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Hello!!!
This part of the trip is where two worlds could not be further away! We left the chilled, relaxing, beautiful peaceful Fiji behind for an 11 hour flight, 19 hour time difference for the busy, manic, crazy LA to welcome us with jetlag once again in full force. This almost didn't happen with American immigration welcoming us. We got split up and Gem got interrogated with question after question after question. Many of which she couldn't answer and prompting another question. Meanwhile, Beth's officer was being incredibly rude and playing with his gun in a manner to try and scare her. Regardless of this we were found innocent of any suspicions and left to face LA.
We were staying on Hollywood walk of fame and it's just not the glitz and glam it's all made out to be! Until you visit LA I don't think people from the outside world understand! We sure didn't! There are three kinds of people in LA.. The rich.. The poor and the tourists. The divide between the rich and poor is just massive and really quite sad. We were told the homeless are those who have failed to make it in the industry
but ran away in the attempt too, those who are past military or those who can't afford insurance and have gone a bit mental. It really was an eye opener for us and hit home a little with us realising how lucky we really are. It was odd to see as it's a world completely conveyed towards Hollywood, Beverley hills and who's wearing what at the latest premiere which is not what we saw. We felt like all this was overlooked massively and almost kept hush hush from the rest of the world when in reality the problem is obvious!
Anywho less of the morbid and onto the glitz and glam that Hollywood did offer us! LA consisted of Venice Beach which was such a weird and wonderful place, Griffith park which was stunning with it's view of LA, the science museum which needed a mention as we geeked out for the whole day and visiting Rodeo Drive and Beverley Hills. We also saw the homes belonging to Brad Pitt, the Beckhams, George Clooney, Lady Gaga, Madonna etc etc. Now also we have been under the impression since we can remember that LA is the spot that celebs hang
out and live. We were told, and read that it is lame to leave LA without seeing one. We will hold our hands up and admit that we have left without seeing a single one (excluding Reece Witherspoon at her premiere). This did not happen without us trying, we drank in bars they drink at, we shopped where they shop and even ate next door to the Ivy! Nothing!
'Wait for San Diego' they said. 'You'll love San Diego' they said. 'There's less of the crazy' they said! We struggled for the first day to agree with this statement! After arriving in the city, we went on a public transit bus to where we were staying. No word of a lie, we thought we had got on to an asylum bus! From the batty little old women talking to themselves to the old men making rude gestures at nothing and no one, we were beginning to wander what we were doing and why! If things couldn't get any worse, we arrived to a gay hostel. Having booked on hostel world and not seeing past the fact they give you free cookies upon entry, we failed to see that it
was gay friendly. Despite this, it was an ace place to stay, pretty central and walking distance to the world famous San Diego zoo which obviously had a day designated to it. It was huge and had all sorts of bears, pandas, polar bears, crocs and of course elephants etc etc! It supplied us with the elephant dosage we (Gem) needed!
We also walked along the waterfront, had a Mexican, shopped and watched a baseball game. It was San Diego Pedras vs Colorado Rockies and we would love to explain how the game works but we are still none the wiser. We do however know that San Diego won which was good and the atmosphere was really cool. Despite the bad start, we had a really good time!
So on to Vegas! Vegas was the place that made us love America! What a city! It was bustling with tourists, alcoholics, party animals, gamblers and it was sooo good! They had a fake New York and a fake Paris and obviously the hotels and casinos are all worth a visit. We achieved the life long dream of gambling in Vegas! Not only did we do this but we gambled and
won. We can totally relate to addicts who get addicted in the game as we started believing the winnings could pay for what started as just a taxi home and then went to the whole trip! After one go, we won 8 dollars and it sent us very giddy and excitable. Once rejoicing and collecting our winnings, we stepped to one side overwhelmed with such success for the man behind us to collect 3 and a half grand. This motivated us to gamble more but despite this, we left with our head held highs and our 6 dollar profit!
We also visited the mighty Grand Canyon! Words cannot explain that view. It was so vast and just felt like we were looking into a giant painting! We went to a cowboy village to begin where we could (fake) shoot cowboys, then eagles point and then guanas point which were just stunning! It was such a good day and honestly there are no words to explain the epicness of it!
So we left Vegas with heavier pockets on a rather horrific overnight greyhound bus to San Francisco! In true American style we stopped at 3am for a meal break, yes
Alcatraz
They tried to keep Beth! 3am!!! 'They do excellent chicken and rice and snacks', the driver said, waking everyone up. We eventually arrived into San Fran early and did what we do best... sat in Starbucks and drank lots of coffee. Whilst here we have explored the Golden Gate Park, met up with Beth's old work friend Kyra and her dad which was great and managed to see the Book of Mormon for only £32 - bargain! Unfortunately, much like the rest of America, San Francisco has areas that attract a mass of homeless and violence is abundant. We stayed down the road from an area that has 11-14 murders per year just on Tenderloin which is a must avoid on all travel forums and books, we didn't realise this when we booked that hostel... We made it out alive though - panic over mums!
But on to the great and grand. We walked over the Golden Gate Bridge which is over a mile long and has been in LOADS of films such as Planet of the Apes so we decided to re-enact this and be monkeys. Whilst walking we saw a seal in the bay and had amazing views of the city and of Alcatraz which we visited today.
Alcatraz closed in 1969 and had over 2000 prisoners through it's doors whilst it was a penitentiary prison. We walked down the hallways and looked in the cells, dining halls, yard etc. It's amazing to know that some of Americas most notorious criminals were housed there. We reenacted scenes from prison break, grabbed our orange Alcatraz t-shirts and are now heading to Seattle where we'll be for one night before embarking on our spontaneous cruise to Alaska!
See you on the other side brother!
Gem and Bef x
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