San Diego/Vegas get out 21 May (Sun. 23 May) Its actually after midnight here (what is new with me starting blog at that hour? - what keeps me tired and wretched folks!) Anyway there is no point in trying to catch up with things I might have "missed" etc - "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" as they say (but will for skae of 'continuity'). My flight x Vegas was 10.15 am (OK I will backtrack with hilites) and the shuttle said 7.30am pickup - no way 8am will do - we cannot guarantee you will get your flight sir (at about 6 mins from the airport - and no doubt last virtual pickup - think I'll take my chances thanks). So I was there well ahead of time and even had time to have ... read more

about the Grand Canyon (from San Diego on 23 May) I think I will just do some snaps on this - too long after the event to write. Very glad I did the plane fight out there, rather than bus - the bus is a 13 hr day to get there and back and hotel pickups at 6.30am or so! - the plane flight was a mere 11.15am pickup to leave from Boulder City airport at 12.30. Small plane with about 15 seats and large under wing windows - and being on my own got a solo side seat. Glad I did not have any breakfast as small planes do "swing" a little. Most of the flight over featureless landscape so when bits of canyon country hove into view it was a bit more interesting. The ... read more

LA Monday 17 May believe it or not, this will be fairly short and NO pix - all this cream all the time! - it takes me so long and I am very tired after about 4 hrs sleep last nite organising my Vegas fly-by which starts tomorrow - flight up on Tues. @ noon - back Friday + 3 niths in 4 star hotel Luxor - $471! - cheapest one way fare was $150 alone - so think I will come back and train down to San Diego to complete the S Cal thing. Spent the morning freezing on an open topped bus doing the Hollywood tour for $10 - Mondays is very quiet and only about 5 people on incl. me. Just as well one of the bus people lent me a zipped hoodie ... read more

Sunday 16 May time for these boots to get walking as have been so slack! Decided an all day metro pass for $5 - a trip is otherwise $1.25 - was best for convenience and hop on-hop off, However first had to eat last night's Japanese fried and teriyaki chicken remnants - along with some rather fiery tuna/chillli sushi rolls. Got the boys at the Hill St Cafe - which otherwise does the free b'fast for hotel guests - and is met with somewhat less than acclaim by web reviews - to heat it up. I did not relaise that styrofoam melts in the microwave - did you know that? - thanks lads. Then over to Union Station and as there was quite a lot happening stopped at El Pueblo area - lots of Spanish stalls ... read more

13 May LA - Venice Beach Its almost 11pm in downtown Venice Beach 13 May and I have more or less come home and brewed up some coffee - which I may or may not regret later on when I cannot sleep - it was mostly for a wake up call in the morning anyway =+ a shot of d/free 100 proof Southern Comfort - what was I thinking?? = thinking going to USA so seemed appropriate - the bottle says “assembled in ireland from Irish and other agreements” - WTF?? = _ I was thinking it was a US drink - maybe it is an Irish liqueur after all?? that aside - the trip? - as always I absolutely do not recommend flying East at all - West is OK, is Don - but westward ... read more