Shit got real

After telling C for weeks that shit was getting real it finally came around including a bout of food poisoning. So after going to early to Wellys then finding plane was 1/2 hr delayed we made it to Auckland

Never have I been so pleased to be beside a toilet in a plane but after a half of granddads blue pills managed a fitful sleep. So we arrived in LA at the same we left home very easy through customs and hotel.  Hotel a typical airport hotel with everything and nothing. 

Went out straight away ubered down to Venice beach $10.67 US a distance maybe Wellington to Upper Hutt. Even cheaper on way home

First impressions all the large cars have gone except the big Utes the driving is very courteous and easy nothing like say Auckland traffic

Venice beach pretty cool 

After another pill to get into routine woke at 730 am.  Decided to do hop on bus tour which picked us up from hotel. Did 2 legs of it both sick of then not really a o there was where Shirley temple was born sort of person but as always a really good way to see the city and get your bearings. Got off down at Santa Monica and walked down pier where Route 66 finishes 

Shit got real

After telling C for weeks that shit was getting real it finally came around including a bout of food poisoning. So after going to early to Wellys then finding plane was 1/2 hr delayed we made it to Auckland

Never have I been so pleased to be beside a toilet in a plane but after a half of granddads blue pills managed a fitful sleep. So we arrived in LA at the same we left home very easy through customs and hotel.  Hotel a typical airport hotel with everything and nothing. 

Went out straight away ubered down to Venice beach $10.67 US a distance maybe Wellington to Upper Hutt. Even cheaper on way home

First impressions all the large cars have gone except the big Utes the driving is very courteous and easy nothing like say Auckland traffic

Venice beach pretty cool 

After another pill to get into routine woke at 730 am.  Decided to do hop on bus tour which picked us up from hotel. Did 2 legs of it both sick of then not really a o there was where Shirley temple was born sort of person but as always a really good way to see the city and get your bearings. Got off down at Santa Monica and walked down pier where Route 66 finishes 

La to London

Impression from la : American people very friendly, the driving easy and considerate   Uber very cheap for getting around. Time didn't allow us to discover Korea town which we believe is a very foodie area

Would stay in air BnB in Venice or Santa Monica next time even though our hotel was perfect just not a lot walking activities around it

Went to airport to soon as plane was delayed finally made it there , then huge queue to get through customs.  Only Eu members have epassport. So much slower than la which was super quick 

Talked to girl on plane who worked for lic in chch she confused us (me) as sian Jo had given good instructions to get here   But in the end Heathrow express 2x2 was a eye watering £72  and oyster purchase for the 2 change of line £27 for for day. Will get Liam to show me which one

After Crowne plaza we have slid down the snake a fair way but it's really central and has full English included

Ma and I had a wander round after feeling pretty drained. Had a pint in English pub then met sian and a lovely surprise Marg as well both looking gorgeous esp as Marg had just flown back from Singapore this am where she had been working for 2 weeks 

Had lovely Spanish meal with them then collapsed into our tiny double

La to London

 

Didn't we do well

Left hotel at 3.00am for airport unable to book taxi but no worries had a cab within 30 seconds of going out side the door. On arriving at airport found it deserted except OEers sleeping on the floor every where.Made it to Frankfurt to board straight away.The flight went quite quickly but I would be unlikely to fly with Lufthansa again unless it was a lot cheaper, pitiful movies and just the one monitor.Better food this leg though.Arrived in SF 2.00pm their time but around 12 Barcelona .We found Lorries shuttles and the asian driver who drove the large mini bus 75mph with one hand on the wheel and the other on of course cellphone yabbering in chinese ,while a wheel alignment problem sent a shudder through whole vehicle.The person next to was a very large transsexual who sat a la Dulcie Routhan.The first impressions were that compared to Europe the vehicles were of course much larger and there also a much wider spread of age of them.Going through customs we found them very friendly even after I had cocked up the the form with help from the air line steward.
The last hotel very comfortable and seems to be near things.On the drive delivering people we went to the famous Haight-Ashbury area of the 60s ,actually looked very small and rather ordinary .After checking in we went up for a rest but set the alarm 6.00pm.When the alarm went off I turned it off and we slept through till about 12.30am.Watched CNN and American elections for about an hour .Then slept on and off till 530. Booked city tour ,very good guide .We are finding we really like the americans ,extremely polite and great service.That is quite a change from the rather aloof manner of especially the spanish shop assistants who seemed to find the distractions from their cellphones a real nuisance .The city reminded us strongly of Wellington ,built around a harbour with dodgy weather.Unfortunately not nearly as nice looking ,that may be because of the earthquakes and fires that have bedevilled this city. The scots man who designed the 1000 acre park should have been shot planting only pines macrocarpas and gums for one of the most ordinary parks I have ever seen.The afternoon we went to Muir park over the bridge to see a redwood forest remnant ,although the trees are truly massive ,you can see why tourists love NZ.Then to Sausalita the villagey harbour town that definately has far superior weather than over the bridge.SF is conference town and there are several on at mo .One of the most popular seems to Rumitologists (spelling looks a little dodgy)around 10000 of them in town.

spent a last great day in Barcelona. Sunday in Spain is family day no shops open .We went up to Guell park .This upperclass residential development was designed by Gaudi but was a financial failure and only one house was built that being lived into by Gaudi for 20 years.The area was bought by the council and now is a favourate place for Barcelonians to hang out with their families.It was a good 1.3km stroll from metro and the day had dawned warmer than CNN weather had predicted and we soon regetted clothes choice as temp neared 25+c.The park is a wonderful haven in the city full of Gaudi's humour in his design and detail.Wonderful areas for performers to entertain in and for real artists to show off work that is really exceptional.In the afternoon we went to Barcelonetta ,the beach where the rest of the city seemed to be .Where in the Lux book you can see busty babes and budgie smugglers but we arrived a little to late for that but still a great place with bars and restaurants galour. We then went back to hotel to pack for early start in morn.I need to mention Villy the german who owns the guest house we were staying at.Firstly we thoroughly endorse this place as willy said 4 star clean for 2 star price.He really was crazy with addiction to clean (is this german mike a).He said the girls vot you say flish flish with cloth ,instead how you say vacuum then wipe. This place has three keys to get into so very safe and own parking for car and right next to metro and most importantly a great little bar where we had our little morning fresh squeezed orange (pretty good with shot of voddy too)