LA

9/10 Uneventful bus trip to Santa Monica, which took a little longer than expected due to LA traffic. Arrived at the Fairmont Mirramar how luxurious. We had to accept an upgrade to a suite because the room we had booked wasn't available, beautiful suite but alas no view, they also threw in complimentary Champagne, chocolates and strawberries as Jac told them we had renewed our vows and celebrated my birthday. Checked out a few shops had dinner and back to our room for a few drinks before bed.
10/10 Not happy with our upgrade due to no view, so Jac sweet-talked the receptionist and got us downgraded to the room we had paid for which was smaller than the suite but has a balcony with a view, have to wait till tomorrow though. Six hour tour of LA, beaches, Hollywood and movie stars homes, excellent. Rodeo Drive was good but way too expensive. Back to the hotel around dinner time, so off we went to find tucker, there are so many fast food places but no where near as many Macca's as I thought there would be. Not that we wanted to eat there anyway.
11/10 Saturday shopping day.....woo hoo, we love Sears, lots of bargains and didn't get back to the hotel till around 3. Our new room was ready, so much better to have a room with a view even though we were back to one room. Had dinner at a Dagwoods a pizza and sub place, very yummy.
12/10 Caught the local bus back to Venice beach which we visited briefly on our LA tour. More shopping and lots of sights. Bus back to the hotel for a few drinks before a stroll down to the pier to have dinner at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. Yum diddly yum yum, Joodz and I had a cocktail that came in a souvenir lava lamp glass that we got to keep. Back to our room for a drink before an early night as we had to catch public transport to Universal studios in the morning.
13/10 Happy Birthday Carol. Up at 6am to catch a bus (1 hour journey), then transfer to the subway to Universal City. We paid for the VIP Experience which was excellent and well worth the $'s, included morning tead, lunch and gave us front of line access to the rides and reserve seating at the shows. A very long day as we had the return public transport journey, didn't arrive back to our hotel till 9:30pm.
14/10 Our last day on US soil. Jac sweet-talked the receptionist again and got a late check out at 7pm for no extra cost, our plane doesn't leave until 11:30pm and we don't fancy being homeless, check out is usually noon. Jac and I are off to do a little last minute shopping and lunch, Joodz is going to sloth and maybe do some last minute shopping. This maybe my last blog as the island we are staying on in Fiji has no telephone, internet or TV so it will depend on what we find at our overnight stopover in Auckland Sunday night and also whether I am too knackered.
If I don't get to blog again.......see you all back in the land of Oz :o)

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