Tam's trip to America 10/11

Hello blog world

I have been home for just under a week now, sorry I haven't written but I have a cold, so have been going to work to catch up on the mountains of paperwork left for me and then come home and feel sorry for myself before going to bed early (that's if I don't fall asleep on the couch first). Anyway, enough for my sorry life at the moment, I still have to write about my last day in America.

My last day in America was spent in LA. I had stated at the Hollywood Heights Hotel (after flying in from Vegas). In the morning I was picked up by Starline Tours to do the Warner Bros Tour. I loved the WB tour, I got to see sets used for Gilmore Girls as well as places used to film The Mentalist, True Blood, Pretty Little Liars and the outside of the sound studios where shows like Big Bang Theory and Chuck are filmed. Speaking of these two shows, we saw the actress that plays Penny from Big Bang Theory driving to set, she waved and said hello and we also saw the actress who plays the sister on Chuck walking to a sound stage. I brought up big in the gift shop, there were some awesomet-shirts in the gift shop, I brought one that said 'Bazinga' and one that asked if this was a 'class A friend request' all quotes from the Big Bang Theory.

After the Warner Bros tour I went back to Highlands shopping Centre (it's right near the Starlines depot) and did some final shopping at the Guess store (yes I went back there again), Sephora and Victoria Secret. After shopping I walked back to my hotel, collected my bags and waited for the super shuttle, who ended up being 25mins early. The driver turned out to be Russian and when he heard that I was an Aussie he proceeded to tell me that in school he was taught that Aussies are convicts and therefore like to steal things and proceeded to ask me if I wanted to go to the Hollywood sign and steal a piece of it. Hecwas a maniac driver, I eventually made it to the Airport safely and spent my last few US $ buying different lollies and chocolates for people back in Australia to try.

On the plane I was seated next to 2 ladies from Florida who were hilarious. V Australia really need to research their gluten free meals better though I barely ate the whole plane ride home and therefore at 8am in Sydney airport I sat having a quarter chicken and chips . After about 4hrs at Sydney airport I boarded the plane back to Perth and was picked up by Carl (yes I did remember his Krispy Kremes). I then got my cold, was home for 2 days (the weekend) and then was back at work.

So that's my solo trip to America during winter all wrapped up. What an experience (please remind me to never travel in winter again).

xoxo

By the time I leave Vegas tomorrow I will have been here for 48hrs. I LOVE Vegas. This visit I am staying at Planet Hollywood and think the rooms are fantastic. The hotel in general is awesome lots of places to eat and shop. The only thing I don't like is that people can smoke in the casino and you can smell it all through the hotel but they will never change that apparently.

I did the Neon Lights tour through Grayline Tours last night and loved it. We saw the Mirage volcano, Bellagio Fountains (& inside the Bellagio as well), also Fremont St Queen tribute. It actually snowed as we were finishing the tour, they were like flakes that dissolved when it hit the ground, but still very cool. Today Kirsty and I went to the Premium Shopping Outlet's. I brought a few bargains. It was fantastic shopping. We then came back to the hotel so Kirsty could pick up her luggage and head to the airport. I had a nap and then headed to the Venetian to ride the Gondila. I then went to Treasure Island and saw the Cirque show Mystere. The show was fantastic. The acrobats are so talented and it was quite numerous as well. Afterwards I saw the TI Pirate show and finally finished off the night checking out the shops at Miracle Mile.

I have had a fantastic time, thank you Vegas xx

So I finally made it to New York on New Years Eve, just in time for the Sex and the City Tour and of course New Years Eve in Times Square. Un-fortunately Contiki really let us down. There were a lot of angry people that night. We walked for over an hour, 100 of us trying to keep together while thousands of other people tried to get to where they were going. Then it turns out that Contiki had us booked into a blues club (what the?) then this 'exclusive area' we were supposed to have only sat 50 for dinner so the other 50 had to stand around & watch the others eat. Then turns out the private viewing area was a giant tv screen in the blues club. I could have saved thousands and watched it on the tv at home. I would predict that Contiki will be getting some strongly worded letters.

The 2 days that I finally got to spend in NYC were good overall though, mainly because of the people. It was great to finally meet the people I had been in contact with on facebook. Times Square was amazing as usual. I liked the Gossip Girl tour too

Here's an update: the flight from San Fran to JFK was cancelled so I ended up returning to LA. I have had to book accommodation in LA and will be leaving (hopefully) Thursday night for JFK. It means that I am missing some of my tour and pre-tour activities but at least I'll still be there by New Years. Please, please, please no more snow in New York till at least the weekend, I'm begging you please mother nature.

Hi everyone

So I am currently sitting on the floor of San Francisco airport charging my iPhone while writing this. I am day 2 into my trip. I travelled from Melb to Sydney with no problems, same with Sydney to LA, no problems. I flew V Australia and liked the room in their seats and selection of shows/movies to watch though disliked their gluten free food options and also thought the seat was cushioned enough for such a long flight. My hotel room (at Marriott) was nice and they let me check in straight away even though it was 9:30am which I was grateful for so I could shower and take a nap. I then went to The Grove. It was so pretty, lots of lights in the trees and a huge Christmas tree. I didn't sleep much last night as I knew I had to get up around 4am to catch my flight to New York, not long before 4am I received a text from Carl saying that my flight had been cancelled. Even though it had not snowed in NYC for a day or so the storm on the weekend had delayed so many flights that JFK couldn't handle them all when it re-opened. I rang American Airlines and they said that I couldn't get on another flight till Thursday night which meant I wouldn't arrive till Fruday morning, I cried on the phone I was so sad. Carl (such a legend) then msg'd me and said that he found online that I could get a flight to NYC with Virgin American but had to go via San Fran. I rang them, got the last seat ($790 later) high tailed it to the airport and am now in San Fran waiting for the flight to JFK which has been delayed by 5hrs. I don't mind it being delayed if I know I am going to get there. I miss out on seeing The Lion King but hopefully nothing else. Fingers crossed xx