Boo Hoo we are going home

Wednesday 23rd September 2009...


Woke up early and off to breakfast (Jim decides to join in today) on the patio overlooking the beach...a great way to  and finished off the holiday...and so on to the mundane stuff like packing, we dont have to be too prissy as most things need a wash and/or iron...Carol is worried about the weight of the large cases, so we ask the concierge if they have some scales that they could lend us. No, but there are some  in the business centre, so Jon takes the heaviest case and goes to weigh it. The tension mounts as we await his return...the case is fine, so we ascertain that all the others being lighter should be ok as well...

We envisage a potential problem with returning the Dodge and getting to the airport. The airport drop off for Budget is miles away from the airport proper so there is a free shuttle bus service. Our concern is, that with us all being knackered and Jim's back starting to play up, will we be able to man-handle our 10 pieces of luggage (including carry-on bags) on the bus without going in to meltdown. No, is the answer, so Jim and Jon take the car back to LAX airport earlier than planned for ease of departure later on this afternoon...

Handing the car back was easy...then jump on the free shuttle to the airport and pick up a taxi back to the hotel ($40). We have a mini-bus van thing booked via the hotel, so its all aboard and off to LAX again.. the usual new airport experience confusion is in evidence until a nice bell-boy?? asks if we need any assistance, do we ever, and he has a big trolley for all our stuff... now I feel like Paris Hilton...we are guided to our check-in, where the luggage is weighed then put back on the trolley to go to another area for the x-ray machines...our kindly bell-boy says we dont have to pay him but he has saved us some serious mental meltdown so we give him a good tip...and off to find a coffee and a toilet.

Off through security and it feels like I'm taking everything off, they really are intense about it, and quite rightly so, it does make you feel safer. I managed to forget about a bottle of water in my backpack, so slapped wrist and a confiscation.

We are on a 747 Jumbo, so loads of room in premium economy for shoes, books, bags, & long legs. The 10hr + flight seems to fly by (sorry about that). No sooner had we had our food, watched a movie, and had a couple of hours sleep, and we are landing at Heathrow, so a good flight was had by all.

And so it ends.

One night at home and it is off to Belgium tomorrow on the 07:20 shuttle. My tante (auntie) is 90, so we are having a right big family and friends bash at A Mono restauant just ouside Walem on the old road to Antwerp.......Happy days........

And so to the last full day

Tuesday 22nd September 2009...


Had a leisurely start to the day...all three of us walked over to Santa Monica Pier for a last minute souvenir buying session, anklets, friendship bracelets, more magnets and general tat purchased..as well as coffee for Jim, pictures of the beach, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (yes, THAT Bubba Gump from Forrest!) and then a stroll up to 3rd Street Promenade for lunch (for Jon) and a drink (for Jim and Carol) at Hooters..finally Jon got to visit a Hooters (one more ticked off "the list")...then we separated to do some window shopping and Carol had a quick snack at Wolfgang Puck's for lunch whilst Jim drank more coffee...

In the afternoon we all decided to walk down to the beach for the last time and all got to say our last goodbyes to the Pacific Ocean...Jon went right in the waves and body surfed, Carol and Jim stuck to a sedate paddle...then back to the hotel for a quick freshen up and walk out to Buddha's Belly, an Asian/Noodle Bar which served fantastic food and was relaxed enough not to have to worry about dressing up on our final night...

Jon and Jim watched Transformers 2 on the TV, Carol started the packing and surfed the net and then it was bed....yes, a quiet one for our last night but we have a long and busy day tomorrow...and so ends the final full day in our epic US adventure of discovery. We are all pretty much physically and mentally exhausted but it has been worth every second of it to see and do the things we have seen and experienced.

So thank you America, we had a great great time.

A day at Universal Studios

Monday 21st September 2009...


Up and ready early for a day at Universal Studios...Jim had decided to treat us all to 3 tickets on the Universal Studios "V.I.P. Experience"...and what an experience it was...after a fairly easy drive we found our way to the VIP free Valet Parking service just by the entrance to the park (all included in the price of the ticket)..after that a short stroll to the side of the entrance found our V.I.P. welcoming lady who sent us up to a separate lounge to await our guide, Tony...with free coffee, cake, fruit and drinks we sat and looked around at our surroundings and fellow V.I.P.'s..a nice couple from Oregon, a Dad with his 2 young daughters from Melbourne, a group of Scandinavian guys and girls, a young Irish couple and a couple of middle aged men from Florida, who both worked at Universal Studios there!!..bit of a busman's holiday for them but they loved it!!..then our guide for the day, Tony arrived, we stocked up with bottles and bottles of water and we were off!!..

Firstly we went into the theme park section to do the "rides"...The Simpsons first and straight to the front of the queue, through the special V.I.P. gate and onto the ride..what an easy way of doing things..no standing in line for hours for poor Jim and his back...wonderful...the ride was amazing...a panoramic virtual roller coaster is the only way to describe it...you sat in the car and it moved like a roller coaster but you didn't go anywhere...it was all on the wrap around screen in front of you!!...it was so realistic and so funny - typical Simpsons and yes with all the voices too...afterwards we went outside and I got a picture with Marge and Lisa - I might buy that online or not...haven't made up my mind yet...

Then it was on to the Haunted House...very similar to the one at Madame Tussauds - you walk round it and people and things jump out at you...then Shrek 4D..again fantastic...you get the glasses to put on, sit in a cinema seat which moves and watch the cartoon...but a 3D cartoon and a very good one..none of these blue/red glasses here!!..much more sophisticated now...and with added effects like water, puffs of smoke and other things around your seat...once again fabulous stuff and of course we went to the front of the queue...

Then the Jurassic Park Water ride...what can I say?..it's a ride and you get wet...so it's on with the stylish plastic ponchos and wait at the end to see if you avoided getting soaked or not!..we have a picture of this one it was such fun...the final drop down the waterfall and splash into the lake is awesome...Jon managed to avoid all the water until the last leg when he turned away from a raptor spraying water and got it right in the face from its mate beside him...Hee hee

Final ride for us was The Mummy...Jim sat this one out as it was an actual roller coaster...and what a roller coaster...fast, forwards, backwards and in the dark...Carol did it and was very proud of herself as was Jon & Jim.

Then in a break from the schedule our guide took us behind the park to the back lot of the studios...we had a small window to go behind the scenes of the Conan O'Brien Tonight Show which is filmed there...and we were able to go inside the studio and look at the 10,000 lights, the cameras and the set all ready and waiting for rehearsal before that night's filming...as Tony was explaining all about Conan, who should open the side door and pop in but the man himself..he didn't talk to us but just to see him was a big treat as Tony said that had never happened before...

After a fabulous free buffet lunch (once again all part of the V.I.P. Experience ticket) of salads, fruit, hot meals, and free soft drinks and a bathroom break we gathered our group together for the Studio Tour...this is also a little different to the standard ticket price...we get a slightly different bus to sit in and on some of the "Set" parts we get to get out and walk around the set...we went on the old European Set which still had some of the "Spartacus" set up...and saw the Bates Motel from Pyscho and also the enormous Jumbo Jet crash from War of the Worlds...

Not only that but we got to visit the Archives Section, Paint Dept, and Props Section...this was fantastic - walking round taking pictures of all sorts of props from "Murder She Wrote" to "The Mummy", whilst Universal employees were actually taking stuff out that was needed for filming!!...we also got to see the street where Desperate Housewives is filmed, but didn't get to walk down it as it was closed off for filming (we did also see some DH extras waiting around one of the stages where indoor filming was going on too) and saw a production called "Eastwick" actually filming outside...not to mention going on the Jaws ride, the Earthquake ride, etc. etc...

We just had time after this to go to the shop, buy a few souvenirs before the park closed at 5...we picked up the car from the Valet and drove home in the LA rush hour....easy for us as we were going against the traffic and got home to have a shower and freshen up before finding a small pizza place on 3rd Street for dinner...then it really was an early bed as it had been a long, and very hot day, it had been in the 90's....but well worth it...one of the best days of the holiday and well worth being a V.I.P...

Relaxing around Santa Monica

Sunday 20th September 2009...


Carol was the only one up for breakfast and when the other 2 roused it was decided that a quiet day on the beach/by the pool etc was in order...we were all tired after our travels and needed a break from driving/sightseeing/drinking. First of all we hit the beach and pier...a Peace Event was being held on the Pier so it was a tad busier than usual, but the amusements looked fun, the ferris wheel (which lights up most beautifully at night) and rollercoasters were being tested for safety and all the other usual "end of the pier" stuff was going along merrily...Jon decided he wanted a swim in the Pacific so left Jim and Carol to have a gentle 3 mile round trip walk (flat thankfully) along the Santa Monica beach towards Venice Beach looking at all the beautiful people sunning themselves/jogging/roller blading/cycling/surfing etc.etc...interesting fact, the actual original "Muscle Beach" is a small spot located just on the beachfront by our hotel on Santa Monica, NOT the now more famous bit at Venice...

After a nice light salad lunch by the pool for Jim and Carol, we met up with Jon again (who'd had a wonderful swim in the ocean and got covered in sand and seaweed!) Carol decided to put on her costume and sunbathe by the pool area, whilst Jim and Jon went swimming and bodysurfing in the ocean...Wow those waves are immense and intense, we both end up with grazes and sand and seaweed in various un mentionable nether regions...later on, and a little dazed they joined Carol by the pool where Jon had a free neck and back massage and Jim sat in the jaccuzzi with Carol and generally relaxed...

Dinner was at the restaurant of another hotel (Shutters), a short walk along the beach from the Loewes (our hotel), and was very nice...lots of lovely crab cakes, soup, steak, fish etc. and beautifully fresh and well cooked as usual...then a walk back to the hotel for a quiet night in...all three of us ending up on the king bed watching Family Guy and American Dad before lights out!!..

Onwards to Santa Monica

Saturday 19th September 2009...


Up for breakfast (Carol and Jon) and then on the road again by about 10 a.m...this really IS the final leg of the 3,000 odd mile journey..and we set off in heavy mist...however about 30 mins along the road we notice a group of people standing in a parking place all looking out to sea...Carol notices a seal in the water so we decided to park up and have a look..when we get out and move closer we see, not one seal, but over 100 all basking in the sand and playing around with one another!!..it's an Elephant Seal Sanctuary and has got to be one of the most magnificent sights we have ever seen...we take hundreds of pics and lots of video of these wonderful creatures lazing around...and one lone sea lion who had strayed from his rock and ended up on the beach with the seals...

A guide was there to tell us all about the place and give us info on the website you can log into to follow news and progress of these beautiful creatures...it was a most amazing sight and we're all so glad we stopped off...

Then after a quick coffee break further along the road, we carried on winding our way along Highway 1...some of it by the coast and some inland, passing acres and acres of agricultural fields...strawberries, fruit trees and other unknown fruit and vegetables growing and being picked by workers...by mid afternoon we caught up with the 101 again and started to see the Malibu Hills and coast line..boy!!..what houses!!..it truly is the habitat of the rich and famous going by the size of some of the properties!!...and then our first glimpse of Santa Monica and it's famous beach and pier...very pleasant...although the whole journey along the coast all day had been plagued by this darn mist and it never really subsided so we didn't get the best look at the beach...

The hotel is big, bright and airy with a great pool area, a short walk to the beach (20 yards) and a nice 2 roomed suite for us to rest our travel weary bodies...after a quick unpack and a lovely meal in their restaurant we take a short walk up to the main shopping area, the 3rd Street Promenade...very fancy shops and a nice amount of bars and restaurants...one Margharita later for Jon and Carol and a voddie and coke for Jim and tiredness for the oldies crept in..Jim and Carol walked back to the hotel for an earliesh night and Jon carried on in search of more fun..he found it at a British pub called the Britannia, run by ex-pats where he made friends and consumed alcohol...a good time was had by all...

Route 1 - California coast

Friday 18th September 2009....


A sad early morning as we pack up and leave the beautiful apartment that we've had the pleasure to stay in during our four days at Ghirardelli Square and head off on the final two legs of our journey..but first we fulfill a lifetime dream for Jim by driving over the Golden Gate Bridge...we stop off at a view point across the bay for a final photo shoot of San Fran and then drive back across the bridge and take the slip road for California Highway 1..this is the coast road and what a magnificent coast it is!!...lots of crashing waves, surfers and fabulous vista points to stop and take pictures...

Jim had the bright idea of hiring a soft top Ford Mustang and ride down the Big Sur with Beach Boys music playing loud, but it looks like everyone else has the same idea, every other car is a soft top Mustang, well I counted 9 then gave up. So we are glad that we kept faith with the Dodge.

Most of the day continues like this...until around 3.30 when we reach The Big Sur and close in on our overnight destination Ragged Point...just a few miles before that however is a famous eatery called "Nepenthe", around for 60 years and famous for it's stunning cliff drop view (800 feet), the "Ambrosia Burger" and an hangout for ageing hippies!!..it doesn't disappoint...that hippy vibe is still there, the burgers are stupendous and the view even more so. Nepenthe means 'medicine for sorrow' in Greek mythology (Ne..not, penthos..sorrow) the view certainly would be a salve for ones grief..food is consumed, souvenirs are bought and it's on for the last 20 miles or so to the Ragged Point Inn, Ragged Point, which again is famous for it's views...

They're right..the views and sunset are magnificent...the hotel is more a "motel"..clean, fairly comfortable, but a little overpriced for what it is...however we are all tired out and appreciate the bed, the TV and an early night...it's been a long tiring day and Arnie in True Lies sends us off ready for a good sleep...

Last day in San Fran

Thursday 17th September 2009...

The weather is lovely today, which is good news, as sadly this is our last day in lovely San Francisco. Jon has an appointment for a hair cut and highlight session at a very swanky hair salon in town. The concierge at the Fairmont arranged it for him so we are not expecting it to be cheap. We get a taxi to the salon as the Caddy is being used... Carol and Jim walked into town then up and down Market Street and did a spot of window shopping and sightseeing. I think we are all shopped out now after our spending spree across the US (we appear to have two more items of luggage more than when we arrived)...Jim sees the head office of his last employer and gleefully takes a picture whilst thinking - I don't work for you anymore...sadly the streetcar queue was as long as ever so we had to give that up for a no go..

After a couple of hours rest and admiring Jon's very smart and stylish new hair cut we took the House Caddy. The valet who drove us was only about 5'2" and seemed to have trouble reaching the pedals and seeing over the steering wheel, but he drove the big Caddy very fast so we got to Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing) in no time at all. We are off for an afternoon tour of Alcatraz prison..it began with a short boat ride and then about and hour and a half to walk around the very atmospheric and creepy place...a fascinating place to look at and think of all the history behind it, but it was quite scarey to see the cells, especially Block D (Isolation) and to think of all those evil men who had served time in there...wouldn't have missed it for the world though...

After the boat ride back to shore, we walked along the Wharf front to the Rainforest Cafe where we had a nice evening meal...accompanied by waterfalls, thunderclaps, moving gorillas, elephants and big cats we tucked into steak, pasta, squid and nachos with dip!...then we walked back to our hotel and room for another early night - why are we always so tired?....tomorrow morning we're packing up and on the road again...this time to Ragged Point on the California Hghwy 1...a spectacular view over the ocean so I've heard!..