What a start!!!!

After a tearful goodbye on Emily's part and a very very sad goodbye for Vicky we set of on our long adventure, with hopes of excitement and fun for the next four months. We shopped then headed straight for the bar to celebrate.

The flight was interesting, there was a black guy next who us who let out a little chuckle every so often which we eventually found out was because he was watching Norbit. We then got free ice cream as in the flight atendants words we were special, really it was because Emily had been chatting away to him earlier. The flight was long but good, with free food and drink all the way, a big choice of films, we chose Because I said so - funny girly film, Purfume - horror with a shocking and odd ending, then Vicky watched the Tigger Story while Emily watched a little Mermaide.

Tired and looking forward to bed we left the plane only to have to queue for an hour and a half to get through customs, this is because they had three people taking everyone's finger prints and photos. Happy Emily managed to get through customs, only to realise we were in the wrong place for the buses, so we found a shuttle service to Santa Monica, however when we went to board they told us that we were not staying in Santa Monica but Hermosa Bay, luckly after much deliberation they agreed to go out of their way and take us.

Then we got to the hostel.........................OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the biggest dive we have ever seen in our lives, we really can't explain hovel doesnt even cover it, the photo's don't really show it, both feeling unsafe and wanting to go home we just put our heads down and had a very broken sleep, we were sharing a room, with a homeless person, a wierdo and a girl who never spoke. We were scared that we would have to spend the rest of our travels like this.

The next morning after much deliberation as to whether to make the most of it (if that was possible) or whether to move on and try and find something better we met Alfi, a german guy who has been travelling for the last 2 years, he lent us his laptop to work out how to get to Santa Monica and to book a hostel there, eventually he offered to drive us there, so knowing it was a 2 hour bus trip we accepted, Alfi became our saviour we got to the new clean friendly nice hostel checked in and bought him coffee to say thanks. Thanks to Alfi's lift we managed to get to Santa Monica by 10.30am so we booked on to a sight seeing bus tour.

First stop was Venice Beach... aka Muscle Beach...but there were no muscles to be seen, but there were lot's of people playing basket ball as they did in White Men Can't Jump which was filmed there. We walked along the little shop's and met two black guys who wanted us to listen to thier hip hop CD as they were the 'next big thing' they were good but we still didn't buy there CD hehe!!

Next was Beverly Hill's and the Star's home followed by Bell Air then on to Rodeo Drive, where we saw the shop used to film Pretty Woman (the one that wouldn't serve her). We walked in to Gucci etc but no one thouht Vicky was Katie Holmes. Next was Hollywood which was suprisingly run down, we got off our tour to look at the stars and the footprints this was an interesting experience as the chinese kept asking for pictures of us and pictures with us all very odd and we have no idea why.

Then home to our new lovely hostel. After a quick change we went for a walk along the pier where they filmed Forest Gump and had a typical american burger and chips.

Next for Vicky was bed, but Emily carried on late into the night meeting new friends and playing poker, with four French people an an Irishman.

For our next and last day we roller bladed on the beach track (very painful) lasted 40mins so then man let us swap for 3 wheeled bikes for the last 20mins.

Then we wasted the afternoon in Macy's and sears, dinner in a diner that looked like it was straight out of Grease the movie.

Finally, the bus to the airport... when we arrived at the airport after checking in, we sat down at a bar and had a drink while watching a basketball match (true americans already!) We must have taken the last table as a man came over shortly after and asked if he could sit at our table to watch the basketball, obviously we said yes as we're here to meet as many people as possible, we got takling to him and he was from sweedon on his way to a wedding in spain. Luckily he took pity on us poor skint travellers and paid for our drinks when the bill arrived. Very nice man!

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