Geo: 34.0533, -118.245 I checked out of the Custom hotel in the morning and left my luggage for storage, the staff were most helpful and I was picked up from my hotel by the LA Tour promptly. I was taken to Santa Monica which has a theme park on a pier on the water, I looked around Santa Monica for some time while waiting for the rest of the group. The tour guide introduced himself as Brett and then we set off to beautiful Malibu, Brett parked the bus on the car park and told us that this was the car park where Jim Rockford's trailer was filmed in Rockford Files. We had a walk on the Malibu pier with great views of the beach. We were taken for a drive up the famous Sunset Blvd ... read more

Geo: 37.7792, -122.42We had an early start for sightseeing of San Francisco and today I had a young Lebanese lady sit next to me, she was having a holiday with her parents before getting married in the summer in Beirut. Our first stop was Stanford University Located in NW Silicon Valley, this famous research institution is not just one of the best schools in the United States, but one of the top universities in the world. I was not very impressed here after seeing English Universities and our next stop was The Golden Gate Bridge. The Iconic Golden Gate Bridge Before approaching the bridge there are few viewpoints you can visit and take photos of the bridge. The guide told us that San Francisco is usually foggy due to the mixture of moisture & cold air, ... read more

Geo: 34.0533, -118.245My flight with New Zealand airlines went very smoothly. I got very good vegetarian meals, snacks and drinks. I arrived at LAX airport early and I tried to ring my hotel Custom hotel for the free shuttle but my phone would not work.I was surprised as I had taken an extra bundle with "EE" my phone network and informed them about my trip, but then I used the call box. I was taken to Custom hotel by the shuttle which was only ten mins away.Check in was quick and the staff at the reception were very helpful.My room was very nice and cosy with views of the airport. I dropped my suitcase at the reception to be stored for 3 days as I was going for small tour to San Francisco, Salvang and Yosemite ... read more

Geo: 59.437, 24.7535 Today my daughter could not eat her breakfast as she was ill, I took a small walk to the Chemist and I bought more flu meds, hot water bottle for my daughter. My daughter told me to carry on with my free city walking tour as she wanted to sleep. We met at twelve outside the i office and we were group of ten, Anne explained the history about Kiek in de Kök which means peep in the kitchen, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and various places. We walked to the viewing platforms and also the Tower wall, Hellemann Tower that houses an art gallery, to the back of the city; we saw the Oleviste church from outside, passing the little cobbled lanes, beautiful buildings to the town centre and in the end we did ... read more

Geo: 56.9465, 24.1048We went for the champagne breakfast which was really nice with many varieties for the vegetarians and we then went to St Peter's Cathedral to see the views from top of the church, there is a lift to the top so we saved our legs. The 360 degree views of Riga were spectacular but it was bitterly cold and very windy so we did not hang out there for very long otherwise we would have hypothermia.There is a small charge of 7 euros for the lift but the views are worth it. Santa's Fun RunAfter St Peters church we went to town centre which had all the Christmas and New Year decorations on with elegant churches and some beautiful buildings with interesting architecture but the main Highlight was the Santa's Fair. Santa's Fair was ... read more