The other day my daughter and I dropped in on a neighbor.

Just down the road is the 64-acre estate of J. Paul Getty.

Courtny had never been a guest.

Since she is departing Los Angeles, we felt that it was an opportune time to explore.

The impressive winding entrance leads to the former villa of the American industrialist and oil baron who founded Getty Oil.

In 2006 the Getty museum reopened after a decade long renovation.

The Getty museum features Roman, Greek and Etruscan antiquities.

The villa is a recreation of an ancient Roman country house. offering a peek at life in the 1st century A.D.

We parked in the new structure and walked up to the imposing entrance.

From there, the path to the top of the property is impressive and landscaped to perfection, combining cypress and olive trees with trailing vines and using stamped concrete and wood to line the route to the cafe and the top of the amphitheater.

The actual museum entrance is strikingly regal.

The views are what you really come for.

The art is secondary.

Unfortunately, the large oblong pool that dominates the villa remains empty due to drought restrictions, but the views are still breathtaking as are the gardens.

The current exhibit features Roman Mosaics.

As we were strolling amongst the artifacts Courtny let out a gasp.

She had just passed a man who was wearing Bay Rum, the cologne my dad always wore.

We stopped and breathed in the familiar aroma.

Both of us became a little misty.

It is almost 19 years to the day that my father passed away.

Ah, the scent of a dear man.

For a fleeting moment it felt as if my dad was spending a glorious day in sunny California with his daughter and the light of his life, his beloved granddaughter, Courtny.

The type of day that touched my dad’s soul.

Rock on, Morris.

The Getty Villa  17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California. Open every day except Tuesday 10am-5pm. Parking is $15. Admission is free. An advance, timed-entry ticket is required to enter the site. Call (310) 440-7300 or book tickets online.