HOLLYWOOD...................

We arrived in LA Anna was still with us, we got dropped in downtown not a very nice part of LA then  got a cab to our hotel in Hollywood. We found a supermarket right across the street so go some dinner there.

The next day we did the Hollywood strip  and looked at all the stars and the Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theatre then had lunch at hooters and wandered by to the motel to lay by the pool in the sun for the afternoon.

The next day we got a bus to Santa Monica we wandered round the pier then had lunch at Bubba Gump and then lay on the beach where we met up with Katie, then bussed back then Anna had to leave to get her plane back to nz. Rachs friend Kate from camp arrived that night to stay with us for a few days.

Next day we went to Disneyland we got the bus there so we had to get up super early to get there on time we got the metro first then the bus it took about an hour an half, but we got to Disneyland in plenty of time and got our tickets we were right at the front of the line for when the actual gates opened at ten am. We met up with Simons friend Rory from camp he hung out with us during the day .We didn’t have to wait in any ques all day the longest was probably 5mins which was excellent. The bus journey home on the other hand not so fun, we caught an early bus than we had planned but this is great the bus was waiting as we walked out the gate well so we thought it was great we were heading down the freeway then all of a sudden the bus just stops then he couldn’t get it going then we finally got going, but we continued to cut out every time we stopped at the lights, he finally flagged down another bus after a long long wait and we transferred buses. We then got the metro back to Hollywood and got home about 10.45pm when we had left at like 6.15am yikes long day.

Next day we went to universal getting there was so simple compared to Disney, we just caught a metro one stop then we got a free shuttle from the metro up the hill to universal studios, again right as it opened at 10am no ques yet again we did the studio tour first which was really cool there was a 360 degree 3d king Kong movie which was awesome and we got to see the set of wisteria land aka desperate housewives. Jurassic park ride was next and we had heard you got wet but we got soaked literally felt like they got a bucket of water and threw it at our faces but it was sooo fun and it kept us cool for a while in the hot sun!!! we did the mummy ride,  Again no ques for the rides apart from the Simpsons ride which took about 30mins but nothing too big. We then had lunch and did the animals on film show, then water world show which was really really good, then the special effects show and then we decided to finish on the haunted house not the best idea was freaky as, but it was fun. Then we headed home via Hollywood blvd were we walked past jimmy kimmel live and people were lining up we knew that you could get free tickets to and we were planning to the next day but the girl stopped us and asked if we wanted to go and then she told us who was going to be on the show and Rachel and I freaked out KHLOE KARDASHIAN so there was no way we could say no, Simon had to run back to the hotel to met mike so he couldn’t go. It was so cool we got out about 8ish and headed back to the hotel, to watch the rugby world cup opening ceremony and the first game we all watched the first twenty mins or so then fall asleep as it was about 1.30 in the morning.

The next day we were all very slow and tired but we decided to do a star tour, which was awesome they took us up the Hollywood hills to look out over at the Hollywood sign, then we went down  Sunset blvd to the sunset strip were there were lots of famous clubs and things, then into Beverly Hills and Bel Air and then down rodeo drive and back to Hollywood along Melrose ave (place). We then grabbed some dinner and Kate left to go back to nz. Rach and Si went to a gig that Davis was working at I was going to go with but I feel asleep.

The next day we got up had lunch then we walked from our hotel all the way to rodeo drive did a spot of shopping (not) and had photos in front of the Beverly hills sign and then got a taxi back to the sunset strip were we had a few drinks, then back to the hotel Rachel and I feel asleep but the boys went out on the town as it was their last night together.

We slept in very very late I think all the travelling finally caught up with us as we were exhausted!!! Went down to Hollywood stars for a bit did a few jobs then back to lay by the pool, got some dinner then mike got picked up, last night with Rach and Si and we watched forest Gump and chilled out.

The next morning Rach and Si left about 7.30am to get their shuttle to the airport to fly to Canada! I mosied around the hotel for a bit then got to the train station to get a train to San Diego to met with Katie from camp!!!!

Las Vegas............

We picked up our car from San Fran airport and headed off on our road trip, first stop was Santa Cruz, brief stop and lunch then back down the 101 to Santa Barbara, the town of Santa Barbara is very cute, we parked up and walked down the pier, then we headed about 10mins down the road to Carpintera where we stayed the night, in the morning we got up and went for a run to the beach to check it out, then back to the motel to get on with the road trip.

We drove from carpintera down the 101 through Los Angeles into Las Vegas where it was insane hot. Got to Vegas about 3/4pmish checked into hotel. We went for a swim in our pool looking up at the Eiffel tower, best hotel of the trip for sure! Phil and Tanya then dropped Anna off at 7pm as she was joining us on this part of our trip. We then went to the naked and famous (NZ band) at the cosmopolitan then met up with Lucy, Char, Jess, Abbie and Katie (camp friends), went to Bellagio water show and to another bar then headed home.

 Next day we wondered the strip, Planet Hollywood, New York New York, MGM went into all the casinos checked them all out, was insanely hot though. We went to Caesars palace for a swim. We went out that night to Treasure island show and checked out the venetian met up with the girls from camp again then met with Rach and Si friends and went to the rock bar then home.

 Next day we pool hopped, started at the Paris, then to planet Hollywood, then the flamingo. Back to the hotel to get ready to go to the lion king, we walked all the way to the Mandalay bay took like an hour and it was so hot, but the show was amazing amazing, we were able to check out the Luxor while we were down there as well.

 Next morning we got up super super early to check out of the Paris and get our bus tour to the grand canyon, we stopped off at Hoover dam first which is huge!!! Then out to the Grand Canyon, the photos don’t show how insanely giant and amazing it really is. We walked around the south rim for an hour or two then back on the bus for a long drive back to Vegas, we then checked into our next hotel summer bay resort, which was like a time share kind of thing, we had a full kitchen and laundry room within our room which was great.

Saturday we got the bus to the outlet mall and then back to the pool at the hotel, we got some food from target and had a little Vegas family dinner in our room. Left the next morning at about 11am to get the bus to la before we left, I hadn’t gambled the hole time we were in Vegas and we had some time to kill before the bus so I went into Bally’s and found a 25c machine so I put my $1 in and tried my luck first two nothing on the third try Rach got really excited and I thought yay I must have won, then we see it had gone up to $40, I immediately got my cash, then went and bragged to Anna and Si haha, then it was on the bus to Los Angeles!

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair!

What a long day of travel to San Fran, a very frantic get ready to get a taxi to the airport in New York luckily we had packed the night before! But we made it there on time, we were all exhausted and I forgot about my water bottle going thru security so I had to line up again and the line was massive I don’t know why the stupid security guard didn’t just let me throw the water out then go thru the scanners again grrr very frustrating! We then got on our plane to Chicago, weirdest plane seating ever it was numbered and you go on board via your numbered order but then you can sit we’re ever you want luckily we got three seats together at the back of the plane. In Chicago we got a connecting flight to San Fran little did we know we were going via Denver, Colorado and had a stop there but we didn’t have to get off the plane which was good! We then arrived in San Fran and got a taxi to our hostel. The hostel was awesome very safe and secure and we got a free dinner that night which was awesome, we had a private room with a double bed then a single bunk above!

First day in San Fran, we walked from our hostel down to Pier 33 to pick up our tickets for Alcatraz, it was freezing compared to New York thank goodness we brought jumpers and jackets with us, when then wandered down to pier 39 and thru the shops and saw the seals! Then onto Alcatraz for our 9.30am tour, we did the audio tour when we got onto the island it was really really well done very interesting, if your gona go to Alcatraz you have to do the audio tour!

When we got back from the ferry we walked along the waterfront to a market at the Embarcardo ferry building and got some fruit and Rach and I found a mince pie which we were very excited about!! When then walked up Market Street and had a look in the Westfield mall which was huge and the onto Union Square which is just a small park seating area in the middle of town! We then walked down to the waterfront again to the Baseball stadium and we brought some tickets for that night went and had a few drinks then headed back to the stadium which was amazing were we were sitting it looked right out over the water! One problem was it got very very cold sitting up that high so we were all freezing during the entire game but it was fun to go and see a game in the USA! And the San Fran Giants are the reigning champs!!!

Our 2^nd day in San Fran we picked up bikes from around the corner and cycled down to Fishermans wharf and up to the bridge which we couldn’t even see! It was freezing as well very foggy but we toughed it out and biked all the way to Sausalito which was so pretty blue sky and sunshine! We had fish and chips and the yummiest ice cream down by the water, we then biked all the way back across the beach to our hostel. We had another free dinner and then we had an arranged pub crawl with the hostel which was fun just walked to a few bars around the area met some nice people.

The 3^rd day in the foggy city, we had our bikes for 24hrs so we made use of them again and biked thru Chinatown up all the way up market st to the golden gate park we were nearly there then Rachs bike got a flat tyre so we had to push our bikes to find a shop to fix it. We headed into the park we wanted to go into the Japanese Tea gardens but they cost $7 to get in yikes so we just popped our head in the door! We then biked back via the painted ladies (postcard row) then back to the bike shop we thought we would be smart and get a more direct route back but we ended up having to walk up a really steep hill then down a really steep hill to get back but we made it! After we dropped our bikes back we walked to Lombard street which was really really cool. We then went back to the hostel and got ready and headed to Fishermans wharf for a real San Fran seafood dinner!

4^th day we walked up to the coit tower then down to Fishermans wharf along the shops got my san fran shot glass then walked down to Ghirardelli square and got hot fudge sundaes from Ghirardelli which were delicious. We then we lined up for the cable car and got them from Powell st into town by union square, we then walked into Chinatown thru the Chinatown gates and walked around then we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner which was really good then back to the hostel to pack our bags and watch a movie.

5^th day we got up early and checked out of the hostel and walked down to market st to get the train to the airport we then picked up our car and headed off for our road trip.

Later San Fran hello Las Vegas!!!!!!