Newquay UK

Well as Paul Kelly sang...I'm in London now, well I was for like 3 hours anyway! For those of you paying attention yes I am a couple of days early. Where's Newquay??? Its like a six hour train ride south west from London. Its a pretty harbour beach side town, very busy with the summer trade, lots of fat white poms (no offense) But the place has a nice feel. The hostel I'm at is on the foreshore cliff, my room looks out over the main beach, I can wake up in the moring and decide if its good enough to get up and go for a surf! The waters very cold though, might have to get myself a wettie to go with the board! There's plenty of bars and restaraunts for work, also heaps of surf and clothing shops, might play on the aussie accent and see what job offers I can score :)

Before I sign off I'd also like to share my nightmare of the last 48hrs in Nth America before boarding the plane to London. Started in Toronto, the weather had been nice and hot the whole time I was there, except for the morning I had to get up early and get myself to the Greyhound station...it was pissing down. So I treated myself to a taxi, but cause I didn't have a ph. no. had to go down the street with brolly and wait till a free one happened upon me. So that was ok, 12 hours later I arrive in NY, tired and stiff cause the guy sitting next to me was a tall black guy who didn't fit in the small spaces and was taking up 1/3 of my seat and leg room! Got to hostel, all good, did my few things booked a Super Shuttle to come collect me the next afternoon and take me to the Newark airport. So that arvo, 20 mins late and I gave the company a call and the woman assured me the driver was 10 mins away. Another 20 mins later I call again, different woman, same story. Starting to worry, I still had time but that seemed really slack to me. So 1 hour after I was supposed to be picked-up I ring and started abusing the poor guy on the other end. After he finally got that my surname started with a P not a T he found my reservation and then after being put on hold for 10 mins he informed me that the shuttle was already at the airport!!! The driver reckons he had stopped at the hostel but there was no one there so he left. So after I had calmed down enough to speak without using only obscenities I asked what they were going to do, as I was still no where near the airport. After being put on hold for yet another 15 mins I got to speak to a lady in the "customer service" department. She told me to take a taxi and then to fax in the receipt and I would be reimbursed. Still not peachy but with no other option I did so. The taxi that arrived, driver didn't really speak english, and didn't take credit card. I had limited cash cause I didn't need much. So we eventually got the point that I needed an atm on the way and he needed to be quick cause I was running out of time to get to check-in on time. Obvioulsy I made it but not with out lots of swearing and few tears. This example epitomises customer service in the USA=non-existent!

Toronto

So another town...Toronto is quite a nice, laid back place. I'm staying in small hostel right in the middle of china town, so that means heaps of yummy cheap food! My first night here was spent enjoying a free bbq and musical entertainment by some of the guests, one on guitar and another guy jamming along on the tambalans (think that's how its spelt, really cool drums anyway) I went to see a ball game on sunday, the local team the Blue Jays vs NY's Yankee's, BJ kicked arse! The Rogers stadium was were it was at, very much like our Colonial (for those Melburnians out there) only a bit smaller perhaps. Toronto's main attraction is their tower, the CN, its tall, went up there for a bit of a 360 veiw, looking out over the city and Lake Ontario too.

Niagara Falls

Crossed yet another border, all those stamps in my passport, you'd think I'm some worldly traveller...wait a minute-I pretty much am!
So I was bored with USA and decided to visit the Niagara Falls, from the Canadian side cause everyone said it would be better, and they were right. So I did the famous boat trip Maid in the Mist, which chugs along the less powerful american falls, and then up to the larger canadian Horseshoe falls. I got to wear a rather fetching blue poncho and got just a tad damp when we went right up to the Horseshoe falls. The next day I went to the Behind the Falls walk, which is just a few tunnels that have been dug in behind part of the Horseshoe falls. You get to nearly water level and look up at the falls aswell as walk in behind them, so all you can see is a constant rush of water. I also went to the falls that night to see them lit up and a fireworks display.
photos are coming-promise

hot and sweaty in NY

I've hit the other side of country now, and boy is it hot and humid here in NY. I lost out on 3 hours, my body is still adjusting. I spent the day in central park, which was nice, wandered around for a bit and then found a nice grassy spot to read my book and paint my toenails (seriously) I've also arranged to bus it to Niagara Falls on wednesday for a few days, might stay in Toronto for a few days too, then I'll head back to NY and then its London baby!

More of SF

So the last time you heard from me I'd just arrived in SF after a shitty bus ride, had a bit of a nap and then taken myself on a tour around the city. After that I lost my room key, or someone took it from the room, either way I couldn't find it and the receptionist couldn't find a spare for me. Its sooo much fun when you can't get in your own room unless there's someone else to let you in, or hassle the receptionist to go on an adventure up to the 5th floor to let you in. The next day I cracked the shits with the guy at the front desk, I said if you can't get me a new key to the room then can you move me to another room, he said, I can't do that but if you wait till tommorrow the manager can get some more keys cut. (!!!!!!!) Not happy jan, I asked him if it was possible to call the manager and get it oked cause it was not satisfactory. I got moved to another room :)
So anyway, after that pathetic attempt at customer service I decided I would try and get myself a bed at a hostel that Tash(LA) had reccommended, the Green Tortoise, the only reason I didn't go there in the first place was cause they were booked out for the weekend. Well they had room for me so I booked to stay for the rest of the week and it was a really nice place. Some of the guys from LA arrived and they were able to get a room there too so I had some friends to go do touristy things with :)
I got to see most of the touristy stuff, including Alcatraz island, which was a bit of an effort, but we made it anyway.
photos to come, none of the bloody computers in the us of a have usb plugins!

San Fran

Currently hanging out in the San Francisco, I made the bus trip an overnighter which seemed like a good idea until I realised that Greyhound buses are not any good for sleeping on. But I'm here now, and have already been a bit of a touristy drive. It's a pretty city.

last of LA

So after Vegas I returned to Hollywood to chill for a bit, I'd made some great buddies at the Orbit hostel. Because of the july 4th celebrations there was a four day weekend!
I spent most of the time at the beach, Venice beach was really nice and we spent a hot day packed in with the masses at Santa Monica beach. The third day we decided to head further along the coast to Malibu, we had surf lessons with a guy Joel who has taught Peirce Brosnan and Adam Sandler. I was riding waves into the shore, some of the girls had never tried before and were doing the same! It was a really great day. And then I spent a few more days at the beach again so I have to say, I'm starting to get a tan and its not out of a bottle!

Lost Wages and the GC

So I had to go there, even though its not my style I still felt inclined to check out the bright lights of Las Vegas and I'm glad I did. Its trashy and tacky and then some but it was also an experince. I turned my good taste sensors right down and saw the sights, they were pretty impressive, the only thing that I kinda felt was a genuine shame was the fact that just about all the original casinos, like the ones from the 50-60's are now being torn down to be replaced by bigger and brighter versions. There was no sense of nostalgia.
The Grand Canyon was definitely an amazing sight. In some parts it looked almost like an ancient city ruins. The only thing was that it was really overcast cause of a thunderstorm that was on its way so it liiks quite dary in somw of the photos.