What is better about Tony and Claudia’s guest house – the location or their hospitality? I can’t say. When you walk through their front garden gate, it is like stepping back into Venice of the 1960’s. (I lived in west-LA and Venice from 1950-1978.) Their guest house is in their backyard. It is secluded, peaceful, and self-contained. No traffic noise whatsoever although there are flyovers taking off and landing from Santa Monica Municipal Airport, though never after 8:00 pm. Pictures of Elvis, Frida Kahlo, and Frank Zappa (with his mom and dad) made me feel right at home. I was working on a book, so the quiet was important, yet half a block down the street is Rose Ave and a ten minute walk to the ocean. In between, there must be dozens of coffee shops, restaurants, and boutique stores. (There are plenty more when you cross Main or wander south to Abbot Kinney Blvd.) Nearly every morning (I was there for a week), I’d run into Tony on Rose as we were out to get our morning coffee and fresh pastry. (It’s hard to choose between Groundworks or The Rose Café.) It would be hard to imagine any other combination of peaceful seclusion and excellent dining options, all accessible by foot. I look forward to returning.