Last day in LA.......
Up early to finish packing and have breakfast. Pete then headed off at 8am to pick up the rental car.
We decided to drive to 'Santa Monica' and 'Venice Beach' for the day.
Thank goodness for GPS! These motorways are huge.... and busy but we had a relatively stress free drive (luckily it was Sunday - could have been a different story if it was a week day).
Before we knew it we were there (it took about an hour). What a beautiful place!
We parked and hopped out for our first look at 'Santa Monica' Pier and the ocean. It just goes for miles and miles. We then drove just down the road and we were at 'Venice Beach'. Parked and started wandering down checking out the shops and the stalls and the sights.
Some very talented people selling their art etc but a lot were just selling themselves (they were charging a $1.00 to take their photo).
We stopped for some lunch - it was great to sit for a while and just people watch. One thing I've
noticed over here is that Dogs (big & small) seem to be taken everywhere. They were out in force here today but they also take them into the shops (malls) and restaurants. And as seen in he movies the little ones are carried most of the time either under their arms or in their handbags.
We decided to head back to the car but this time along the waters edge. The water was warm and the girls had fun running from the waves. We had left our togs out in case we wanted a swim but decided
to go shopping instead.
Back into the car and we soon found a shopping centre. However there didn't appear to be an electronics store so Pete phoned a friend who lived in the area (Mike) to see where we should go.
We were soon at the recommended location. It was an outdoor mall so there were entertainers all along the street. They were singing, dancing, playing instruments, miming and jump rope/skipping. You name it they were doing it. And all ages.
We soon found the Apple store. Half an hour later Chloe had her iPod. One very happy child. Pete had also made a purchase :) Hannah purchased a lovely jacket from the next shop. Mike then phoned to say he had driven here - so we found him. He pointed Hannah & I in the direction of a store that sold label clothes at cheap prices while the others headed off for a coffee/catch up.
Hannah & I finally dragged ourselves out of the shop with our purchases and the others were on the other side of the street. They thought we had gotten lost.......
Said farewell to Mike - we then packed our new purchases before heading off to return the rental car. The drop off point was close to the airport and they ran a courtesy bus to the airport. Too easy!
Before we knew it we were checked in and had gone through customs without any issues or cavity searches....
We had dinner (Burger King as there wasn't a lot of choice here in Terminal 2) then relaxed outside our boarding gate - reading and watching movies. However when it was time to board, we didn't walk onto the plane but instead they put us on a bus and we drove alongside a runway to another terminal - where we boarded the plane. I guess 'Air NZ' opted for the cheaper Terminal option :)
The bus ride was at least 5 minutes.
We had a good flight home - managed to sleep for a few hours. Arriving back to a beautiful day.
So ends our amazing trip! We enjoyed every moment - especially catching up with family and friends. For those we didn't manage to see......... We'll be back!
Friday, 17 October 2014
Sunday, 12 October 2014
LA 11 October
The last day of our 'Disneyland' & 'California Adventureland' pass.
We decided to spend a few hours this morning packing our bags - getting ready for our flight home tomorrow night :(
Walked to 'Downtown Disney' to see if we could book in for lunch at the 'Rainforest Cafe' but the only free spot was for 3 o'clock so decided to leave it. Carried onto the 'Make a Toy' shop so that Chloe could have a look around inside.
Finally back in 'Disneyland' we hit the rides we had marked off the night before. Being Saturday the Park was a lot busier than it had been during the week so we used the 'Fast Pass' to its full advantage. These things are great!
Then at 4pm we lined up along the road for 'Mickey's Parade'. That was awesome. So much energy from the performers/dancers and their costumes were amazing!
Okay we had done the main things we wanted to do in 'Disneyland' so we headed over to 'California Adventureland' for the roller coaster (which we had saved for last). Pete, Hannah & Chloe did this one and all came off buzzing and ready to go again. Unfortunately just then they closed the ride temporarily for some reason but couldn't say when it would reopen so we headed off to do a few more rides and hoping it would then be open.
It still wasn't open so we headed off - saying farewell to 'Disneyland'. We had an AMAZING time!!
We then walked three blocks to 'Bubba Gumps'. What a place. They had 'Forrest Gump' showing on one of the TV screens so now another movie we have to dust off for the girls to watch. While we were waiting for our table we had a few drinks at the bar (soaking up the atmohere). When our table was ready we quickly ordered our meals. They came out really quickly and were delicious - love those shrimps! YUMMY
All full and tired we caught a taxi back to the hotel....... Our legs couldn't take us any further!
We had intended to watch the Fireworks from the hotel spa but they are renovating apart of it so it had been closed at 6pm (dah). Ended up watching from the car park before climbing/crawling into bed (the beds are high over here). Snoring in seconds........
We decided to spend a few hours this morning packing our bags - getting ready for our flight home tomorrow night :(
Walked to 'Downtown Disney' to see if we could book in for lunch at the 'Rainforest Cafe' but the only free spot was for 3 o'clock so decided to leave it. Carried onto the 'Make a Toy' shop so that Chloe could have a look around inside.
Finally back in 'Disneyland' we hit the rides we had marked off the night before. Being Saturday the Park was a lot busier than it had been during the week so we used the 'Fast Pass' to its full advantage. These things are great!
Then at 4pm we lined up along the road for 'Mickey's Parade'. That was awesome. So much energy from the performers/dancers and their costumes were amazing!
Okay we had done the main things we wanted to do in 'Disneyland' so we headed over to 'California Adventureland' for the roller coaster (which we had saved for last). Pete, Hannah & Chloe did this one and all came off buzzing and ready to go again. Unfortunately just then they closed the ride temporarily for some reason but couldn't say when it would reopen so we headed off to do a few more rides and hoping it would then be open.
It still wasn't open so we headed off - saying farewell to 'Disneyland'. We had an AMAZING time!!
We then walked three blocks to 'Bubba Gumps'. What a place. They had 'Forrest Gump' showing on one of the TV screens so now another movie we have to dust off for the girls to watch. While we were waiting for our table we had a few drinks at the bar (soaking up the atmohere). When our table was ready we quickly ordered our meals. They came out really quickly and were delicious - love those shrimps! YUMMY
All full and tired we caught a taxi back to the hotel....... Our legs couldn't take us any further!
We had intended to watch the Fireworks from the hotel spa but they are renovating apart of it so it had been closed at 6pm (dah). Ended up watching from the car park before climbing/crawling into bed (the beds are high over here). Snoring in seconds........
LA 10 October
We had breakfast and headed off to catch a bus to 'Universal Studios'. It only took us about 50 minutes to get there.
The Park was decorated in scary/gruesome Halloween scenes. Awesome!
Between us we went on most of the rides. Hannah & Pete went on 'The Mummy' ride three times and went back on again later with Chloe.
We all enjoyed the simulator rides especially 'The Transformers'!
Hannah & I went on the 'Jurassic Park' ride while Pete waited with Chloe. This was a gentle boat ride with Dinosaurs spitting water at you (one got me full in the face - you rotter) until you came to the end. Then you went over an 84foot waterfall. Screamed my lungs out! Pete then went on with Hannah while I waited with Chloe.
Thoroughly enjoyed the 'Waterworld' scene re-enactment. Very talented actors. Not only do they act but do all the stunts themselves. And these actors have been in big shows like CSI, Law & Order and General Hospital etc. The girls want to watch the movie now - will have to wipe off the cobwebs and drag it out when we get home.
Next we headed over to the 'Special Effects' show. Once again very entertaining - making the learning fun for everyone. They started cutting one of the audiences arm off and even though we knew it wasn't real - it looked so real! Scary....
Unfortunately before we knew it - it was time for the park to close and for us to get on the bus. The ride home took 2 hours due to the traffic.
They dropped us by our hotel and we were all so tired. By this time it was after 8pm so Pete went to the restaurant next door for takeaways which we ate in bed. You can only get away with that when your on holiday :)
The Park was decorated in scary/gruesome Halloween scenes. Awesome!
Between us we went on most of the rides. Hannah & Pete went on 'The Mummy' ride three times and went back on again later with Chloe.
We all enjoyed the simulator rides especially 'The Transformers'!
Hannah & I went on the 'Jurassic Park' ride while Pete waited with Chloe. This was a gentle boat ride with Dinosaurs spitting water at you (one got me full in the face - you rotter) until you came to the end. Then you went over an 84foot waterfall. Screamed my lungs out! Pete then went on with Hannah while I waited with Chloe.
Thoroughly enjoyed the 'Waterworld' scene re-enactment. Very talented actors. Not only do they act but do all the stunts themselves. And these actors have been in big shows like CSI, Law & Order and General Hospital etc. The girls want to watch the movie now - will have to wipe off the cobwebs and drag it out when we get home.
Next we headed over to the 'Special Effects' show. Once again very entertaining - making the learning fun for everyone. They started cutting one of the audiences arm off and even though we knew it wasn't real - it looked so real! Scary....
Unfortunately before we knew it - it was time for the park to close and for us to get on the bus. The ride home took 2 hours due to the traffic.
They dropped us by our hotel and we were all so tired. By this time it was after 8pm so Pete went to the restaurant next door for takeaways which we ate in bed. You can only get away with that when your on holiday :)
LA 9 October
Jet lag still with us (woke at 4am).
Today - California Adventureland here we come....
I won't bore you listing all the rides we did but we had an awesome time!
A few highlights were -
Cars (Radiator Springs)
Water Rapids
Tower of Terror (Pete & Hannah did this one) not for Chloe or I :)
At 3.30pm Pete & the girls headed back to the hotel for a swim and I stayed to look at a couple of shops. Headed back to join the others & for a rest before we all headed back for dinner and the 'World of 'Colour' show at 8.15pm.
We were all pretty tired and poor Chloe was a zombie (asleep on her feet)! We found a possie - sat down and Chloe was soon asleep on my lap. Left her to have a cat nap and woke her when the show started.
The show was brilliant!! The colours displayed in the water and the heights they got were amazing! The volume of water in places was so dense they were able to project some of the Disney movie characters onto it. They were so high sometimes they blocked out the 'Mickey' ferris wheel. We were getting slightly sprayed but soon dried off when they did the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and huge flames came up out of the water. Boy you could feel the heat!
Headed back to the hotel and bed.... Snoring before our heads hit the pillows.
Today - California Adventureland here we come....
I won't bore you listing all the rides we did but we had an awesome time!
A few highlights were -
Cars (Radiator Springs)
Water Rapids
Tower of Terror (Pete & Hannah did this one) not for Chloe or I :)
At 3.30pm Pete & the girls headed back to the hotel for a swim and I stayed to look at a couple of shops. Headed back to join the others & for a rest before we all headed back for dinner and the 'World of 'Colour' show at 8.15pm.
We were all pretty tired and poor Chloe was a zombie (asleep on her feet)! We found a possie - sat down and Chloe was soon asleep on my lap. Left her to have a cat nap and woke her when the show started.
The show was brilliant!! The colours displayed in the water and the heights they got were amazing! The volume of water in places was so dense they were able to project some of the Disney movie characters onto it. They were so high sometimes they blocked out the 'Mickey' ferris wheel. We were getting slightly sprayed but soon dried off when they did the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and huge flames came up out of the water. Boy you could feel the heat!
Headed back to the hotel and bed.... Snoring before our heads hit the pillows.
LA 8 October
Jet lag hit again and Chloe was awake at 1am (oh boy) but she wasn't the only one!
We tried to get back to sleep but no luck so up, dressed and down for breakfast at 6.30am.
We headed off to the main 'Disneyland' entrance to collect our tickets. ALL very excited. Got our tickets and our 'First Time' visitors badges :) and headed in.
First stop - 'Tomorrowland'.
Then onto 'Fantasyland'
'Mickey's Toontown' was next - meet and greet with 'Mickey' & photo.
Jumped onto 'Monorail' to do a circuit around park and got off at 'Downtown Disney' and walked back to hotel.
Quick bite to eat and then a swim in the pool & spa pool.
Headed down the road to 'Tiffys' for dinner. Hannah and I headed back to 'Downtown Disney' for some retail therapy. Pete & Chloe headed back to the hotel. A long day!
We tried to get back to sleep but no luck so up, dressed and down for breakfast at 6.30am.
We headed off to the main 'Disneyland' entrance to collect our tickets. ALL very excited. Got our tickets and our 'First Time' visitors badges :) and headed in.
First stop - 'Tomorrowland'.
Then onto 'Fantasyland'
'Mickey's Toontown' was next - meet and greet with 'Mickey' & photo.
Jumped onto 'Monorail' to do a circuit around park and got off at 'Downtown Disney' and walked back to hotel.
Quick bite to eat and then a swim in the pool & spa pool.
Headed down the road to 'Tiffys' for dinner. Hannah and I headed back to 'Downtown Disney' for some retail therapy. Pete & Chloe headed back to the hotel. A long day!
LONDON 6 October
Raining again today.
Headed into the city to Buckingham Palace to watch 'The Changing of the Guards'. It was drizzling and the Girls soon got bored and wanted to go. But we hung in there to the end.
Next stop back to tour the inside of 'The Tower of London'. Enjoyed this and seeing all the crowns and jewels.
Back on the tube and we caught a Black Cab a few blocks (another trip wished ticked off) to take us to 'Harrods'. Oh boy forgot how big and beautiful this place is. "Don't touch anything" was my continual dialogue to the girls.... £298,000.00 was just a little outside out trip budget!
Back on the tube (all very tired) back to Monique & Nigel's for a lovely Indian takeaway.
Headed into the city to Buckingham Palace to watch 'The Changing of the Guards'. It was drizzling and the Girls soon got bored and wanted to go. But we hung in there to the end.
Next stop back to tour the inside of 'The Tower of London'. Enjoyed this and seeing all the crowns and jewels.
Back on the tube and we caught a Black Cab a few blocks (another trip wished ticked off) to take us to 'Harrods'. Oh boy forgot how big and beautiful this place is. "Don't touch anything" was my continual dialogue to the girls.... £298,000.00 was just a little outside out trip budget!
Back on the tube (all very tired) back to Monique & Nigel's for a lovely Indian takeaway.
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