Yosemite National Park

So we haven't updated the blog in a while, internet and free time is a bit hit and miss traveling around. From San Francisco we move on to Oakhurst just outside of Yosemite National Park. It was amazing how the scenery changed so dramatically just traveling a couple of hours from San Fransisco.

We all went out for Chinese the first night, it was lovely but so big. We never seem to learn to share meals.

The first day in the new hotel we just chilled out and hit the pool, the weather was dramatically warmer than in San Fran, so we made the most of it. The the first full day we headed into Yosemite Park and headed up the mountain for the amazing views of half dome.

I spent most of my time up the mountain hovering well away from the edge. These Americans are crazy and leave shear drops open with no railings so no good for me with my fear of heights. There was an amphitheater though which allowed me to sit and eat my lunch whilst enjoying the view. We also had lots of visits whilst we were eating from Californian Land Squirrels. Those cheeky little fatties just wanted to steal our food. in fact they climbs up onto one guy to steal his granola bar.

We then headed to the Giant Sequoias.

Then the next day we went back into the park but went down into the valley. It was so beautiful and green down there.

We then went to see the lower Yosemite Falls and sat in the creek for some lunch. During this time Chris had a paddle in the freezing melt water and we even got a video of him nearly falling in when he thought it would be a great idea to dip his head into the freezing water.

After this we headed of to Lee Vinings just for a stop off for one night to break up the long Journey to Las Vegas. Currently it is about 8:30 in the morning in Vegas after our first night in Casino Royal. Me and Chris had a few goes on the slot machines last night and managed to make a bit of money!! We played about $8 and have got about $21 in slips. Not a bad introduction to gambling.

 

San Fransico

Right, we know it’s been a few days since we checked in but it has been all go as you will be able to see from the pictures. San Fransisco has been amazing and we will be sorry to leave later on today. The first day we went for a general wander around the city (which is beautiful).

We went on the cable car, we had to hang from it as it was really busy. The first couple of hills were pretty scary as the other cars going in the opposite direction pass by really closely, but you get used to it.

We went through China Town, I could have bought everything there were so many beautiful things everywhere. We did go past weird fish mongers who had a chopped up something and its heart was still beating…. It was a bit creepy.

The cable car museum was really interesting and had loads of information about the big earthquake and fire.

We went cycling round San Fran and we even cycled over the Golden Gate Bridge. Me and Chris didn’t like that part so much as I was so high u, luckily it was really foggy so we could see down too much.

Yesterday we did the Alcatraz and Angel Island tour which was so interesting. It’s really weird going around an audio tour as there are loads of people everywhere but no one is really talking. Also there was an ex-inmate of Alcatraz in the gift shop signing copies of his book about is time on the rock.

Afterwards me and Chris as well as Tim and Hayley went for another wander around Fisherman’s Wharf before heading for another drinking session. We found a Tequila Bar, I didn’t even know you could get that many different tequilas. Not going to lie, I had so much to drink. 

11 Hour Plane Journey and Arrival in America

So yesterday was the longest traveling day ever for me and Chris. I personally hardly slept the night before (due to excitement), and Chris only got short patches of sleep. So to say that we stayed awake from 4am to 4am the next day. So a whole 24hrs awake. The first challenge in the morning was simply getting all the bags in the car, Mark managed this with a little help from Chris.

Got to the airport, which I have to say looks great. Terminal 2 is so new and shiny and really easy to get around, they did tell us it would be a 20-25 minute walk to our gate. We all managed it in about 10minutes…..

Hayley and me got a free drink of the new Pimm’s in duty free (which I then bought a bottle of, there’s some good marketing) before even boarding the plane and Chris picked himself up a bottle of Jim Beam (which he managed to discreetly drink half of during the flight). It’s a shame everyone else had to sit on my row otherwise I would have fit to use the row like a bed.

But other than some minor apple pie throwing from Tim and Chris the journey went smoothly and we arrived just after 1:00pm local time. We then had to wait ages to get through immigration (our line was the only one that didn’t move) and then pick up bags and get the car. Getting the car took an age as they didn’t have the car Mark had books available but it all worked out as now we have a beastly car that is pretty awesome.

We then got to the hotel La Luna got freshen up and settled and then headed out to eat down the road. We didn’t take to many pictures at this point as we were pretty much dead on our feet. 

The plan today is to book the Alcatraz tour and looking into booking bikes the cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge, then heading to China town for lunch or dinner and just has a general wander. The weather is beautiful couldn’t ask for better.