London: what a sweet ride

I am writing this to you from my new home - it's sassy, it's sunny, and yes, it's Sydney. Loyal readers, travellers and random blog visitors - I am pleased and yet a little sad to tell you that after five and a half years sampling the best of what one of the world's greatest cities has to offer, I have said goodbye to London and returned to Oz. The decision was not taken lightly, let me tell you, and many tears were shed. But, it was time to embark on a new adventure in my life - not one that perhaps involves as much fun, travel and eye-widening exhilarations as my overseas move but one that will involve, well, growing up a bit (not too much, mind). Getting married, saving for a house, confronting my HECS debt, wondering how to make up for five years lacking in superannuation contributions - yes it's all very boring but it's real life, and I have been avoiding it for long enough. And at least I have the memories, friends and life-changing moments from the past years to get me through it all. As my friends look on horrified as I tell them I came back with no savings, that I have (gasp) more that FOUR super accounts from teenage jobs, and that I have no idea what blue chip stocks are, I smile to myself and take comfort in all the memories that I have written about here on this blog (and all the other ones I didn't tell you). And, wait for the cliche, I wouldn't change it for the world. Professionally, I feel comfortable that my UK experience has put me in good stead, taught me countless skills and given me international perspective in my industry - an invaluable asset that all working travellers can take with them throughout their entire careers.

And London, well what I can say. I truly fell in love and I think I will always miss it like you do a long-lost friend. As a small tribute to my second home across the ocean, I will be posting some of my London, UK and Europe favourites over the next few weeks and months so other people can learn to love this amazing place as much as I did and learn to embrace London as a local does.

As I posted in one of my very first blogs on here 'Life is short and the world is wide' - so if you haven't already packed your suitcase, then there's no better time than now. Happy travels x

Highway 1: from San Francisco to LA

Yes, it's been a while. I'm still in London. Long story! Still loving it and travelling the world over - most recently we explored the delights of South Africa: Cape Town, Plettenberg Bay, and went on safari. Amazing. One of the most common things people ask me since I have lived and travelled over here is for recommendations (accomodation, restaurants, bars etc) for their own holidays - so I think I will try to be useful for more people and post some of my carefully compiled travel guides here! Below is a brief guide to some recommended stops along the gorgeous Highway 1 - from San Francisco to LA. I did this trip with my boyfriend (now fiance!) in 2007, and it was absolutely beautiful. Here is my quick guide to recommended stops after you have left San Fran (that's a whole separate travel guide!):

Santa Cruz
Probably the first place you’ll come to that you feel like stopping as it’s about an hour and a half out of San Fran – it’s got an ok beach, with a full-on American style amusement park on the sand and a jetty with shops and stuff. We stopped here for a drink on the beach but I didn’t think it was that amazing.

Monterey
OK to drive through but kind of reminds me of Central Coast in Australia so I don’t think you are missing out on much if you just skip this – apparently the aquarium is quite good though if you're into that kind of thing. Also good for watersports from what I have heard.

Big Sur
Beautiful but it's almost too close to San Fran to stop for the night (if you're only taking 2 nights to do the whole drive). One place we really wanted to stay but couldn't because there is a minimum of 2 nights usually are these luxury eco-friendly yurts called Treebones Resort. You should check them out - they look sensational. I was so gutted we couldn't stay there - one day! (we could see them on the hill when we drove past as they sit temptingly on the precipice of the cliff).

Pebble Beach/Carmel
These places are beautiful to drive through and stopover (world-famous golf courses at Pebble Beach and seal watching). Carmel is a cute, affluent town (we spent our first night here in a beautiful little BnB that I can't remember the name of). Kind of old-lady shops from what I remember but some cute little cafes/bars serving amazing seafood/tex mex and a nice main street.

Hearst Castle (about half way between LA and San Fran) is a really fun stop - it sounds hideously cheesy but it's basically this giant castle/mansion that was built by the publishing magnate William Hurst and is heavily influenced by European architecture (in a 'ranch' setting) with a crazy collection of art, antiques, animals, sculptures etc from Hearsts travels. He used to host massive parties attended by old Hollywood elite like Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe etc etc. The views are amazing and it's worth seeing and doing the tour. Check it out.

Elephant seals
Just before you get to Hearst Castle you should stop just south of Point Piedras Blancas as there is a huge colony of elephant seals and they're fun to watch for a while! :)

San Luis Obispo
Definitely one of the better stops. If you can, try and stopover here on a Thursday night as they have a big farmer's market where they close the main street and have a big party with food stalls, live music etc. The food is amazing - more BBQ'd ribs than I have ever seen with all the trimmings - Stu will wet himself. There are also good shops and some really nice restaurants/bars/wine-tasting places. Check it out.

Santa Barbara
About an hour and a half before you get to LA. We stayed here overnight but if you’ve only got 2 nights, I think Carmel and San Luis Obispo are better options (although quieter so it depends what you’re after and your timing). Again we just stayed in a motel place that we drove up to and asked about availability but I would recommend booking somewhere if you stayed here as it took us a few places to find somewhere and that was in September. It’s very beachy, very much like an upmarket beach town in Australia with lots of shopping, bars, restaurants etc.

And then came October

So I said I might get better at updating this but it's now the end of October and my post-rate is definitely not getting any higher! Have said some sad farewells to friends in the past couple of months (one of the downsides of staying here so long is that there are a lot of people that come and go!) but there's been some good news too - after parting with my passport (and £500) for four months, I've finally got a new visa and the Home Office is kindly letting me stay for another two years. I've become an even greater expert on all things UK-visa related - I could probably start charging for my services really as I know I'd be a lot more useful than some of the joke visa agencies out there who don't have time for quality customer service (ahem, Global Visas). The best news, however, is that I'm heading home for a month's holiday in a matter of weeks! The clocks have just gone back here and it's getting dark at 5pm, so I'm looking forward to some long warm nights in sunny Sydney. And copious amounts of prawns and Sauvignon Blanc of course (nb: tasted some quality drops at the London Wine Show in Islington last Friday - paid for with an evil hangover). Must figure out how to survive for four weeks without Salt & Vinegar Snackajacks, however - could be problematic.

Since I've been passportless until now, the most exciting 'travel' pics I have to show are from Leeds - no sighs of disappointment, please. It's actually not too bad (for a night) - I recommend getting out of town though and visiting the lovely little spa town of Harrogate (also famous as a hideout of Agatha Christie). We had beautiful weather - as you'll see from this brilliant English wintry sky in this pic (above right) taken in the the Grade II listed Harrogate gardens.

Yes I'm still alive...

Hmmm, almost a year later I'm posting a little bit of an update for you all. I do miss writing on my little blog - I don't know where all that time went really!

So, drumroll... yes I am still in London. Just can't seem to shake this city - not that I want to just yet! Since September last year (last time I wrote, oops!) I went home to Australia for Christmas and New Years which was good fun, and then came back to continue my publishing job in London, where I have been for almost two years now.

I haven't been able to travel much this year unfortunately since I had to put a sweet £500 aside for a new visa application - but managed to spend an unbelievable two weeks in the US: discovering my mecca, New York, and other fab places Chicago and, randomly, Orlando. Also went to Lisbon (very highly recommended for a short trip) plus have been exploring some of the UK's own wonders - Manchester (yes, really) and Cornwall and my own backyard in London. After four years over here, and travel to literally dozens of countries, I have lost a little of (or satiated?) my wanderlust and this year I have been content to relax over the summer in my home, London. Today is a typical sunny summer day - one of the types of days that makes living through the winter here all the worth while. Everyone is out on the Commons sipping pints - I will be joining them very shortly! Just recovering from whipping Paul at tennis this morning.

Some of the things I have been up in the past couple of weeks:

• Ice cream sundaes at the Parlour restaurant, Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly: best, poshest ice cream in London
• Sister Act the musical (MUCH better than it sounds, seriously)
• Watching fire eaters and listening to live music at Camden Lock Market
• Enjoying lush food and wine at The Avalon in Clapham South, for Sim's visit
• Sushi in Putney and best wine bar on the river - oh how I will miss the Star & Garter
• Discovering my loyalties at Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium

And that's about it for now. Stay tuned as I might just get better at doing this again...

London tube turmoils

Even after living here for three years, I still tend to have little to no idea where most London tube stations are geographically located (that's probably due more to my complete lack of any sense direction rather than anything else). Never trust the TFL tube map though - the stations may look miles apart on the map, but they're probably a 5 minute walk or short bus ride (much better than traipsing up and down escalators and cramming into another unnecessary train). Check out the suprisingly useful Geographically Correct London Tube Map.

Vale Sally

To All of You Who Ever -
threw a ball for me,
dropped a sausage at a bbq,
left your beer around for me to clean up,
didn't push me off your bed,
gave me your toast crusts
let me slobber on you,
rubbed my ears,
scratched my back
and generally just liked having me around
THANKYOU IT WAS A GREAT LIFE
I said Goodbye, peacefully to Brian and Nola at home, at 4.10pm. on Tuesday August 20th 2008
I've gone to chase balls in heaven!

Sally
1990-2008

Three years today

So, it's been three years! (and quite a long time since I posted on here as well!). It's the August long weekend - one of the biggest summer weekends in the UK. Most people are off on summer holidays, some are here enjoying the loads of festivals and events that are on. I haven't gone anywhere - but it's my three year anniversary of the date I moved to the UK today. And what a huge three years it's been. I still can't believe it's that long since i trotted wide-eyed out of Heathrow, thinking I would only be here for three months (hmm, got that a little wrong didn't i!). I still feel like a tourist really - living over here is so exciting and exhilarating, there is always something new around the corner, that you never ever really get bored. And if you do, there's nothing stopping you from planning the next big adventure.

Three years comes at a price though. And these past two weeks has been especially hard to be away from friends and family. But I'm going to see them all for almost four weeks at Christmas, and living in another country for this long means you develop new support networks and loving friends who can make the more difficult things in life more bearable. But still looking forward to some prawns and crisp, cold Chardonnay with my mum, dad, brothers, sister and family at christmas, and some bubbles with friends on the harbour in January. Having the best of both worlds can get tough! :) Happy anniversay to me xxx

Ich bin ein Berliner...

When JFK uttered this now famous phrase in his speech in Berlin in 1963, he was offering his support for post-war Berlin and for a democratic West Germany (not stating, as the myth has perpetuated in English-speaking countries for years, "I am a jelly doughnut" - only Germans outside Berlin call the pastries Berliners anyway). When I visited for the second time in my life this past weekend, it is evident how much the Germans admired and appreciated Kennedy (several monuments are dedicated to him around town) and how successful they have been in rebuilding Berlin into the great city that it is today. The East and the West of town (still in parts separated by remnants of the wall or a cobbled line that commerorates the line where it fell) are unique from eachother and fabulous in their own ways - the West is overflowing with stunning architecture, ancient museums, contemporary art installations, memorials and historical monuments while the East is packed with shabby-chic cafes, vintage boutiques, tiny galleries, waffle houses, eclectic bars and restaurants and 'Imbiss' where you can get the delicious currywurst and pommes. For such a global city, parts of the city are quiet, leafy and beautiful and tell nothing of the horrors and tragedies that the streets have faced just in the last 100 years. It is a fascinating city not only because of its past but the cool adventures it offers for visitors today. I could get used to being a Berliner :) (some pics to come)

Spitting camels and other Egyptian tales...

As I write this I am looking out onto the Thames as it stretches into the cold, grey distance outside my office. London is showing small hints of the coming summer here and there but on days like today I just have to imagine I am back on the Nile, sunbaking on a gorgeous blue-skied, sunny day as we cruise along on our felucca. Egypt was unforgettable and amazing - and although we did an insanely quick tour and probably should have lingered a bit longer to appreciate it all, it really was perfect. I have some stunning photos (nothing to do with my photographic skills and everything to do with the scenery) which I will post some of - here is a taster though. This one was taken as dusk settled on the Nile just outside Aswan. We stayed overnight on a felucca, stopping on the banks to have a campfire and a freshly prepared feast of foul (bean stew), tagine and fresh fish, before sleeping under the stars. This was one of the most relaxing parts of the holiday - the major sightseeing delights were obviously the phenomenal pyramids of Giza, the stunning treasures of the Egyptian museum and the mystery of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. These huge touristy events were mixed with more 'local' experiences like a camel ride on the west bank of Aswan through colourful nubian villages and to the top of a mountain in the desert, and a sunset bicycle ride through the sugarcane fields on the west bank of Luxor (after which we went back to our guide's house for tea on his roof).

Next stop Egypt

OK, no remonstrating about how lame I have been posting lately. Sorry all those people out there who are so enthralled in my life and dying for some news! (ok, I'm kidding!). Not-so-new job is still going fabulously. I got my second paycheque yesterday, with correct tax adjustments, and couldn't believe how much more cash I am pocketing as compared to my first job in London! Refreshing to know the difference a year can make! Must resist the urge to go shopping - although have developed a nasty habit for online shopping lately. Not the best idea to go browsing at home after you have had a couple of glasses of wine - last time I did that I spend a hundred quid in about 30 secs without leaving the comfort of my couch. Anyway, I digress.

Easter is coming up and I'm taking advantage of the two free holiday days (note: new job gives me 25 days PLUS a day off for my birthday - Bonus!) to take myself off to Egypt. It is something I have always wanted to do and I can't wait. Only problem is, we are squashing A LOT into 8 days. Ah well - that's what youth is for. Here's my itinerary...

Arrving in El Gouna (on the Red Sea)
Fly to Cairo - Full-day private driver and guide for Pyramid/Sphinx and Khan al
Khalili visits. Sleeper Train to Aswan
Morning transfer to West Bank for Camel excursion.
Felucca on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor
Couple days in Luxor - Afternoon
guided excursion to Valley of the Kings and guided bike excursion through
West Bank villages.
Then back to El Gouna for more sunshine before heading back to London

So exciting! Was a tad more expensive than normal cause of the time of year we are going, but still going to be quite reasonable on the pound.

Oh dear, it's been a month since my last post. I have really been getting slack lately haven't i? In my defence, December and Jan are busy times of year and I spent about a week and half over Christmas in the Cotswolds - lazing by a fire and gorging myself on Christmas goodies. New Year's Eve was a chilly gin-filled fun affair at a house party in Hampstead with a midnight stroll up to watch the fireworks on Primrose Hill (not that I remember too much about those!). After all the horrified comments from people from home after looking at my NYE photos and commenting on how freezing it looked, I realised that I have definitely acclimatised to the British weather. Yep it's pretty cold I guess, but I don't notice it so much anymore! So there is hope for all you beach-loving Aussies wanting to take a working holiday - I am proof that you can survive!

Last week was my birthday and also the week that i started a new job, working for a fab publishing house with beautiful offices on the Thames. Although the weather has been a little bit grey, it's gorgeous looking out your window and seeing St Paul's cathedral, the Millennium bridge, and all the boats going by. The pubs are going to be amazing in the summer - I can't wait! (have already been scoping out a few!).

So 2008, the beginning of my THIRD year in London (god has it been that long??), is going pretty well so far. Could it be my last? We will see..

Quirky traveller tales..

One thing that strikes most Aussies that venture to Europe is that, yes, you might be millions of miles away from home on the other side of the world, but you can never, truly escape. You are probably more likely to bump into your best friend from primary school/old piano teacher/next door neighbour on the streets of London then you are in Sydney. Logical it's not, but it happens. Now, Europe is obviously a much bigger place again, but coincidences surely do happen.

So as you can probably guess, there is a story coming on. Recently I went to Spain with a friend of mine - a blissful tour starting on the Costa Brava and doing a loop through Andalucia and finishing in Majorca. As you can imagine, it was a sun-filled tapas and sangria fiesta and a lot of the indulgences occurred in the beautiful town of Seville where we spent a few days. When we arrived in Seville, we had already been travelling together alone for about a week and were hungry for some company, any company! We were out sampling some of the fine bars and tapas the region had to offer one night, when I spotted a couple of obviously-not-Spanish people I thought were staying in the same hostel as us. OK, so I had probably had a little too much sangria by this stage, but we all got chatting and had a fun night out (which ended up with me leaving a lot of my possessions behind at the bar, but that's another story).

Anyways, I didn't give a second thought to the guys we had been out with that night and we continued on our merry tour of Spain and I returned to London. Last week, I got home from work and got the shock of my life when one of them was standing in my kitchen! Turns out he is the 'friend' of my flatmates who came to London to stay with us for a week! Was quite embarrassing, but funny since it is such a massive co-incidence. It just goes to show, you are never safe...

Christmas lights already?

I'm one of those people who denies Christmas is coming up until about the 10th December when I realise I have about five seconds to buy a million expensive presents for everyone. It's kind of hard to ignore though when such a fuss is made in London over something so seemingly small as switching on a few Christmas lights. Last week, Oxford Street was crammed for the traditional switching-on ceremony, with the switch-flicking being done by such 'high-calibre' celebrities as Leona Lewis (winner of the UK X-Factor) and Westlife. Admittedly, the lights are beautiful, even if every year they are centred around a tacky Disney movie theme (this year it is something called Enchanted I think, at least that's better than Ice Age 2, like it was last year). The lead-up to Christmas is definitely a beautiful time to be in London. Yes, it's dark and yes, it's freezing but there's nothing quite like walking down a frosty Oxford St in your coat and mittens with a million sparkling lights shining down on you. Try to ignore the frantic Christmas shoppers and it really is lovely.

Nerd abroad

I just love London. Last night I dragged Paul along to a book event in Waterstones (read: gigantic multiple storey book shop) so we could meet Patricia Cornwell. Yes, it's somewhat embarrassing that I love these book events, but I have been a fan of her Kay Scarpetta novels for a good ten years. She has just released her 16th Scarpette book so a book tour (and apparently her only book signing in the world for this novel) was held. It was actually a really good night - although we did have to go for drinks afterwards since, unlike the last book event I went to, there was no wine provided at this one. (I know, disgrace, what do they think I paid my 3 quid for?!) Patricia Cornwell was great to see though - she is really down to earth although, somewhat strangely, talks about her characters like they are real people. To the extent of answering questions in the form of 'I'll ask Kay and let you know'. But it was all done with a sense of humour so I don't think she's a real crackpot. I guess the other excuse is that she has been immersed in these characters for a good 20 years, so can be forgiven for beocoming quite attached to them. She also had these two massive security guards, complete with earpieces. Must be the downfall of being a forensic thriller author - I can imagine she attracts a few psychos. Anyways, book events are definitely my tip for cheap, enjoyable nights out in London (if you're into this kind of thing). You only pay £3 and you get that deducted off the price of the book being promoted if you buy it on the night to get signed by the author. Not bad (especially when you get the free wine). Tonight Russell Brand is promoting his new book at Waterstones. but I can't be bothered queuing. I think he might just be a little more popular than PC.

Spanish highlights

One of the best, and most unexpected, delights of our fab trip was a visit to the Arab/Hamman baths in Cordoba. We were walking through the dusty cobblestoned streets when Kimberely spotted this mosaic oasis and suggested we go for a spa and a massage. Not being one to complain about these sorts of things, I raced back to our hostel to grab our cozzies and then returned to a blissful few hours in the most peaceful and relaxing place I have ever been. After a brief flashing incident on my behalf (seems these things always happen to me) we first spent 10 minutes in the warm pool you see in this photo. Then we moved on to steaming hot baths in a darkened room lit by candles (very nice but a little weird if you happened to be sharing the same bath as a hairy spaniard - we tried to avoid him). After the hot water opened the pores you then were supposed to go into the next stage of baths filled with freezing cold water. But since this was pretty unbearable, I mostly skipped these and went back to the warm baths (probably negating all the good things that were supposed to be happening to my skin!). if that wasn't blissful enough, we then had massages. All for a smart 28 euro! Bargain if you're spending pounds, and not too hefty in Aussie dollars either..

Check it out - Hammam Spain

Back from Spain

I've been really slack with posting lately - been too busy with work, life and holidays which is not a bad way to be I suppose! The last two weeks were beautifully spent sunning myself in Spain, a holiday I have been wanting to take for a long time and which was even better since it was spent with a friend from home that I had not seen in ages. I revisited Barcelona (could still go back there a million more times), then flew to Seville, train to Cordoba, bus to Granada and then flying back to Majorca and back to good old Gatwick. Although I will always hold Barcelona in a very special place in my heart (this city just has so much to offer!), I have to say that Andalucia is stunning and definitely worth a visit. The Islamic influence in the religious buildings, history, architecture and even in the shops is so beautiful and interesting, and of course the sun shines hotter in the south!

Some highlights:

• The largest cathedral in Europe in Seville - this place is gigantic and is home to the tomb of Christopher Colombus and a tower you can climb up for a view over the whole city.
  
• The BEST TAPAS IN SPAIN (yes I'm going to go out on a limb and say it). This place we found by recommendation in Cordoba was everything you want from a tapas restaurant - authentic, fresh, extremely reasonable and completely delicious. It's called Meson San Basilio. Definitely the best tapas I have ever had. The tomate con sal (tomatoes with salt) is possibly the most simple, yet most delicious dish ever.
  
• L'Alhambra in Granada - a majestic Islamic-inspired palace which sits on the hill overlooking the city. Filled with stunning architecture, dramatic gardens, peaceful courtyards and outstanding views over the city.
  
• Our Spanish villa in Granada, Vista Alhambra - rooftop views over the city and directly next to the Alhambra. Completely reasonable for a self-contained apartment and lovely people. Many an afternoon was spent basking on the roof in the beautiful sun.
  
• Crazy nights out in Barcelona - if I had any idea the places I was, I would recommend them! Oh, and Arab baths in Cordoba (these deserve their own post - it will come soon)


• The sumptuous lifestyle in Mallorca - could anyone say no to million-dollar yachts, a stunning poolside (and beachside) villa and the best Japanese restuarant to be found in Spain?
  
• There are more, many more, but for now will just put some piccies:

The beautiful Alcazar (palace and gardens) in Seville:
On the Costa Brava:
Once I get my Flickr account sorted out, there will be more... Meanwhile back in London, the clocks have changed and we're settling down for a cosy winter.

World Cup? What World Cup?

We came, we saw and we....ummmm, tried really hard and failed to obtain the revenge we so richly deserved after victory was so cruelly snatched from us in October 2003, by a fetchingly handsome blonde man in some little white shorts. And that's all I will say on the matter. Fair play to England - they have done well and if they can manage to crawl back from the 36-0 earlier defeat to SA (or whatever it was) then they deserve to retain the cup. I just don't want to hear any gloating about it, at all. Having an English boyfriend, you can imagine this is quite problematic.

So, I won't have to put up with any of it this weekend though as I'm off to Spain! Considering there are still plenty of rays of sunshine to be caught at this time of year in the beautiful South of Spain, I am heading over for 10 days. Starting off in Barcelona and the Costa Brava, Kim and I are heading down to Seville, Cordoba, Granada and then back up to Mallorca to visit a friend. The days in London are wavering between cold and bearable, so it will be nice to get some sun. Seville, Cordoba and Granada in particular look beautiful and I'm very excited. The great thing about being a working holiday maker, is that I don't feel an ounce of guilt that I just got back from a two week jaunt in the US and am already taken myself off on another adventure. Love it.

Another year, another 10k

Well, no matter what you say about Londoners, at least we know they will turn out and make an effort for a good cause. Thousands of runners and supporters turned up on Sunday for our 10k run for cancer research. It was a lovely day and I am proud to say that Paul and I raised just under £200 - ok so it's not that much but every little bit helps right? I was very thrilled because i ran the 10k in just under 61 minutes, beating my time from last year (and this one was run on grass, not concrete!) I feel a huge sense of achievement and am quite proud of myself, thanks very much! It was such a nice feeling though - all those people out to support you and cheer you over the finishing line (even though I was looking hideously red and exhausted by that stage). I'm sure they raised thousands, and since pretty all of us know someone close to us who has been affected by cancer, then it really is the least we can do.

Sin City

Vegas - what can you say? It's nothing short of completely mental - the weirdest place I have ever been. But so, so cool. We were only there for two nights and that was probably long enough (considering I'm the world's worst gambler). Although my Nan taught me from an early age the best tips for pokie playing, I'm afraid I was a little out of my depth when it came to the hardcore gamblers that you see by the thousands in Vegas. I was more excited to wander around soaking up the atmosphere and seeing the bizarre sights of a rollercoaster in a casino, a complete replica of Parisian monuments, an indoor replica of Venetian canals and in fact the entire Italian city (see pic), snowlions alongside palm trees, tobacco chewing gallon-hat wearing texans playing roulette, the famous water show outside the Bellagio, and all the fabulous crazy sights that make Vegas the wondrous fantasy it is.

The City of Angels

OK, so I have been really bad at writing anything lately about my trip. I think because it was such a good time and we did so many things that choosing to write about any aspect of it is a little overwhelming!

Everyone is interested in LA I guess, so that's what I'll talk about. It's not as great or as glamourous as you would think. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, and there are so many cool things to see and do, but it's a bit of a pain to visit as a tourist, everything is massively spread out, and if you don't know where you're going, you're screwed. And Hollywood Boulevard is pretty tacky. I wasn't expecting the streets to be lined with gold or anything, but I was a little disappointed at how cruddy bits of the city were. But then there are the glamourous bits too - Rodeo Drive (great to wander around and pretend you can afford stuff), Orange Country (not technically LA but close enough), Santa Monica (verging on tacky but quite nice still) and lots of beautiful little boutiques (once you know where to go). I think LA is the kind of city you would appreciate much more if you actually lived there - it's quite difficult for a tourist to fall in love with in a few short days.
Although when I was sipping a Mai Tai cocktail in the lavishly decorated Ashton Kutcher-owned Geisha House, I definitely felt my affection growing. We didn't make it to Disneyland unfortunately, instead choosing to head to Orange County for some gorgeous beaches and cruising with the top down. It was actually at the next beach around from Laguna Beach (of MTV fame) that I took a proper plunge in the ocean for the first time in the holiday (everywhere else was too cold and I just froclicked by the water's edge like an idiot) and it was wonderful to feel that exhilaration you get from swimming in the waves. That feeling is definitely nowhere to be had in London!