So after a 10 hour flight we arrived safely in LA. After not being there since I was 11 (no sarcy comments please people)it seemed quite strange. On arrival at customs we realised that we had arrived on the same day that we had left Fiji (strange or what) but since I just didn't think about crossing the equator and the time change I had booked our hostel for the following night. Luckily they took pity on us and we managed to get a dorm bed in the same place.
Well, I can honestly say it wasn't the best place, just up the road from Venice Beach (which was something) just off Washington Boulevard, local to bars, shops and restaurants at least we managed. That night we met Sony and Chris from Austria who were two of our room mates, but being us we had to explore the local bars so hardly even saw them that night. We had however, been told that Sunday was a good day to go to Venice Beach as all the locals were out in their splendour and boy was they. It was like one large freak show but highly amusing. There was an old boy dancing with no shirt on and just shorts - nice look, do you have a license for that weapon I thought ha. There was an old girl in a long gold larmay cape - Wonder Women eat your heart out - then again I did actually wonder if she was a women ha. As we watched the locals it was so funny so we just sat there drinking wine and agog with amusement at the locals. Luckily the bar we had taken root in supplied bright red blankets so we snuggled up nicely and watched the sun set. Very entertaining. That night on return back to the ranch, we had already moved into our double ensuite room, but I had somehow lost the key. Since the guy on duty was liviing in a van in the garage, you know, like you do the peasant, we knocked and asked if he could let us in our room. He would not get his lazy arse out of bed so sent his asian girlfriend to take over his supposed duties. She did try and help but was unable to find the right key for our room and told us she was sorry but we would have to sleep in the lounge that night. "I don't think so." I said "We have not paid 60 dollars to be sleeping on a couch." I really lost it and went upstairs turned the handle of our door and smashed the door down. It is not as bad as it sounds I did break some of the frame but because I had turned the handle did not break the lock. It did however cost us 100 bucks the next day to fix but I was not sleeping on the couch for anyone. The next day we began so trips which were fab. We also had a handwriting analysis, which we both agreed was very accurate - how scary.
The next day we changed accommodation and had a really nice room in the Jolly Roger Motel, so it was really nice to have somewhere nice to stay for 2 nights before heading off to Vegas.
The next day we went to Disneyland - the home of Mickey and Minnie. It was a bit of a chore to get there on buses and trains but once we arrived we were welcomed to the land of make believe. We took a wet and wild luge ride which was like a roller coaster in the dark and then soaked you on the way out which was fun. That I think was the only ride we really had to queue up a long time for, but well worth it. We then went on a mini train roller coaster thing and that was a right laugh. Other than that as you will see from the pics, we walked round and just took in the sights and the gift shop. It was a really hot day and lovely to be back there after so long.
We then did a 3 Day Trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon - We were so chuffed to find out that we could do this trip for not extortionate money. So off we set with our new irish friends Grania and Maureen on a 3 day trip. There was a full bus but we had a great guide and had a real laugh and on route also met Jenny from Sydney who I might add is a make-up artist for the cast of Home and Away and Emma from Melbourne who is soon to be coming to London to live and work. It was so hot but we all mucked in and had fun.
Our first stop was the Hoover Dam - 726ft tall. 96 people died creating this historic site. There is a memorial garden in honour of the people that died there. This is a highly secured area due to the potential threat it posses following the 9/11 disaster in New York.
Lake Meade - beautiful and picturesque - the pictures say it all.
Las Vegas - WOW - what a place. I have never seen so many hotels in one place and so many lights. It was 100 degrees in the night and although being a dessert, was a real touch of class. All the high rollers were out in force, oh to have money I thought. That night we just stayed in our local bar/casino at the Super 8 Motel and chatted to a lovely guy called Paul who was from Chicago. We then crashed out as we were so tired.
The next day it was up and out at 6.30am ready to head off to the Grand Canyon. We were all really excited. On route we saw Bedrock City, the home of the Flintstones. Fred, Barney,Wilma and Betty ole Pebbles and Bam Bam. Unfortunately we only saw the outside and did not have time to visit it properly. The weather was looking a bit wet so on arrival to the Canyon, we were told that they had cancelled the flights. We were so upset, but our lovely guide Nick made sure that he took us to the Canyon to get pictures and walk around. Luckily for 5 of us we managed to get a helicopter flight in the end and flew over the Grand Canyon. By this time the weather had cleared and they took a slightly different route to avoid the storms. It was the most amazing thing ever. We were so pleased that we had been given the chance to see this seventh wonder of the world - we would recommend it to anyone.
It was an amazing day but a long one so when we arrived back in Vegas at 9pm we showered and arranged to party with Jenny and Emma. So we met them for a meal and hit some of the casino's to see just what it was all about. The MGM Grand, The Ellis Island Casino, The Monte Carlo, The Escalibur and New York New York and for the piste de resistance The Belagio. Well needless to say that we got back at 6am that morning (just us two) and had 3 hours sleep before reboarding the bus back to LA. Nothing changes ha.
Once back in LA we went back to Iain's place (our original haunt on arrival to LA). Luckily we stayed in our double room again and all was well, the door had been fixed and everyone was happy. So we went for some dinner and repacked our case ready to fly to Canada the following day.
