself requires reservations. Parking is $15 per car.

If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter.

If you have any comments, please share them below.

YOUR CART

Beyond The Parks

Summer visit to The Getty Museum

The Getty Villa - Part 2

The Getty Villa - Part 1

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