Nathan's Insights

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

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  • World Trip 2009: Day 11 – San Diego to Los Angeles, USA

    Monday 1 June 2009
    Highlights: Citadel Shopping

    The very last long drive of the trip saw as go to Los Angeles. We stopped in a small missionary town on the way but I didn’t find it particularly interesting.

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  • World Trip 2009: Day 10 – San Diego and San Ysidro, USA

    Sunday 31 May 2009
    Highlights: San Diego Trolleys, San Diego Marathon

    After travelling by bus around San Francisco we moved to a trolley (tram) in San Diego. A great system that saw us go from one end of the blue line (Old Town) to the other end (San Ysidro – a border town with Mexico). On the way we saw the San Diego Marathon (they had marching bands as well).

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  • World Trip 2009: Day 9 – San Diego, USA

    Saturday 30 May 2009
    Highlights: Spectacular Sea World

    Today has a theme park day, something I was looking forward to. My mum wasn’t happy with the $12 car parking fee but I told her in advance this is how it is done.

    Sea World highlights:

    • Shamu Show (whales performing people got very wet on a cold day!!)
    • Dolphin Discovery (brilliant, they are lovely creatures)
    • Sea Lions Show (basically send ups of shows like survivor, idol etc – very funny)
    • Pet’s Rule (American’s are pet crazy over here)
    • Cirque de la Mer (circus on water – the best)

    I also went on a few rides, Shipwreck Rapids, Journey to Atlantis and Wild Arctic (a motion ride which was very good).

    My mum got her photo with the muscled acrobats from the circus show and I think she had a great time. This didn’t stop her from wanting to go back to the shops later a buy Reagan a gift. For the first time she is concerned she has too much to bring back.  I sense a story when she tries to check her bags in later!!

  • World Trip 2009: Day 8 – Las Vegas to San Diego, USA

    Friday 29 May 2009
    Highlights: Las Vegas Outlet, Chula Vista Shopping Mall

    Another big driving day (about 5.5 hours), but first we had one more go at gambling and somehow we both won, my mum won about $20 and I finished up $1 (hey it’s a win).

    My mum then used her winning to buy more presents at the Las Vegas Outlet on the way out… I really don’t want to see her credit card bill.  The Good Nite Hotel Chula Vista in San Diego is fairly basic but I believe in a good location. My mum likes 4 star accommodation but at 2 star cost, as I said it’s just a place to sleep.

    She got much happier once she saw the Chula Vista Shopping Mall. This was her first real chance to see the big stores i.e. Macy’s JC Penny and others, anyway this turned out to be another big buying day, the grandchildren are going to get spoilt when she gets back.

  • World Trip 2009: Day 7 – Las Vegas / Hoover Dam, USA

    Thursday 28 May 2009
    Highlights: Hoover Dam, Hitting and winning at various Casinos on the Strip

    Having cut the Grand Canyon visit out of the trip we still got to see the enormous engineering achievement that is the Hoover Dam. It’s hard to imagine how they built this; I guess they had problems since they lost 300 men during the construction.

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