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Published: July 20th 2008
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We arrived in San Francisco on the 1st July, after a very long flight from Fiji which felt like it lasted about 3 days. Rewarded by 2 nights in a private room to chill out and get our bearings, before moving on to the USA Hostel which is in the centre of San Francisco, not far from Union Square and all the shops (H&M is very dangerous place when you've been travelling for 3 months, especially when there's a sale on!). So we spent the first few days shopping and exploring, and getting used to the extremely weird weather that they experience here. Sunny and warm, but nearly always misty or windy because of the sea and something to do with a penincular... somebody explained it but ive forgotton.
Then on the Friday we took the tram from the city centre to Fishermans Wharf and looked around the famous pier 39, where they were having their 4th July celebrations. There was a big festival on during the evening and fireworks etc, so we joined a big group of people from the hostel and walked down there. Walking back again was a slightly different story though as the hills in San
Francisco are almost all vertical and very very long, it was seriously like climbing mountains, got some good thigh toning that day (we took the bus after that).
The next day there was a big Baseball match on, San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers, so we thought we'd check out this sport that America loves so much. We were really lucky to get tickets cos it was completely sold out, which was hard to believe as the stadium holds over 40,000 people! But managed to get some really good seats and the family we were sitting with explained all the rules to us and when to stand up/sit down/shout certain things/ sing national anthem etc. A very American experience, with all the hot dogs, popcorn and beers to boot. Even if it was 3 hours long!! (with no breaks) It was really good fun, and not much like rounders at all afterall..
After a few more days in the city, it was time to take a trip out to the country so i went on a wine tour to the Napa Valley, which was amazing and so beautiful. We went to 2 Wineries and tryed some Champaigne
and some other wines that i pretended to know stuff about and then went and had lunch. It was extremely hot inland, there was a heat wave goin on at the time an it was like walking around in a massive oven, but we went and had a swim in the Russian river in the afternoon and i did some rope swing jumping, mega fun, but many other injuries incurred (you find you are more confident after a few glasses of wine..). On the way back we drove over the bridge which is in the film Stand By Me, which i thought was very exciting, unfortunatly the rest of the tour bus thought it was more amusing to take the mick of my accent... Americans don't say the word biscuit by the way. Who would have thought it!
As we had another 2 weeks in California, we decided to go on a trip to LA and Vegas for 5 nights, so hopped on a greyhound and headed down South. It was a lot warmer down in LA, and really busy as it's the Summer holidays here at the moment. The hostel we were staying in was right on the
Hollywood Blv, so we were right next to the walk of fame, so spent quite a while looking at all the names and trying to spot famous people. An also went on a walking tour to see Bel Air and all the famous peoples houses in Beverly Hills, including the Playboy Mansion (should have seen Ruths face, she very nearly tryed to climb over the gate at one point). Then checked out Rodeo drive where we looked but did not touch (although i did try on 1 shoe!) Still didnt see any famous people though, think we were trying a bit too hard. But apparently when we went out to the clubs that night some people saw Matthew Perry and Lindsey Lohan... apparently.
Next stop was Las Vegas, staying at the Imperial Palace hotel for 2 nights, which was right on the strip, such a treat to have a hotel room and having a casino in the lobby! Only managed to lose $20 while we were there, played a bit of Blackjack and some Roulette, mainly so that we could get free drinks, because if you gamble then you get free drinks, wicked. Although turns out that if you're
a girl in Vegas then drinks are not a problem, and neither is entry fees to clubs, girls get in free everywhere, its just the guys that have to pay $10 to get in, haha. We had a night out to celebrate my birthday, so got all dressed up and even wore some bunny ears for the occasion, and had a few drinks at the Coyote Ugly bar, which was interesting.. The actual bar itself has bras hanging from it and the only dance floor is up on stage and only girls are allowed on it, so did a bit of that and got some free shots.. all good. Then went to a club called the Rockhouse which was pretty cool, then stumbled back to the hotel which never sleeps. Vegas is the most random place in the world, but you gotta love it, you are gauranteed to have a great night out everytime. 2 nights was never enough time, but money was running out so we headed back to San Francisco on a 15 hour bus journey!! (never again). And went back to stay in USA Hostels again, just in time for my birthday.
On my actual birthday
we went for lunch at a nice Indian restaurant round the corner- who said eating indian at lunch time was wierd.. And then went to our favourite 50's diner for Apple Pie A la Mode and the most amazing Oreo milkshake i have ever had! Then went on a pub crawl (led by me) with the rest of the people of our hostel. Had a fab time, met loads of really great people. Definately a memorable birthday.
Tomorrow we fly to New York for one week and then head home. Roll on flight number 9..
Love from Birthday Bunny and playboy bunny xxx
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