North Oakhurst Dr, Beverly Hills

N. Oakhurst Dr. is a quiet residential area, mostly apartment blocks. The street is lined with mature trees which makes it pleasant and somewhat cooler in summer. It is very much an area where people keep themselves to themselves. It is within easy walking distance of the Beverly Center and the shopping area centered on N. Rodeo Dr. between Wilshire and S.Monica Blvd.

For day to day groceries, I found Ralphs on the corner of N. Doheny and Beverly Blvd was adequate, if a little expensive. Beverly Hills Civic Center is just a 15 minute walk and the Library was an excellent place to study (with free Internet access).

I was most impressed by the cleanliness of Beverly Hills. The streets are cleaned weekly and most residents seem to be careful to maintain standards. The apartment blocks appear to be well maintained with very attractive frontages. As a first time British visitor to the USA, I was impressed by the politeness and friendliness of nearly all of the people I met. I did not feel that Beverly Hills was an 'exclusive' area, though, I believe, it is expensive by American standards, it did not seem so when compared to the UK.

Many Americans will, no doubt, laugh but I was entranced to see hummingbirds almost every morning and, one night, to meet a racoon (from the safety of my balcony) and to see a coyote trotting down the middle of the street at midnight.