Our first trip to the USA: What a holiday it has been!
Nov 18th, 2013, 07:36 AM
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Our first trip to the USA: What a holiday it has been!
So this was my first trip to the USA. Now I know there will be more.
My wife and I had a few must dos during this holiday, like a Sex & the City tour, or a visit to Graceland, etc. Most of all however, we wanted it to be a beautiful holiday, and I tell you: that it was indeed.
It was a long flight coming from Perth via Sydney, a very long one. Once in LA we found our way to the AA terminal for our flight to Vegas. When we landed in Las Vegas I realized that anyone would have known where we were: the advertisement boards, the slot machines in the arrivals area, that must have been Las Vegas. I liked it!
We arrived at our hotel at around 11:30 am. The lady at the reception said that a room would be available for us within the next 40 minutes. Perfect! We had a look around and then, because we were feeling thirsty, we sat down at the bar right next to the casino. We had some cocktails, what else? We were holidaying in Vegas, and we were thirsty, what were we supposed to drink?
At 12:20 our room was ready. A couple of hours later we were out on the streets. Our camera was clicking incessantly. We were amazed. We went inside the hotels and then back on the strip.
We had bought tickets to a David Copperfield show for the following night after our arrival, but due to some unforeseen changes, they cancelled that show, so our option was for the same night as our arrival. We didn't want that, because we were too tired, but we didn't have a choice, given the fact that we had only 4 days in Vegas and had other arrangements for the other days. We complained, but nothing happened, they told us there was nothing they could do.
So we went in for that night's show. It was amazing, we enjoyed it.
We returned to our hotel and dead tired, we slept like logs.
My wife and I had a few must dos during this holiday, like a Sex & the City tour, or a visit to Graceland, etc. Most of all however, we wanted it to be a beautiful holiday, and I tell you: that it was indeed.
It was a long flight coming from Perth via Sydney, a very long one. Once in LA we found our way to the AA terminal for our flight to Vegas. When we landed in Las Vegas I realized that anyone would have known where we were: the advertisement boards, the slot machines in the arrivals area, that must have been Las Vegas. I liked it!
We arrived at our hotel at around 11:30 am. The lady at the reception said that a room would be available for us within the next 40 minutes. Perfect! We had a look around and then, because we were feeling thirsty, we sat down at the bar right next to the casino. We had some cocktails, what else? We were holidaying in Vegas, and we were thirsty, what were we supposed to drink?
At 12:20 our room was ready. A couple of hours later we were out on the streets. Our camera was clicking incessantly. We were amazed. We went inside the hotels and then back on the strip.
We had bought tickets to a David Copperfield show for the following night after our arrival, but due to some unforeseen changes, they cancelled that show, so our option was for the same night as our arrival. We didn't want that, because we were too tired, but we didn't have a choice, given the fact that we had only 4 days in Vegas and had other arrangements for the other days. We complained, but nothing happened, they told us there was nothing they could do.
So we went in for that night's show. It was amazing, we enjoyed it.
We returned to our hotel and dead tired, we slept like logs.
Nov 18th, 2013, 08:02 AM
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Our second day in Las Vegas.
After breakfast we went out to explore some more. We discovered the Coca Cola store. We went in, had fun, bought a few things.
Then we kept exploring and discovering... We were amazed.
The food, the donuts, American donuts, cocktails, dinner, good food over and over again, more drinks, more cocktails, lights, dazzling lights, movement, crowds, day becomes night becomes day, and we lost track of time.
We went to a very nice show that night, and then my head kept turning round and round in amazement. I lost track of everything.
Once back at the hotel, the lady at the reception just wanted to confirm with me when we would be checking out. I knew it was going to be on a Thursday, but I didn't know what day it was at that moment. I tried to explain to her my state of mind and asked her to tell me how many days were left until Thursday.
I was lost in time, in space and in Vegas and I liked it.
After breakfast we went out to explore some more. We discovered the Coca Cola store. We went in, had fun, bought a few things.
Then we kept exploring and discovering... We were amazed.
The food, the donuts, American donuts, cocktails, dinner, good food over and over again, more drinks, more cocktails, lights, dazzling lights, movement, crowds, day becomes night becomes day, and we lost track of time.
We went to a very nice show that night, and then my head kept turning round and round in amazement. I lost track of everything.
Once back at the hotel, the lady at the reception just wanted to confirm with me when we would be checking out. I knew it was going to be on a Thursday, but I didn't know what day it was at that moment. I tried to explain to her my state of mind and asked her to tell me how many days were left until Thursday.
I was lost in time, in space and in Vegas and I liked it.
Nov 18th, 2013, 08:17 AM
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We really wanted to see the Grand Canyon, and were willing to make the effort, so there we were, early next morning boarding the bus to go on this day trip.
We liked it. It was an enjoyable trip, and when we saw it we were in awe. We walked on the Skywalk, we really wanted it, so there we were, happy.
Back in Vegas, we took another dive into that exhilarating lifestyle.
We dived again into the dazzling lights, outside and inside the hotels, dinner, cocktails, more lights, addictive Vegas.
It was after 1am when we returned to our hotel, sleepy, tired, dizzy, dazzled, disorientated, happy.
We liked it. It was an enjoyable trip, and when we saw it we were in awe. We walked on the Skywalk, we really wanted it, so there we were, happy.
Back in Vegas, we took another dive into that exhilarating lifestyle.
We dived again into the dazzling lights, outside and inside the hotels, dinner, cocktails, more lights, addictive Vegas.
It was after 1am when we returned to our hotel, sleepy, tired, dizzy, dazzled, disorientated, happy.
Nov 18th, 2013, 08:34 AM
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Our fourth day in Vegas we decided to do some shopping.
We had our breakfast and we went into a couple of hotels we hadn't visited before, just to have a look, see what they had to offer. Thirst hit us in one of them, and as we still had one hour until the shopping mall would open, we stopped at the bar for a thirst quenching cocktail.
Then off to the shopping mall, where we went crazy for the entire day. We took a break for lunch in the food court there, then we continued to explore the shops.
We returned to the hotel late in the evening.
That night we went to Bellagio, where we had tickets for the Cirque du Soleil show. Before we went in we enjoyed the spectacular dancing water show at the Fountains of Bellagio.
That was our last night in Vegas. I know we needed many more days there, but now I know that I will be back for more.
I certainly got addicted to it.
We had our breakfast and we went into a couple of hotels we hadn't visited before, just to have a look, see what they had to offer. Thirst hit us in one of them, and as we still had one hour until the shopping mall would open, we stopped at the bar for a thirst quenching cocktail.
Then off to the shopping mall, where we went crazy for the entire day. We took a break for lunch in the food court there, then we continued to explore the shops.
We returned to the hotel late in the evening.
That night we went to Bellagio, where we had tickets for the Cirque du Soleil show. Before we went in we enjoyed the spectacular dancing water show at the Fountains of Bellagio.
That was our last night in Vegas. I know we needed many more days there, but now I know that I will be back for more.
I certainly got addicted to it.
Nov 18th, 2013, 08:54 AM
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We checked out in the morning and went to the airport.
At the security checks the queue was long and slow. We got through it after one hour.
Despite the fact that we were at the airport 2 hours before our flight to LA, this long queue was something we really didn't expect, so we reached our departure gate 2 minutes after it was closed. This was the first time we ever missed a flight.
We did learn our lesson, and after that we were always in the airport 3 hours before your flight.
We arrived in Los Angeles at about 7pm, went to our hotel, and then we realized we had lost our camera.
I called the shuttle company and they checked with the driver, who looked inside the van and found nothing. I checked with the airline, the plane was still in the airport, they told me someone went to my seat and had a look and found nothing. In the end I submitted a report and that was it. That report helped me get a refund from the insurance company, when I claimed the loss of my camera.
More precious however, were the photos I took in Vegas.
Since then, throughout our holiday, we took photos not only with the camera, but also with our mobile phones, and we made sure we backed them up every night when we got to our hotel room.
At the security checks the queue was long and slow. We got through it after one hour.
Despite the fact that we were at the airport 2 hours before our flight to LA, this long queue was something we really didn't expect, so we reached our departure gate 2 minutes after it was closed. This was the first time we ever missed a flight.
We did learn our lesson, and after that we were always in the airport 3 hours before your flight.
We arrived in Los Angeles at about 7pm, went to our hotel, and then we realized we had lost our camera.
I called the shuttle company and they checked with the driver, who looked inside the van and found nothing. I checked with the airline, the plane was still in the airport, they told me someone went to my seat and had a look and found nothing. In the end I submitted a report and that was it. That report helped me get a refund from the insurance company, when I claimed the loss of my camera.
More precious however, were the photos I took in Vegas.
Since then, throughout our holiday, we took photos not only with the camera, but also with our mobile phones, and we made sure we backed them up every night when we got to our hotel room.
Nov 18th, 2013, 09:09 AM
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We needed an injection of happiness to restore our mood, after we lost our camera.
Our first day in LA was in fact our happy day: we went to Disneyland!
We booked a bus tour that included the cost of the tickets. We left our hotel in the morning and we were at Disneyland a few minutes before they opened the ticket counters. There weren't any queues, so we got our tickets and went in.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Disneyland. We had plenty of time to explore both parks. We went on a few rides and enjoyed every moment of our visit there. The characters parade at the end of the day was wonderful.
Our first day in LA was in fact our happy day: we went to Disneyland!
We booked a bus tour that included the cost of the tickets. We left our hotel in the morning and we were at Disneyland a few minutes before they opened the ticket counters. There weren't any queues, so we got our tickets and went in.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day at Disneyland. We had plenty of time to explore both parks. We went on a few rides and enjoyed every moment of our visit there. The characters parade at the end of the day was wonderful.
Nov 19th, 2013, 07:44 AM
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Thank you for your encouraging replies! 
Next morning, our second full day in LA, we went to visit The Getty Center. What a lovely place to visit!
The magnificent views, the paintings, the sculptures, the photographs, the decorative arts! We only spent there one day and had to select what we wanted to see, as we needed a few days to see everything at leisure. Plus that it is a lovely place in a wonderful location.
When we finished our visit we stopped at the gift shop and there I spotted the Clever Clocks. Lovely art clocks made by a Californian designer, I was told. I bought two such Clever Clocks, they aren't the usual clocks, the dial is a work of art with visual effects, and you actually have to get used to its design to figure out how to tell the time.
They are lovely decorative pieces and now have their place of honour in our house: two really beautiful souvenirs.
When our friends came to visit, they didn't realize that those were clocks until we told them so.
From the Getty Center we went to Santa Monica for a walk by the ocean. Later on we stopped at California Pizza Kitchen restaurant for dinner. We simply loved that place and their pizzas.
Next morning, our second full day in LA, we went to visit The Getty Center. What a lovely place to visit!
The magnificent views, the paintings, the sculptures, the photographs, the decorative arts! We only spent there one day and had to select what we wanted to see, as we needed a few days to see everything at leisure. Plus that it is a lovely place in a wonderful location.
When we finished our visit we stopped at the gift shop and there I spotted the Clever Clocks. Lovely art clocks made by a Californian designer, I was told. I bought two such Clever Clocks, they aren't the usual clocks, the dial is a work of art with visual effects, and you actually have to get used to its design to figure out how to tell the time.
They are lovely decorative pieces and now have their place of honour in our house: two really beautiful souvenirs.
When our friends came to visit, they didn't realize that those were clocks until we told them so.
From the Getty Center we went to Santa Monica for a walk by the ocean. Later on we stopped at California Pizza Kitchen restaurant for dinner. We simply loved that place and their pizzas.
Nov 19th, 2013, 11:33 AM
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We were on time for our flight to San Francisco next day morning (lesson learned in Vegas ).
We took the BART to the city and when we came up from the underground in the Financial District, we saw some policemen on motorcycles right there on the pavement. We were wondering what was going on, and then we saw a crowd of people marching in protest against GMO products and Monsanto.
We found our hotel, checked in and got ourselves ready to go out. We were hungry, so when we saw Tadich Grill on California Street, we went in. It was a nice place, we liked it, the atmosphere, the (awesome) service.
We went for a walk and reached the Embarcadero. It was so windy there! And cold. We liked the views of the city. We kept walking until we got to Pier 39. Nice and lively area there. We went to Hard Rock Cafe and stayed there for dinner.
Nice first impressions in San Francisco
).We took the BART to the city and when we came up from the underground in the Financial District, we saw some policemen on motorcycles right there on the pavement. We were wondering what was going on, and then we saw a crowd of people marching in protest against GMO products and Monsanto.
We found our hotel, checked in and got ourselves ready to go out. We were hungry, so when we saw Tadich Grill on California Street, we went in. It was a nice place, we liked it, the atmosphere, the (awesome) service.
We went for a walk and reached the Embarcadero. It was so windy there! And cold. We liked the views of the city. We kept walking until we got to Pier 39. Nice and lively area there. We went to Hard Rock Cafe and stayed there for dinner.
Nice first impressions in San Francisco
Nov 19th, 2013, 12:06 PM
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Next morning we went on a day trip to Yosemite National Park. We knew it would be quite an effort to do it, but we really wanted it.
We boarded the bus in front of the Embarcadero. On the way to Yosemite we realized that that was a public holiday, and everyone was driving somewhere, many towards Yosemite too. We were told that our bus had priority to access the park, whereas all the cars were struggling to find a parking spot, and they couldn't even enter the park any more.
We did the ranger tram tour through the park, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. We had a lovely day at Yosemite. We enjoyed the scenery very much, the waterfalls, the amazing views we had from a few observation points.
When we returned to San Francisco we wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was covered in mist. Amazing sight, that one, it was nice in the city, but when we got to the bridge all that mist was there, as if its only purpose was to cover the bridge, hide it.
OK then, we'll try again tomorrow...
We boarded the bus in front of the Embarcadero. On the way to Yosemite we realized that that was a public holiday, and everyone was driving somewhere, many towards Yosemite too. We were told that our bus had priority to access the park, whereas all the cars were struggling to find a parking spot, and they couldn't even enter the park any more.
We did the ranger tram tour through the park, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. We had a lovely day at Yosemite. We enjoyed the scenery very much, the waterfalls, the amazing views we had from a few observation points.
When we returned to San Francisco we wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was covered in mist. Amazing sight, that one, it was nice in the city, but when we got to the bridge all that mist was there, as if its only purpose was to cover the bridge, hide it.
OK then, we'll try again tomorrow...
Nov 20th, 2013, 09:01 AM
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The first photo we took next day was at half past eight in the morning, from the window of our hotel room.
We loved San Francisco. The architecture, the cable cars, the feel, the vibe, the air, even its windy and cold weather with the mist forever covering that Golden Gate Bridge... we took photos almost every few metres, at every corner, trying to capture the city and take it home with us.
We went to the Museum of Modern Art. Lovely!
Then we took a city sightseeing tour bus to see more of San Francisco. We wanted to see The Bridge, of course. While it was sunny in the city, with its chilling wind and all, when we got to The Bridge we again couldn't see a thing! We couldn't believe it! How big and mighty that bridge was, it was hidden in the mist! Did it come as part of the package, part of the specifications for construction?
We then went to see Lombard Street. Quite an exercise to walk in that area!
As we were climbing towards it, we saw a crowd of people in the distance and we knew where the crookedest street it was.
Beautiful, indeed!
Took photos. Many photos. Some people were coming from the top of the hill. Many were going up. Many preferred to "do it" by car. We were doing it the right way, of course. Done my homework.
The views of the city behind were amazing. Took lots of photos (with my new camera which I had bought in our first day in San Francisco).
We reached the top of this charming street. Splendid views from there.
A few policemen were managing the traffic. I asked one of them about the street where Steve McQueen shot the famous car chase in Bullitt. He looked around thinking and saying to himself "Filbert..." I thought he was looking for one of his colleagues who might know about what I was looking for. Then he points to my left saying that the street I was looking for was there.
I soon got to Filbert Street and realized what the policeman meant when he said "Filbert". Somehow still not sure, especially that I was at the top of the hill and Filbert was going both ways, I asked a lady who was coming up the street whether she knew where they shot those sequences from the movie. She felt very sorry for not knowing, despite the fact that she was from there.
Then I saw an elderly man coming up and stopping at a handrail to catch his breath. I asked him my burning question and all of a sudden his eyes lit up, his body was full of energy and he became enthusiastic. He was happy that someone asked him about Steve McQueen. He walked to the middle of the street and started to tell me the story.
"They were here. I saw everything. I live in that house over there, can you see it? Can you see my house, it's the greenish one and it appears in the movie! Do you want to take a picture of me and say I know Steve McQueen? But with my building, can you take a picture of me with my building?
You got me? Did you get my building too? And you can say you met somebody who actually met Steve McQueen.
In the movie he comes down this hill here and you can see my building as he comes down."
He was happy, I was happy, and this became one of my most treasured memories from a holiday, ever.
I took lots of photos in that area and we began our climb down. When we got to Columbus Avenue, we went to Piazza Pellegrini right there in the corner and had lunch. The food was yummy, the presentation, the service, the interior decorations too, and we had this table by the window and we could see outside and we liked it so much, we had such a nice lunch there, a finger licking bruschetta and a delicious pizza, followed by desserts.
We loved San Francisco. The architecture, the cable cars, the feel, the vibe, the air, even its windy and cold weather with the mist forever covering that Golden Gate Bridge... we took photos almost every few metres, at every corner, trying to capture the city and take it home with us.
We went to the Museum of Modern Art. Lovely!
Then we took a city sightseeing tour bus to see more of San Francisco. We wanted to see The Bridge, of course. While it was sunny in the city, with its chilling wind and all, when we got to The Bridge we again couldn't see a thing! We couldn't believe it! How big and mighty that bridge was, it was hidden in the mist! Did it come as part of the package, part of the specifications for construction?
We then went to see Lombard Street. Quite an exercise to walk in that area!
As we were climbing towards it, we saw a crowd of people in the distance and we knew where the crookedest street it was.
Beautiful, indeed!
Took photos. Many photos. Some people were coming from the top of the hill. Many were going up. Many preferred to "do it" by car. We were doing it the right way, of course. Done my homework.
The views of the city behind were amazing. Took lots of photos (with my new camera which I had bought in our first day in San Francisco).
We reached the top of this charming street. Splendid views from there.
A few policemen were managing the traffic. I asked one of them about the street where Steve McQueen shot the famous car chase in Bullitt. He looked around thinking and saying to himself "Filbert..." I thought he was looking for one of his colleagues who might know about what I was looking for. Then he points to my left saying that the street I was looking for was there.
I soon got to Filbert Street and realized what the policeman meant when he said "Filbert". Somehow still not sure, especially that I was at the top of the hill and Filbert was going both ways, I asked a lady who was coming up the street whether she knew where they shot those sequences from the movie. She felt very sorry for not knowing, despite the fact that she was from there.
Then I saw an elderly man coming up and stopping at a handrail to catch his breath. I asked him my burning question and all of a sudden his eyes lit up, his body was full of energy and he became enthusiastic. He was happy that someone asked him about Steve McQueen. He walked to the middle of the street and started to tell me the story.
"They were here. I saw everything. I live in that house over there, can you see it? Can you see my house, it's the greenish one and it appears in the movie! Do you want to take a picture of me and say I know Steve McQueen? But with my building, can you take a picture of me with my building?
You got me? Did you get my building too? And you can say you met somebody who actually met Steve McQueen.
In the movie he comes down this hill here and you can see my building as he comes down."
He was happy, I was happy, and this became one of my most treasured memories from a holiday, ever.
I took lots of photos in that area and we began our climb down. When we got to Columbus Avenue, we went to Piazza Pellegrini right there in the corner and had lunch. The food was yummy, the presentation, the service, the interior decorations too, and we had this table by the window and we could see outside and we liked it so much, we had such a nice lunch there, a finger licking bruschetta and a delicious pizza, followed by desserts.
