L.A - Always interesting
Trip Start
Jan 12, 2008
1
3
41
Trip End
Jan 15, 2009
Los Angeles,
California,
United States
Monday, January 14, 2008
L.A had been an interesting time - it has been a blur of recovering, relaxing and day trips. We departed Brisbane international airport at 1:00pm on Saturday the 12th January and arrived in LAX at 7:30am on the same day - thats correct, we flew in a time machine. During our 12 hr flight I failed my one attempt to sleep and Katie decided that if I wasn't going to sleep, she wouldn't sleep either so we could both sleep when we got there and be on the same clock. So the first thing we wanted to do upon arrival was have a snooze, we got picked up by the airport shuttle and arrived at our hotel around 9:30am. Spent a while snoozing and checked out our immediate surroundings. Got sizzler for dinner as it was right out our window. Our accommodation was in my opinion, excellent for what we paid.
The next day we caught the bus to Santa Monica beach and walked down to Venice beach and marveled at the fascinating people and general humour of it all. There we found the stereotypical ladies in bikini's roller blading down the path alongside many others. The muscle men of Venice beach working out in front of everyone, basketball courts with some mad players (mostly black fellas) and heaps of beach volley ball courts. We ate a mad fatty burrito for lunch in an attempt to quench my long lasting cravings. All in all a great day.
Sleep has been O.k... Thanks to Katie's sleeping tablets, the time difference is manageable. Reminder to self - Don't have sleeping tablets at 2:00am - effect: fatigued feeling for the first half of the day. Due to this, we spent the first half of our day lazing around the hotel in the heated pool and spa before taking another bus to a "mall" (American accent required) which wasn't that exciting. We did however get another glimpse at the sharp, grumpy bus drivers who seem to have little patience for tourists or people who have little idea of the paying systems. This was our first lesson - always have the right change for the bus ticket! Money will be wasted otherwise - in our case we had to pay an extra $3.50 because all I had was a $5.00 note and they don't carry change. It is put straight into a machine.
We managed to get by on around US$25 / dayin LA, which was mainly spent on food and busīs. It is again, surprising to hear how many people speak Spanish here. L.A has been a good way to break our selves in for South America - We fly out for Sao Paulo, Brazil tomorrow at midday - Nervous and excited - We have been learning a little portuguese to get us by.
God bless
Joe and Katie
Comments
From Mutti!! xxx
Hey Dode!
Fantastic photos of LA! I was so excited when I checked your web site and there they were.........well done! I, of course, rang Nanny to get her to check them too and she was also very excited.....yes we lead boring lives back here!!!!
I know you are in Sao Paolo as I write this and it must be so interesting for you! Hope Katie's vomiting has eased...have been praying for her!
Love you
Wahoo
Hey Josie and Katie, sounds like you are having fun. Sorry to hear about the tummy bug.....but I am sure that will have passed by now. Have fun learning Portuguese.......we are having fun living vicariously through your adventures. Love you both heaps.
Steve G
Hey Hey
Hey Guys!
Looks awesome! Sorry to hear about the belly bugs... I kind of read your blogs back the front so read about Joes first... anyway lucky you had a nurse on hand!
Keep enjoying! Keep Safe!
TG
P.S. Japan was awesome so if your up that way you should drop by :P