Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • World Trip 2011: Day 6 – Sausalito and San Francisco, USA

    Sunday 5 June 2011
    Highlights: Ferry to Sausalito, walking around Sausalito

    Last full day with my Mum before heading off to Anchorage, Alaska.  An early morning start saw another local bus into the city.  This time we travelled to the terminal and walked down to the coast enjoying a short walk to the start of the Piers and a ferry to Sausalito and we got great views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

    Sausalito is a great little city, and as my mum says was the location of Popeye the Movie (starring Robin Williams).  A stroll around the town, some local lollies bought for the nieces and nephews and some local shopping and the morning was quickly over.  We witnessed the kindness of strangers when a bike rider went to the aid of an elderly lady who collapsed.

    Shopping in the city was next including a visit to Bloomingdale’s another first for mum.  The metro sexual and other clean cute men was another interesting sight.

    We had a problem catching the bus as one went sailing past us with the driver waving back at me, great service I suppose.  Another visit to IHOP and for the first time I actually had pancakes at the International House of Pancakes.  Very nice.  Now for some research on my trip to Alaska.

  • World Trip 2011: Day 5 – San Francisco, USA

    Saturday 4 June 2011
    Highlights: Ghirardelli Place, Music Box Shop

    The big shopping day in the Bay area.  Last night they issued warnings about unseasonable wet weather, it turned out to be very wet but for the most part it rained while we were indoors.

    Caught the local bus in San Francisco, always interesting to see the locals.  Saw the pink ribbon on the San Francisco hill which was highlighting 30 years since the first case of aids was diagnosed here.

    First stop saw a visit to the Golf & Tennis shop for Andrew’s prized tennis shoes, unfortunately for him they were the wrong colour and I know how fashion conscious he can be.  From here we went down to the Wharfs starting at Pier 1 (funnily enough) all the way to the famous Pier 39 (were it did rain).  Now just as mum had given up on finding the Music Box Shop I figured out the new location, which really means that people getting presents from my mother also kinda owe me as well.

    We ended up at Ghirardelli Place were we enjoyed ice cream and a banana split.  We had planned to get the cable car but it was shut down for repairs so we went hiking up the hills of San Francisco which actually ended up being a good thing.  Down to Union Square and we located Macy’s which is were the shopping began.  Can’t say what we got but I have a few family member birthday’s coming up so hopefully they will be happy.

    We were both clumsy or forgetful today, Mum managed to knock over a ‘Caution Wet Surface Sign’, drop her umbrella, spill her Banana Split on the table (really not her fault) and unfortunately I managed to delete all my photos from today 😦

  • World Trip 2011: Day 4 – Las Vegas to San Francisco, USA

    Friday 3 June 2011
    Highlights:     Gambling at Las Vegas Airport

    The shuttle pick up worked out well but had we really left Vegas yet… well no.  It’s around 9 am and we are sitting at Las Vegas Airport and playing the slots how addictive is that??

    Well not as addicted as the smokers who locked themselves in a little ‘bubble’ room and smoked away as they lost their money and health.

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  • World Trip 2011: Day 3 – Las Vegas, USA

    Thursday 2 June 2011
    Highlights: The view from the Stratosphere Tower, gambling at ten casinos in one day!

    We started today with a visit to the Stratosphere Tower to view Vegas from 500 metres height.  Not a bad view, makes you realise you are in a desert, the only green places are the exclusive golf courses.

    From here we aught the bus down to New York, New York Casino.  I had a plan to bet $10 at as many casinos as possible during the day, shopping off as we walked back to Circus Circus.  This plan took in 10 casinos and 7 hours but I can now say I gambled at;

    • New York, New York (won)
    • Monte Carolo (lost)
    • Planet Hollywood (lost)
    • Paris (even)
    • Bellagio (lost)
    • Caesars Palace (won)
    • Mirage (won)
    • Venetian (lost badly)
    • Treasure Island (even)
    • Circus Circus (lost)

    So out of ten casinos I won at 3 of them, broke even at 2 and lost at 5, I’d say that is about the right percentages.  Finished back at the hotel with a Buffet Dinner, I shouldn’t go to one of these places often or I’ll end up looking even more like an oversized local.

  • World Trip 2011: Day 2 – Las Vegas, USA

    Wednesday 1 June 2011
    Highlights: Premium Shopping Outlet (South)

    Late start today getting up around 10.30 am, but with no sleep yesterday that’s not a big surprise.  Finally dragged myself out to the strip and caught the Deuce bus service ($7 for 24 hours use).

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