My last night

Well this is it, in my hotel room packing and not happy to be leaving. Had another great day today and went to Santa Monica, went on the pier and Venice beach. It was all great with street entertainers everywhere!











I saw where my mum lived when she was here and she did have a great view of the pier. This place is just like one big holiday park and not suprised my mum wanted to live here. So I just had a walk around, watched all the entertainment and then came back to the hotel.

The trip has been absolutely fantastic, without doubt the best thing I have done in my life. I've achieved an ambition, and know where I want to be for the next part of my life (which I knew since the 3rd day of my trip, the rest of the trip had just been confirming it!). So fingers crossed and visa permitting, I don't see this as the end, more of a beginning....

Thanks everyone for reading. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing.

Breaking news

Not sure if you heard but there was a terrible plane crash right outside the hotel I am staying at at LAX. I managed to get some pics.









Only joking! Went to Universal Studios today


and that was the set from War of the Worlds, it was absolutely fantastic. Did the tour and saw the sets, had jaws attack me and was involved in an earthquake with a truck nearly landing on me! All special effects. Also went on a few rides and shows including a waterworld show


and the Mummy ride which is a roller coaster in darkness. Speaking of earthquakes, there was a pretty decent one in San Diego where I was last week. Would have like to have seen that.
Yesterday, didn't do much. Traveled back from San Francisco, dropped the car off and had an early night. I'm in the Hilton at LAX for my remaining nights and it has the comfiest bed in the world!





Tomorrow is my last day and going to spend it at Venice beach and Santa Monica, maybe do a bit of house hunting!

Escape to Alcatraz

I got to San Fransico last night and went to a few bars last night. Went to one really, really posh one in a hotel here, all done out in wood oak and the big portraits on the walls were actually video screens so the portraits moved slighty and their eyes would move around.






The homeless people are polite here, they tell you how good you look, how they like your hair and tell you a joke before asking if you can help them out! Today I drove down to the big hills, like you see in the movies, to get to the bay.


There was allsorts going on, lots of restaurants, street performers and music. I watched a really good breakdancing group and had something to eat. Wasn't really bothered for doing the tour of the Golden Gate bridge or Alcatraz. I don't like the weather here! It's like been in England but the place is really nice.


Early night tonight as I want an early start to get back to LA tomorrow. Can't believe by trip is coming to an end.

More sightseeing

Got to LA late yesterday and decided to try hotwire.com for a hotel. It's a website where they don't tell you which hotel you are getting but tell you what area, star rating, amenities etc and you get it for cheaper. I was in a gambling mood so what the heck. Anyway, ended up with the Hilton by the airport for $59 plus tax! Went down to Santa Monica for the July 4th celebrations, got stung by the taxi fare there and even worse coming back. Was not impressed with the celebrations, it was like a ghost town to say what day it was. Met 2 girls from Ohio and had dinner with them, came out and the streets were empty. I think we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So this morning, I was a bit hungover and wanted to stay in the same hotel but only booked it for one night. I thought I could find it again on hotwire.com and get the same deal! Anyway, when I paid and found out my hotel name, it came back with Crown Plaza which is where I am now! Luckily it was only 5 mins walk away.

Had a great day today, went on a proper sightseeing tour where you go to the stars houses and down rodeo drive, Hollywood etc. Was really good. Tomorrow I'm thinking of going to Universal studios then San Francisco.




Don't know why everyone was hanging around my rental car! This Bugatti was parked on Rodeo Drive.








There's the Hollywood sign in there somewhere!

Sightseeing

Yesterday, my car went back and I had a fantastic day being shown around all of San Diego in an open top car by someone who had unbelievable knowledge of the area. Saw some great areas and it really is a beautiful city. Today I am getting another car and leaving for Venice beach in LA as I have been invited there to celebrate July 4th. Here's some pics from yesterday.






Can you see the seals on the ledge?






And their heads bobbing in the water?












There is a big navel base here with all the big warships, although hard to see here.






Now it's party time!

Location:Kettner Blvd,San Diego,United States

From rags to riches

My plan of staying in cheap motels but using the facilities of expensive hotels backfired yesterday when Motel 6 doubled their prices because of the fourth of July weekend. I didn't know this because I was just getting the room day to day. So for $20 extra to the new motel price, I am now staying in the 4 star Sheraton hotel and marina. Well worth it I would say...
























That's the crappy view I have to put up with from my balcony! I'm just at the pool having a beer but don't get the same buzz knowing I'm allowed to be here!

Location:Airport Terminal Rd,San Diego,United States

Gatecrasher

Had a great day today and loving San Diego and I love being near the water. Went for a breakfast at one of those places that have such a good reputation that there is a queue outside. This one was called Richard Walkers Pancake House and you guessed it, another breakfast pic!



That is sausages in pancakes, with some funky sauce and was really nice and yes I will be back tomorrow but taking the car next time. My feet are killing me from all the walking I've been doing on this trip and are getting worse because not having time to recover but I like the walks especially after the big boy breakfasts!



This was parked with a load of flash cars who owned the big yachts in the marina. Sign of things to come for me?!

I was feeling cheeky today and rather than risk an aeroplane sucking me into it's jets while I sunbathed around the motel 6 pool, I decided to gatecrash the Hilton hotel instead. I was even that clever, I did a recon before breakfast to see if I could get in without a key card! You get a much higher class tan there than motel 6 darlings! It was really nice there, 2 pools, waterfalls, bar etc. Anyway. I've kinda got into this so tomorrow I'm aiming for the Hyatt next door to it!! And then maybe The Westin on Saturday. I'm giving myself bonus points if I can get a cocktail on somebody's room bill!

Tonight, I have had the best meal ever in a really posh restaurant! I fancied steak and jacket potato and was recommended this place. There was one person for one job (water, bread, drink order, food order etc) and all queuing up after each other to serve me! I was like royalty, little did they know I was staying in a motel 6! I ordered a Corona and even the lime came skewered on a plastic cocktail stick balanced on the beer bottle! They were that posh, they didn't pronounce the 'T' on 'Fillet'! Anyway, I got what a wanted, a sizzling steak with a blue cheese and breadcrumb crust in butter with a fully loaded jacket potato. The steak was presented to me by yet another guy who spoke in a foreign language, gave me some story that sounded like he had gave birth, raised, killed and cooked the animal before giving it up to me!