Home

So I'm now home and back to reality. It's so strange how I've been away for so long and yet it doesn't feel like any time has actually passed when I talk to people. Although, I know I've changed and grown so much this last year! But I haven't changed completely! Mum was worried I'd been someone differently at home but when I hyper actively started jumping around the kitchen being a bunny rabbit (I'd had 10 hours sleep in 3 days and so was a bit out of it) she knew I was the same bizarre and slightly odd person that had left 8 months ago!

San Francisco and back to LA

Day 217: Day of Sport

In the morning I had a bit of a lesuirely start, enjoying the breakfast in the hotel with a few of the people from the tour and checke out before Johnson picked me up. I met Johnson and Tom on the Uluru trip and they said if I come to San Fransisco I could stay with them so I took advantage of that this weekend. 

Johnson picked me up and then we drove down the crookedest street in the world. I'd walked it yesterday but it was cool to drive it as we'll. That street is not a place you want to find out that your breaks don't work.   

We then drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped and walked to two good photo spots where I could get a good view of the bridge and then one back across towards the entire bag whilst he pointed out all the top spots. 

Reunion

Golden agate Bridge

We then drove to Tom's house to drop off all my stuff before heading into town to go and watch a AUDL (professional frisbee) game. We watched the San Fransisco flamethrower vs the San Jose Spiders. It was a really good match and reminded me just how much I missed playing! I also had my first American cheese toasty food truck experience at the insistence of the boys! Pretty delicious. 

Flamethrower a vs San Jose Spiders

American half time show! They were so good

After wandering along the bay front near the game and then heading back to grab warm clothing we met up with Tom's girlfriend and then went to the baseball. We watched the San Fransisco Giants vs Miami and the giants lost 5-0. San Fransisco really gets windy and it was dark so the wind was wiping around the stadium. So glad we'd brought a blanket and that Steph and I were sitting in the middle so could claim most of it for ourselves. We weren't warm under it but so much better than we'd have been otherwise. Had another American tradition (food was the theme of my time with them) in the park, garlic fries and chicken tenders! Yum! 

AT&T park

Once the game was over we went and got ice cream in an adult focused ice cream shop... You could get whiskey and ice cream but I went with the strawberry margarita sorbet. Yum!

We then decided to try out the Urban Golf (indoor mini golf) that had opened up  a few weeks ago. It was so good! Why can't mini golf in the UK have this much thought. They were all themed differently, some played music if you hit the drum or went across the piano, another had an arcamedies screw and another you hit it onto a pad and then the ball rolled on the screen. Such a good way to end the evening before going home. 

I got the most points.. That means I win right?

San Fransisco is so techy! You can see why new apps and products get big here first. Want a lift - Uber it. And no one goes into a restaurant before they've heckled the review on one app or another! 

Day 218: Bay to Breakers 

We'd left the house by 7am to get to an all American breakfast at one of Steph's firends's house in preparation for the bay to breakers day. I had waffles, whippe cream, and lots of berries. Other people had egg, bacon and KFC chicken as well! Only in America would KFC for breakfast be deemed as okay! We drank champagne and orange juice (only the best for this backpacker) before leaving the house to join in with the masses. Bay to Breakers is a serious race but everyone else 'parades' behind, along the course route, in fancy dress. I've never seen so many people dressed up. I just wish I had a costume. Felt out of place in normal clothes! It was pretty crazy even though the locals say it's so muh tamer than previous years! Costumes, some people were naked, all these houses had music blaring from ska in the front garden. Never experienced anything like that before. 

Crowds at Bay to breakers

We were home just after midday and all collapsed out on the sofa. Steph's friends were so lovely and invited me out to a Burmese restaurant a few blocks away for lunch which was really nice of them. A bit of a strange experience since half our group were in costume, the other half weren't and we were pretty far away from the race so we did look a bit odd sitting there. The waiter was lovely who served us though. Service in America is so good :)

In the afternoon we chilled out in front of the TV and I used that chance to do some washing as I was completely out of clean clothes. 

Johnson had to drive back home but Steph, Tom and I went out for a lovely Japanese and then we drove down to the cliff front to watch the evening sky (we missed sunset) and then drive through the Golden gate park. 

Back at Tom's Steph left and we watched Game of Thrones before heading to bed. 

Day 219: Cable cars, Alcatraz and night time SF

Tom left for work at 7 so I was up at that time too and got the bus with him into the city. Obviously it was far to early to check in but I was able to drop off my bags, take advantage of the free breakfast and call the family.  

I went to the cable car museum as it opened and then took a cable at down to fishermans wharf. I was standing next to the driver and it was the second time he'd been out with passangers on board! The guy he had with him showing him what to do was so funny! 

Cable car

First stop once off the cable car was to Ghiradelli square, where amazing chocolate is made. The shop was giving away free samples so I enjoyed that! I then walked back towards Fishermans wharf, back past the cable cars, and was able to see one being turned on the turntable at the end of the track. 

I had a mosey in the shops and had a clam chowder inside a bread roll on the water front! I then wandered back along pier 39 at a more lesuirely pace than Friday so I could enjoy looking inside all the shops and browsing, even though I didn't buy anything, rather than being rushed through. 

Chowder

Sea lions

I then wandered down to Pier 33 to get on the Ferry to Alcatraz. It's only a mile and a quarter off shore so it's a really quick journey. I first watch the video explaining the history of Alcatraz and then went up to the cell house to do the audio tour. It was so good. It was narrated by an ex-prison guard who had the best deep voice and would tell you to keep left or right in a real military voice. There were also stories told my ex-prisoners of their time there and the sound effects as they described it made it feel so real. On the island I bumped into one of the girls from the tour and chatted with her for a bit before getting the ferry back to the mainland. 

Alcatraz

Spot the new prisoner 

I walked back to the hostel, checked in, showered and then met up with Woody, afrisbee friend from Uni who's moved out here. 

After getting North and South confused and walking in completely the wrong direction I finally found his car and we went and got a Mexican takeaway which we took that up to Twin Peaks were I could get an excellent view of San Fransisco. We stood outside to eat but it was so windy and cold! I was in a fleece but obviously hadn't dressed warm enough. Then Karl the fog (yes the fog here has a name) rolled in so we could no longer see clearly from the height we were at but as soon as we drove down the hill slightly the view cleared up again.

We then drove across the bay bridge (not the golden gate!) to treasure island to get a stunning view of the skyline all lit up and the bay bridge light show. 

San Fransisco at night 

Afterwards we went to two bars. One was called smugglers cove and unless you knew it existed you would have walked straight past it without even realising it and it was decorated inside to be a cove so it was really cool. The second one had crazy seating. We started off in a jacuzzi that had been cut in two but those things are unconfatable when you're trying to sit up and have a conversation so we moved to the next booth where we could sit on old truckers seats. 

Day 220: Wandeing around the city

I got up and went for a walk though Chinatown and then down a little alley to see the people and work making the fortune cookies. I'm so glad I'd looked this up as I would have never found it or stumbled across it by myself. These people pick the hot cookies off the plates, and in one swift movement placed the fortune inside whilst bending it into shape. 

China town 

I then walked through the Italian district up telegraph hill to the Coit tower. I went up to the top and, even though it's a pretty small, because of it's position it has amazing 360 views of the city. 

I walked down to the wharf and got the hop on hop off bus out of the city on the Sausalito  loop. I got on the bus on the SF side of the golden gate bridge and walked the 1.75 miles across it and was picked up by the next bus (and grumpy driver) on the other side. 

I got off again in Sausalito and went for lunch at a lovely Italian where I could look out of the bay. I'm definitly in holiday mode in SF rather than backpacker! The rest of the trip I've been so good making lunch and dinner everyday for myself but this week I'm being terrible. 

Gorgeous view

I got the bus back to the wharf and then the other city sightseeing line back to the hostel. Very luckily the stop was literally outside my hostel door. 

In the evening, I had dinner in the good court of Westfields and then went shopping for 2 hours! 

Day 221: Golden gate park and night tour 

The girls in my dorm who are travelling together decided to tell me that I must be 'sad and lonely' because I'm travelling by myself so don't have any friends! I tried to explain to them that I haven't have one friend the entire trip instead I've had loads of friends at lots of different destinations. They didn't seem to get it! 

I walked down to union square to catch the golden gate park bus and indefinitely got chatting to two women in the queue. We're all English which is enough of a bond to get chatting. I guess these kind of lovely interactions are what I love about travelling alone and the two girls missed out on. As long as you're open to talk to people there are friendships there, however brief, to be formed. 

Anyways lecture over and back to what I did! I got off at the Academy of Science in golden gate park and spent 2 hours looking around there. They have a really cool planetarium, aquarium and a rainforest that is three floors and contains parrots, butterflies and small birds as well as plants. It was no where near as big as the one I went to in Singapore but Singapore didn't have parrots! 

Afterwards I went for a walk around the lake and sat to watch the ducklings and terrapins. 

Ducklings 

I took the bus back to Union square and since lunch had only been a plain bagel I'd 'borrowed' from breakfast I decided to go and get more food. 

'Painted ladies' the painted Victorian houses 

I went to the 7th (and top) floor of Macy's to sit outside in the Cheesecake Factory and eat my raspberry and lemon cheesecake. Delicious! 

From this.....

... To this! Mmmmmmmm

In the evening I took the night tour city bus although I'm not really sure you can call it a night tour when the sun is only just setting as you finish it. It went around lots of the areas I'd already walked but the guide gave a really informative and funny talk so in glad I did it. 

Sun setting as the tour ended 

Day 222: Last day in SF

The first thing I did this morning was a tour of city hall. I wouldn't have gone in there but the tour guide yesterday recommended it so I thought I'd try it out. And I got to see lots of weddings taking place. 

Mayor's office

I then took the bus to Ocean beach. If you're imagining a beautiful, hot, palm tree lined Californian beach then you're wrong. This was a wind swept and cold beach! Not the place I'd want to lay in an bikini but apparently further down there's a nudist beach so some people must brave the harsh conditions. 

I went and had a drink in the cliff top cafe which I later found out has been rebuilt 3 times because all the previous cafés have crumbled into the sea. I feel as though I should get an 'I survived' top! 

In the evening I met up with Tom and his gf Steph to go Salsa dancing. I was walking in completely the wrong direction once I'd gotten off the bus but thankfully Steph drove past me, did a U turn and came and picked me up. We had an hours salsa lesson to begin with to practice our moves. Every few minutes we had I rotate dance partners and every person said they loved my accent! Literally the first thing people said once they'd asked me my name! It was a really good fun evening though and we finished it off with a SF famous Mexican burrito. 

Day 223: Bus to LA

I got up, checked and made my last trip to Union Square. I sat in the Starbucks on the 4th floor of Macy's with my coffee watching the world go by below. 

I got back to the hostel at 11 for the bus down to LA. It didn't show up until 1! 2 hours spent sitting waiting. The reception rang to check they hadn't forgotten me and they hadn't. The signals were down on the bay bridge and other areas of the city causing chaos which wasn't helped by the fact it's a public holiday on Monday so lots of people had taken today off to to get away for the weekend. 

It was a pretty long drive down, not helped by a caotic change of bus half way through the journey. 

So much driving... But very pretty scenery

I checked back into the hostel is stayed in LA before and got chatting (as I do) to the girl who was also checking in at the same time as me. Turns out we were in the same room so after a quick shower we headed out the the piano bar around the corner that I loved so much last time to celebrate my last night in LA! Again it was really lovely and we ended up chatting to an animation guy from Disney. I have met the guy who is in barge of designing the ice palace in frozen. Pretty cool! My first Hollywood 'celebrity'! Definetly enjoyed my last evening in Hollywood. 

Band at the piano bar 

Day 224: Warner Bros Studio Tour and LAX

Was up so early. The girl in my room snoring at 5am didn't really bother me but the lady making hissing noises to try and make her be quiet (which obviously failed) did however stop me from sleeping. 

I made myself my last American banana pancakes as soon as the kitchen opened at 630 and then at 730 my new friend Kirsty and I took a taxi to the Warner Bros studio for the set tour. I too her last night about it so she bought it to. We were given different group numbers but persuaded the guy at the ticket office when we arrive to put us into the same group. I was going straight to LAX as soon as the tour finished so I had all my bags with me. Luckily they had agreed to store it behind the front desk as of emailed them warning that I'd be bringing it. 

The tour was really good. We went around in a big golf trolley and saw the outside lots. We were then able to get up and walk around 4 of the sets, 2 broke girls, Ellen, Fosters and Central perk from friend. It was pretty cool to see the different styles I shows and how they are filmed. We were also taken around the Warner Bros museum where there was the clothing from te Big Bang theory and a sorting hat from Harry Potter anoungst other things. I got to pi on the sorting hat and was given Slytherin! 

With the costumes. 

Central Perk! 

I was meant to be catching a bus to catch the metro to catch the fly away bus but the guy didn't tell me that the first bus only comes once an hour and I'd just missed it by 2 minutes. I managed to persuade the nice man at the petrol station to call me a taxi because my phone decided that now was the best time not to want to make calls. I was able to get to the metro station so I could catch that and then the airport bus. 

So now I'm just sitting in LAX, waiting to check in, my adventure over for now! 

LA to San Francisco road trip

Day 211: Joshua Tree National Park

After a breakfast for me and my roomie Tina in the Starbucks across the road we came back to the hotel to meet all of our group as some people hadn't arrive at the hotel last night in time for the welcome meeting. 

We has a bit of a run through of what's going to happen on the tour for everyone and then headed out of LA. Our first stop was at a supermarket to get all the groceries for the trip. We split ourselves into groups and took part of the list and did the shopping. It was all going so well as we put 3 trolleys full (there are 14 of u in total including the guide) and then the company credit card was blocked and we couldn't pay for anything. About half an hour later and a long phone call to the bank our tour guide Steve managed to get it unblocked and so we could pay, load up the trailer and get on our way. 

Our stop for today (barring multiple bathroom stops) was at Joshua Tree National Park 

Joshua Tree National Park sign

We stopped here for lunch and we went for a short walk amongst the bolders and the Joshua Trees.

We then carried on driving to our campsite. My roomie Tina had never camped before so I showed her how to put up a tent for the first time! The spot we stayed in was very beautiful and I dipped my toes into the Colorado river that runs behind the campsite. 

Our first night camp

Day 212: Grand Canyon

To get to the Grand Canyon we drove along parts of the historic Route 66. We stopped in this small road side town, at a drive in called the Snow Cap inn. I think this town literally survived on the fact that Route 66 went through there. All the shops just sold food to tourists passing through or memorabilia. 

The guy who worked there had definitly had a strange sense of humour. Whatever you asked for, he some how has a joke for it. Small or large was a choice between a cup and a shot glass. I asked for a straw and was given a bundle of hay! I think he may have spent too much time there working these things out. 

Route 66 sign 

When we got to the Grand Canyon we all held hands and walked in a line with our eyes closed (Steve the tour guide was leading us) towards the rim. Kicking our feet on the odd rock was definitely worth it for the stunned silence when we all opened our eyes and saw the Grand Canyon for the first time! I couldn't believe how big it was! I know that sound stupid what with it being 'grand' and all but seriously until you see it and realise that it's over 200miles long as well as being wide and deep that you can begin to understand it. 

Wow!

We spent about an hour admiring it and taking photos before Steve took us back to the campsite to set it up whilst he went to bring pizza in for us and we had that for dinner before we went off to watch the sunset. We had a great little spot on the rim to watch it disappear over the horizon. 

Sunset

Our group 

Back at camp we lit a fire and made S'mores the American way (with Graham crackers) over the bonfire. So thankful for that campfire as we were about 8000ft up and it was absolutely freezing. 

Roasting marshmallows on the bonfire. 

Day 213: Las Vegas

We woke up super early so that we could go and watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. After driving to the viewing spot we all sat wrapped in our sleeping bags to watch an absolutely stunning sunrise. The rim of the canyon is at about 8000ft (I think) above sea level and it was freezing, literally! The temperature was 0C! 

Sun rise 

Rocking the sleeping bag look

We came back to camp and after relighting the fire and huddling around that with breakfast and cups of tea we began to thor out and we able to put our tents away and get on the road to Vegas. 

We stopped in a mall so some people could buy Vegas appropriate clothes. I went to buy an iced coffee and it took me forever to explain to this guy that I didn't want sugar in it and only a small size. He seemed utterly baffled by both concepts! I guess this is America! 

In Las Vegas, we were staying in the Stratosphere hotel which is the tallest building in Las Vegas. We got very lost trying to find the right lift to get up to our rooms (the ground floor is a casino and they don't make it easy for you to navigate) and we had lots of people staring at us. I don't think the guests I the hotel were used to seeing people who stank of campfire and were carrying backpacks! 

Once we'd checked into our rooms I went up to the highest point on the stratosphere tower to get a view down the strip. 

The view down the strip

I then went an chilled out in the pool for an hour.

Looking up at the top of the Stratosphere from the pool

I spent the longest time getting ready to go out of my entire trip today. An hour and a half! But this is Vegas so you have I look your best! 

We all thought we were meeting in Steve's room to go out for dinner but when we got there there was just a note with a room number and a door key. We had a (small) suite to use and he'd ordered us in Italian from the restaurant downstairs. Amazing! This time when we walked through the reception area everyone was staring at us again but tho time because we were all dressed up, chatting, giggling an stepping into a massive limo outside. It was so big you could stand up and dance in it! 

Party Limo/Bus

Our first stop was off to watch the light show that was projected into the roof covering the two street...

 Light show in downtown 

Centre stage in downtown

... and then we went to have our photo taken with the La Vegas sign. 

The classic Las Vegas sign

It was amazing being in the limo cruising the strip. One of the best pre drinks for a night out ever. 

We stopped outside the Bolagio (spelt completely wrong) and watched the amazing fountain display. When the water came crashing down it made such a roar!

Fountains

  It was then off clubbing in Pure at Caesars palace. Obviously, since we were doing Vegas properly, we had VIP entry. No queuing and straight upstairs to a table and a waitress! We went down to dance and me and the two grks I was with got such a pleasure from the bouncer opening the red ribbon to let us back up the stairs and then turning away the other girls who'd tried to follow us. We felt so special. 

View from the VIP area 

Once we'd left we wanted to go and see the volcano and the pirate show. Turns out Vegas isn't as 24hours as we thought an these things had closed so we went home without seeing them. 

Day 214: Death Valley 

We weren't leaving until 10 and so since I hadn't actually gambled in vegas, I got up, got breakfast and then gambled! I started on the 1c machines and then move onto roulette. I only survived about 15 minutes before I got bored. I don't think I'm ever going to become addicted as I get $10 up and then I'm happy to leave it at that and go home! 

Once we'd left we drove to Death Valley, one of the hottest places on earth. We were lucky as it was only 42C whilst we were there! We were able to walk out onto one of the salt flats below sea level that was left from an evaporated lake. 

We camped the night just out of Death Valley and the exterior of the factual irises on the campsite was themed to look like a Wild West village. 

We spent a very large portion of the evening playing a game of president which was such good fun. 

Day 215: Yosemite National Park 

We got up and drove into Yosemite National park. We gone from below sea level to well above in the space of a day and actually crossed the snow line. Having drunk an entire American size can of energy drink at one of the service stations before the park I was buzzing and made Steve pull over so we could go out and touch it! 

Snow and ice! 

Freezing being in the water but totally worth it

We stopped for lunch at the beach on the lake front but to get there we had to walked through knee deep snow! That worked so well with half our group in flip flops! But once we got to the beach we could sunbathe. 

When we got back to the bus after lunch the keys were missing! Steve retraced his steps and couldn't find them. We found the spare set but they wouldn't work. We tried to jump start the van off someone else's van but that didn't work and we realised the lights are still working so it couldn't have been the battery! We all resided ourselves to the fact that we wouldn't be going anywhere for a while so I grabbed my bikini out ready for a swim and the others walked back down to beach and then Pearl found the keys in a footprint :) we all cheered! We couldn't be spending all day in the park waiting for it to be repaired! 

The van safely started up again we carried on driving around the beautiful Yosemite. I would never have thought of coming here but I can totally see myself coming back here for a weeks holiday. All the hikes around here must be so beautiful. 

Stunning waterfalls

Beautiful Yosemite

Day 216: San Fransisco

On our final day of the tour we drove to San Fransisco. We drove around the city and got some good food before we checked into our hotel in the Tenderlion which isn't exactly the classiest of neighbourhoods. 

Some of the people in my group, Jen and Nick, where only here today as they flew out tomorrow so we did a bit of a whilstle stop tour of the main San Fransisco sites. 

Firstly we went to Lombard Street, the curviest street in the world and we walked up and down it. So touristy! The houses on it were lovely but I bet all other locals avoid that street like the plague! 

Lombard street - the curviest street!

We then wandered down to fishermans wharf and walked really quickly along pier 38 to see the sea lions before catching a street car back to the hotel. 

We had about 10 minutes and then we were off out again to an amazing Thai restaurant for our goodbye dinner/birthday dinner for my roomie Tina as tomorrow's her birthday. We'd bought her a card and a present and she was so happy to get that from us. 

The area we were staying in was a bit dodgy and lots of people had an early start/were youner than 21 so we didn't go out. Instead we sat in someone's room watching marriage boot camp showdown! Hilarious! 

Los Angeles

Day 207: Flights and arriving

So I'm not sure if this is actually day 207 or an extension of day yesterday as my Wednesday lasted 42 hours (I think). 

The flight wasn't too bad actually for a 12 hour flight. I managed to sleep for about 6 hours in total which I thought was quite good and watched a couple of films so either I'm getting really good a long distance travelling or it was a pretty nice flight. 

It took quite a while to get through customs and passport control and then it took forever to get into Hollywood! The traffic was terrible and I was one of the last hostels to be dropped off at so I got a bit of a tour around! I was pretty muh ready to drop when I got there but I'd had a nice chat with the lady sitting next to me so that helped pass the time into the city. 

The hostel was doing an all you can eat BBQ that evening so I had that for dinner and chatted to people from the hostel before collapsing out in bed at at 930. 

Day 208: Universal Studios

I woke up and made myself American pancakes with bananas, raisins and maple syrup! 

2 other girls from my dorm and I then got the metro one stop to Universal station and then got the shuttle bus to the park. After taking a few photos by the spinning universal globe we entered into the park. The rides there were pretty cool although most of them were 4D motion simulated rides. My favourite was the minion adventure. We also did the set tour of the Studios and saw interviews for Sharknado being filmed and watched the Waterworld show which was really cool. There were all these amazing stunts into the water, explosions and it ended with a plane flying over a wall and landed in the water. For lunch we went to Gru's lab and shared El Macho's Nachos. 

Universal studios

Met the girls from despicable me

Waterworld show

Totally could call the shots

I ended up, once we'd finished in the park, sitting on the bus next to the same lady that is been chatting too on the shuttle bus which was really random! 

When we got back we had dinner in the kitchen and I ended up bumping into Ollie who I'd met in the Bay of Islands in NZ! A completely unexpected meet up. The hostel had a free comedy night so I spent the night watching that. I enjoyed it and wasn't bored but it wasn't laugh out loud funny. These guys are professional comedians who use the hostel as a way of practicing but they didn't seem to get the differences between American humour and humour else where in the world. Using American based jokes when most of your audience don't know all these In depth American sterotypes and when for most of your audience English is their second language it's never going to work! 

Day 209: Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach

Had a very relaxed morning eating pancakes in the kitchen chatting to my new dorm friends. We all went on the hostel walking tour to Beverly Hills. We got a public bus from Hollywood and you cold tell when we were getting into Beverly Hills as the houses got nicer and nicer until they were hidden behind fences and you could no longer easily see them. 

Beverly Hills

We saw lots of cool houses but no celebrities. We saw Elvis's old house, the Playboy mansion and America's most expensive house. It's was really nice walking around rather than doing a driving tour as we were able to peak in through the fences and hedges. Our guide made us all stick pretty close together and we soon found out why when we saw a posh black car skid around a corner! 

We next got a bus to Rodeo Drive and I walked past all these shops that I wasn't wen sure if I could afford to look into the window of! I ate my lunch in one of the streets just off Rodeo drive in a really typical feeling LA cafe. One where the tables are on the sidewalk, covered by an umbrella and with plants. I didn't eat very La though! Everyone there was eating a salad and I went for a creamy tomato-y pasta dish! 

I'm a lady that does lunch

Getting to Santa Monica and Venice Beach ended up being a real mission. It took me 3 buses as I kept getting on 'short routes' to eventually get to Santa Monica Pier. It was strange looking out to the Paciffic Ocean from the other side. 

Having dipped my toes in the sea and having had a long along the pier I wandered along the beach promenade towards Venice Beach past the original Muscle Bech site. There weren't as many people on rollarskates as I'd expected but there were plenty of people on bikes instead. It was nice walking past all the stalls and I enjoyed watching the skaters in the skate park do tricks. 

Having had my fill of people watching I got 3 buses back to Hollywood. I did a little bit of shopping on Hollywood Boulevard. Managed to restrict myself to one purchase but I think before I leave I may have to donate lots of stuff to charity shops and do a bit of shopping. Crazily I bumped into the woman from the airport bus who I also saw on the universal bus again just walking down the street! 

In the evening rather than going on the pub crawl we decided to ask the receptionist where's nice to go on a Friday and she pointed us in the direction of this really cool Piano bar one block away from where we were staying. We would have never found it by ourselves but I'm so glad we went as it was a really nice place and there were two live bands playing. The second one was awesome. We were up on our feet by the makeshift stage area dancing. They were playing cool covers of songs with trumpets, sax, drums, piano and the lead guy had a double bass. We were both saying how he's so good and we hope he makes it but when we googled him back atthe hostel it turned out he, Miles Mosley, already had! 

Piano Bar

Day 210: Griffiths Observatory an joining the tour 

After more pancakes for breakfast and checking out of the hostel we (as in my new group of friends from my dorm) got the metro and then the shuttle bus to Griffiths Observatory. 

Griffiths observatory is perched up in the hills and so has an amazing view of the Hollywood sign and, in the other direction, of the LA skyline an sprawl. 

Griffiths Observatory

We went into the observatory (it's free!) and had a look around the exhibition and then went to watch 'the centre of the universe' show in the planetarium ($5). The show was really good showing astronomy from Tolomy in Allexandria right up to the current ideas on dark matter and dark energy. The movie show was really cool and being surrounded overhead by screens definitely made you feel like you were actually falling trough space at times. And there was a professor in the room with us narrating the whole show. 

Wish I'd bought this!!

Having finished our tour around we got the shuttle and then metro back to the hostel in time to eat some lunch before catching the metro, the airport shuttle and then the hotel shuttle to the joining hotel for my G Adventures tour. We'd just missed the airport shuttle so had to wait half and hour for the next and so in total it took us 3 hours to move from the hostel in Hollywood to the hotel by LAX. 

I has just enough time to shower and change before going downstairs to meet my group for my LA to San Fran road trip. The whole group seems really nice and a few of us went out for dinner and then to the hotel bar to get to know each other bed. We ended up moving outside to people watch. There were some hilarious guys from the southern states... Their accent makes eves dropping so hard!