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!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The theme park in the hotel Circus Curcus where I stayed in Las Vegas








Yesterday I left Las Vegas but not as smoothly as I had hoped. My car (a new Chevy Cobalt) had decided to give up after 4,000 miles and got a front puncture. So I started to change the wheel and had to jack the car at the front because I could get in at the side and to cut a long story short. The jack slipped and the car landed on it piercing the radiator (or something to do with the radiator) because next thing a load of water trickled out. What are the chances?! Luckily the car rental company had roadside assistance and sent a pick up truck out. Took me to there depot and gave me another car! Not as nice though, it's an older Kia but i was baxk on the road in under 2 hours. So if anyone wants to rent a car, I do recommend National, especially for their very low one way fees too.



I'm in San Diego now in a Motel 6 that is so close to the the bottom of the runway of the airport that it should be called 'Gate 6' not Motel 6. The place shakes when planes fly over and I'm sure there are tyre tread marks on the roof when the pilots haven't got their landing gear up fast enough! Even the fuel, luggage and stairs trucks use our car park until the next plane comes in! Just kidding! And to top it all off there is a train track right behind the hotel where the train drivers like to see if they can complete with the plane noise with their horns! It's all good fun though, who needs sleep anyway?!

Location:California St,San Diego,United States

Terry who?

A few people have asked who Terry Fator is. It's the guy who is headlining at Mirage who I was going to go see and who also bumped into me at the bar I went to. Here is a video of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNJ02rxaNrs

Only in America!

Yesterday, I had a great sleep in, went downstairs haf my favourite breakfast ( eggs benadict), eventually found my way out of the hotel and went for a walk in the afternoon. I think it was that hot that my nostril hairs singed to nothing, the water that I was drinking to keep me cool and hydratrated was reaching boiling point in my stomach and burning me from the inside out! The first pic was taking at 1.30 this morning! The others are on my walk along the strip.





























I then just chilled out in the room, was planning on seeing on seeing Terry Fator, the puppet guy who won 'America's Got Talent' and who now has a $5 million deal with the Mirage casino, but tickets were expensive. So I went to Hard Rock Casino bar at about midnight as I heard that was the place to be. There was about 10 people in there and I thought great, is this it for a Monday night. I knew they would be quiet but thought it would be busier especially for a tourist place. Anyway, the bar man said go to Jet nightclub at Mirage. I got a taxi and there was a bar opposite the club. The bar was like a nightclub on itself! The music was great, there was a percussionist (which i love when they play over dance music) on a stage in the middle of the bar like I had never seen before and an outside patio area like Hugh Heffners back garden! Had 2 drinks in there and so glad I stayed for the second because guess who brushed past my arm?! Come on guess?!! Only 5 million dollar Terry!

Location:Circus Circus Dr,Las Vegas,United States

You don't see one for ages then...

So today is the trip to Las Vegas. I had an option of two routes and decided to go the slightly longer one as it looked more scenic and went past the salt lakes.























I then hit the stare of Nevada and was almost immediately greeted with signs to go left to a casino or right for an Asian massage. I was a good boy and went to burger king for a drink!






I know I asked for large but come on! Surprised they weren't giving away free spades with it! The next part of the drive was really remote. just one single road as far as the eye could see, going through a valley of shrubs and gravel with huge mountains at either side dominating the skylines (I should be a writer!)



















So I'm driving along minding my own business on the remote road and a cop was coming the other way. Next thing his lights and siren went on and he did a 180 turn in road as I passed him.

Wow! It was like been in the movies and was worth the speeding fine just to see that! I was gonna ask him if I could take a photo for my blog but thought better of it! It was a fair cop officer.

Literally 2 minutes later I am driving into a small town, next thing I have the blues and twos in my rear view mirror again. I thought he had forgot something. No, it was a different cop telling me I was speeding again, luckily he knew I had just been pulled and let me off with a warning as we both put it down to the fact I had just been pulled as was probably still thinking about it. Anyway, he was kind enough to give me directions to a quicker way to vegas. When I asked him would there be less cops on that route, he failed to see the funny side!

But that wasn't the scariest thing I saw today. That would be a sign saying '167 miles to the next gas station'! Good thing I had just filled up. I don't know how people would cope if they broke down at night with no payphones or mobile phone signal.

Just got to Vegas and the hotel is mental! It's huge! The lobby is like a shopping mall, they have a huge theme park inside and at least 20 restaurants. It will take a week just to find everything in the hotel never mind outside! Nice view from my room too!

Location:Circus Circus Dr,Las Vegas,United States

Next stop Vegas baby!!

Last few days I have just been chilling by the pool, going for walks and just general relaxing. Went out last night to a karoke bar and met a good group of people, needless to say was feeling delicate today! Did i sing? "Some people were born to sing records, I was born to play them!" (Chris Moss, 2010)

Tonight I just ordered room service and had a movie night while booking my next hotel in Vegas. I couldn't believe how cheap they are! I'm staying at Circus Circus hotel which was only $25 a night, in the centre of the 'strip' and looks like a whole heap of fun with fairgrounds and magic and stuff! I'll be there 3 nights. There was even a half decent hotel for $12! So in theory, I could rent my house out in England and live in a hotel in Vegas and have $500 spending money a month, it does make you think!

Tomorrow (27th) will be a day of thoughts for my mum as it would have been her birthday and a year since she left us. But not a sad day as she is in a much better place now and will be looking down at me with a smile because she always wanted me to travel. I am watching the England match at 8pm at a sports bar then hitting the road to Vegas. Not sure how much I will be able to write on my blog because we all know....What happens in Vegas...!!!!

Few pics, first is my hotel with the mountains behind

















Salt Lake City has definately been my favourite place so far and will take some beating but I feel California will the best of the trip.