Here it is... Hope you're comfy.

Saturday and Sunday - NYC

Started off with being completely screwed around thanks to US Airways. Their terrible customer service far outweighs the nice planes. I selected and paid for a 6am flight, hence waking up at 2:30 and not going back to sleep. I get to the airport and somehow my luggage and I am supposed to get on an 8:35am flight. It wasn't even 6am and my day started off bad. So after getting quite pissed, being told my luggage was not able to be on the 6am flight with me and that I, not the airline, would have to pay to get it to me on the other end. I won't dwell on this issue because it put me in a terrible mood and has the ability to do so now. Finally got to NYC, caught a Super Shuttle to the hostel, swear I could've been killed, felt like I was in India or something because people drove all over the road, no thinking the lines for the lanes for there for a reason. Caught up with Lozz and Jas - YAY! That was fun. We headed to the Subway, number 1 Red Line. Went down to Times Square and on our Hop On Hop Off bus. We paid $48 for the whole weekend of it and used it once, am still debating whether it was worth it. I mean it was worth it, but I'd recommend just going into Times Square and looking for the Grayline people in red and buying a ticket, might be cheaper. We got off in Chinatown, now this part was unbelievable. Jas kept talking about these fake designer bags, and I was thinking fake like Vic Markets fake, oh so obviously cheap and tacky. So I wasn't too interested. We jump off the bus, cross the street and I'm walking away hen Lozz calls out and tells me to stop, we turn around and Jas is talking to a little Chinese (I assume he was, could've been Korean, no idea really, he definitely wasn't Japanese or Malaysian or Thai or from the Asia close to Aus) man. Suddenly we're following him up two blocks and across one block and down a flight of stairs. On this journey I was imagining walking into a room full of cops and being arrested and wondering what excuse I would use but then when we got into the room, at first I thought it was little, that was until I saw about 10 others, with handbags ALL over the walls. Fakes that looked completely real. I found the one Rach wants, so bought her that. It's the Dior saddle bag, found out in Vegas it costs about $895. Paid $30. Jas bought a bag and so did Lozz. But I saw a 'Gucci' one in there I really liked but didn't want to get it, thinking I might stop thinking about it... After that Jas still had bags to get so we went into the backs of all these other places, it was insane. So many conspicuous black plastic bags being carried around by people. After this adventure we got back on the bus again, sitting up top and completely freezing our arses off until I couldn't take it any longer and had to go downstairs. Once we got back to Times Square we found out Olive Garden was a 2 hour wait, maybe it 1, don't remember. So we went to TGI Friday's. Now I love Friday's but this Friday's was THE WORST I'd been too. The food was dry, ridiculously priced and they didn't bring out water. Wasn't a good first American meal for Lozz. After this we headed bag to hostel where Lozz's bags had arrived (at least hers were sent to her) and then headed on to the airport to pick up my bag, cost me $60, am writing a letter of complaint tonight.

We got up super early on Sunday and got the Subway down to Grand Central. We worked out the Subway, am quite pleased about that, but I couldn't work out my direction most of the time which annoyed me. Grand Central was just like the movies. Am bummed because my pics didn't turn out so well there. Am going to go through Lozz's to see what hers are like. From here we headed down to the Staten Island Ferry and saw a free view of the Statue of Liberty. We walked up to Battery Park where we all bought so nice pictures not framed and saw a turkey, yes a turkey, which apparently didn't belong to anybody, wandering around the park. We went to the Sphere and saw that - it's the globe which was damaged in 9/11 but not destroyed which has been moved to Battery Park. Very battered though. From here we walked up to the WTC Site. So much work has gone on there since I was there at the beginning of Feb. I was surprised. They're still finding remains. Tower 7 has already been re-built and the glass material they used on it is actually quite beautiful, looks almost transparent. The building that has had the black covering on it is now in the process of being de-constructed floor by floor, and again, more remains are still being found.

After this we went back to Chinatown for that handbag I wanted, plus a handbag for Lozz's mum, my mum and Jas wanted a wallet or two. Finding that little man was near impossible but just as I was about to give up I found him!!! Was so excited I think I screamed. Oh and we walked up a million flights of steps. The places we went on the Sunday for handbags were even more crazy than the day before.

From here we hightailed it back to 58th and 5th where the Pulitzer Fountain can be found, one of the entrances to Central Park, where the NYC marathon was nearing the finishing line and where we met our tour guide for the Sex and the City tour. Was a good tour. Just some facts, Carrie's apartment is actually located on Perry St in Greenwich Village (correct me if I'm wrong Lozz) where you can occasionally catch a stop sign in the background, a dead give away it isn't uptown and is actually downtown. Oh, we went to a sex shop too! That was something to write home about, actually I think I did... Anyway, oh and we had AWESOME cupcakes - to die for. Would go back just for another. We also saw Samantha's door and where she fell down in the episode when Smith was trying to hold her hand. Smith's hot. Anyway, that was a good tour. Afterwards we rushed back to the hostel to get Jas's stuff and then to Grand Central to see her off. Lozz and I walked down to Times Square to get some more pics, soak up the atmosphere and say goodbye to New York City.

Monday - On the way to Vegas

Discovered the best airline in USA, or the best yet and I've flown on majority of them. Delta. Not a flight was delayed, they gave me snacks on the flight from Cincinnati to Vegas and my luggage was already on the conveyor by the time I got there. My whole Monday was pretty much spent in airports. Lozz and I picked up the rental car, had a nervous moment. We chose a PT Cruiser and packed it with our luggage and I was going to drive, we thought we were safe for me to do so (I wasn't supposed to because I wasn't on the contract, would've cost about $25 extra a day I think). And suddenly we round the corner and there's a bloody check point of the vehicle, the contract and drivers license! I jumped out of the car, wondering what the fuck I was going to do plus having no idea where I'd put my handbag and license when the guy says we need a California registered car, so while he wasn't looking Lozz and I quickly switched spots in the car, he didn't notice a thing and she had her first experience driving in American by reversing back. Almost crapped myself. Swapped cars, sat in the passenger seat and headed out of the airport, still quite nervous. But the airport is like right there, next to The Strip. So we were very quickly on Las Vegas Blvd, cruising down. I think I resembled a kid in a candy shop, the lights were so dazzling. Got our way to the hostel, again, not in the best area but we had a shower in our room and only two other girls were in there which was sweet. Headed out to have a look around, caught the water and sound show at Bellagio 3 times, I could've stayed all night, it was incredible, I like water though. During this time Lozz's friend Hailey, her husband Jeremy and their kid Luke showed up and they invited up for brekky the next morning.

Tuesday - Las Vegas

Accepted offer for breakfast then headed back to the strip where we went into MGM, Excalibur, New York New York and took pics of the Monte Carlo. After this we checked out Coke World Las Vegas and then headed off in search of a good buffet. We were too late for lunch so wanted to know the dinner times, first we went to Terrible's, recommended by the Austrian girls in our room and then down to Sam's Town, which I'd seen on $40 a day on the Food Network. After finding out they both started at about 4:30 we went to Target, not the best one but I bought the Laguna Beach CD, we bought snacks for the drive the following day and checked out the clothes. Headed back to Sam's Town for our buffet. Think I'm like my father... Had 3 main plates, but I admit I took little amounts of different foods then only ate a little amount, and ate slowly. Then had Key Lime Pie - oh my god, delicious, I was the recipe, for dessert and then a piece of cheesecake. Was so full. Lozz wasn't feeling her best so we stopped at Walgreens then went back to the hostel to freshen up. We went up the Stratosphere, 109 floors above the ground... The view was good but not great, it's around the bend from the main action of the strip of you miss getting really awesome pics, but still nice to be up there. Soon enough the casino's will be right out there so there won't be anything to miss. From here we drove down and parked somewhere else and walked up to Treasure Island, just missing the last show for the night, played one slot in there and caught the free monorail/tram thing to The Mirage (next door, but a long walk) where we saw the volcano explode, awesome. We walked to The Bellagio to put a $1 in the slots and maybe have a drink, I was tired and Lozz still wasn't feeling great so no drinks, but we checked out the expensive designer shops. We headed back to the car, down the Strip to get a pic of the Fabulous Las Vegas sign and on to the hostel.

Wednesday - Drive to San Diego

Had an awesome sleep, Vegas was where we had the best sleeps, something about the beds probably. Packed up the car (bumped my head, painful) and drove out of Vegas, haded to Lake Mead. Beautiful. Here we discovered if we headed to the Grand Canyon it would add an extra 4 hours to the drive so, we decided not to do it - does that seem crazy?? Instead I plotted our route, we headed down to Hoover Dam, across into Nevada (after crossing through a border patrol) and headed down Nevada Highway 95. Stopped at Kingman, a route 66 town for lunch and continued on, heading south through Nevada. It was desert. Beautiful but by about 4pm I was getting tired of desert. We got onto I-8 to cross into California and passed through 3 separate border patrols. Saw a bust on the interstate, was a major highlight of the day, 4 cop cars had pulled over 1 pick up and about 10 guys were on the ground kneeling with their hands cuffed behind them.

My trusty map got us into San Diego and I'd memorised the directions (I rock!!), which was lucky because Lozz had dozed off. Found the room in the hostel to be covered in someone else's crap. Was not happy. I swear Lozz was contemplating stealing their iPod. We stayed in the Historic Gaslamp District, the party area. Had an issue with parking which we sorted out before heading back and going to sleep.

Thursday - Day trip to Tijuana

We woke up and took the car to the post office, sent home some postcards and shipped the handbag to mum and some extra clothes of mine back to me here because I had too much stuff. Or thought I did. We found another car park, walked up to the "trolley" (tram) and caught it to the U.S/Mexican border. You literally just walk into Mexico. And don't bother exchanging cash if you're only going into Tijuana, they prefer U.S $$. We spent a few hours there, had a liquid lunch of tequila and Corona. Was a bit light headed after that. Got suckered into spending money much easier. Must be their ploy. It was a crazy insane place which made me laugh, fun to visit. Lined up to cross back in America, tight security, was nervous, thank god I'd had the visa form signed for re-entry because that was the vital part, like everyone had said. That night we decided to have an awesome meal. And awesome it was. Mouth watering food from Dakota on 5th, just up from the hostel. Ended up costing over $100 Aus and $70 US. Steaks and potatoes. Yum. Then we walked it off by finding the mall, checked that out, Lozz bought perfume. Then we went to the Ghiradelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop for desert. Oh my god, was so yum. I couldn't finish my coke I was so full. I think I was still full the next morning, but wanted another one of those sundae's.

Friday - Seaworld

Got there early on an awesome sunny day. Caught the show with Shamu first, still am not quite sure which whale was Shamu, plus I think of him as Free Willy, I did see Free Willy, I knew who he was because of the curl in the fin. I can't be sure if they're even called fins on whales. Anyway, after that we saw the seals being fed, crazy sea gull almost stole my camera, I took a pic just at the moment it swooped it and got it's wing. We saw the dolphin and sat in the soak zone, but I only got 2 drops of water on me, we did sit like quite a few rows up in the soak zone... We had lunch after that, not much was open, was a bit disappointing. We then went to the 4-D picture show, was good, it was good. Then we went to the seal show. I love seals. They remind me of waterproof dogs. I loved this show. It was my favourite. I think Lozz said it was her fav too. After this we saw the Flamingo's, sharks, aquarium and finished off with the beluga whales and polar bears. Didn't go out. Kind of wish I did but would've spent more money and was so exhausted.

Saturday - Up the Southern California Coast

Left early, thank god, for the last leg of the trip, up to L.A for Lozz's next accommodation at Venice Beach and my flight back to Chicago on the red eye. We stopped at Pacific Beach first. San Diego made me want to apply for a green card but Pacific Beach made me want to live there now! Only problem was the smog cover and that was everywhere. Oh we saw the U.S.S Midway too but too hard to stop because they were setting up for the Veteran's Day parade. We got off the interstate and headed up the Pacific Coast Hwy through Laguna, had to do that because I love Laguna Beach. Then into Newport. I really doubt much of The OC is actually filmed there, even the pier is different, the pier on the show is wood, this one was cement. Still cool and I got a T-Shirt saying Newport Beach. From here we got stuck in traffic, lost looking for the hostel and my patience ran out. Wasn't concerned about missing my flight as I didn't have to be at the airport until 7pm. We got there spot on 6pm. Said goodbye, wasn't sad because as of Saturday it was 12 weeks until my next adventure then home!!

Speaking of which, I have to call Chany now, wake her up and tell her about the cheap tickets I found down to Orlando.

Hope this didn't bore you. I attached some pics for you!! If you want to see more let me know and I'll send you the Ringo link when I add them.