Header image - Passport stamp Gap Year n, a year between leaving school and starting university

US Summary

Universal Studios, Los Angeles, Berlin
Image: Universal Studios, Los Angeles
© Russ 2007

A summary of the US so far! (Carly): Fri 12/01/2007 1:21 AM

Motley Crew at Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
Image: Motley Crew at Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
© Adam 2006
Griffith Observatory, LA (Hollywood sign behind)
Image: Griffith Observatory, LA (Hollywood sign behind)
© Adam 2006

Hi Guys!

Wow its been a very long time since I've managed to tell anyone anything about where we are and what we've seen! Internet is surprisingly hard to get hold of in the US if you dont have a laptop or a small fortune!!!! So firstly huge apologies for not wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a blast and as usual I'd love to hear about it or anything else which has been happening!

So now I have about a month and a half's worth of adventures to tell you all about! What I thought I'd do is make this email a summary and then write separate emails for all the interesting places so Dad can put them on the website for me! So the good news is if you're like my brother Scott and can't be bothered to read our long emails this one should bring you up to date!

Adam and I had a fab week in Seattle. It was really cold up there but it was nice to see some snow! We went to the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project and took advantage of some of the beautiful parks around the city.

Back in San Francisco we found that we were staying in a very dodgy area - the local drunks, druggies and hobos hangout! It was not great so we stayed the hotel after dark! May sound silly but we were just waiting for the 10th December when Mum, Dad and Scott arrived!

It was so good to be together again and Mum and Dad had a month of adventures planned out for us! We set off down the coast of California stopping at Monterey, Hurst Castle and Santa Barbara. Highway 1 was a beautiful route to drive along and we saw some amazing wildlife on the way.

We were in LA for 3 days where we saw tons of famous movie scenes and checked out Universal. Everyone said we wouldn't like LA but I really liked it!!! As for San Francisco being much nicer at that point we only had the Civic Center area to compare it to and I can assure you we saw more unsavoury characters there than in the whole of LA (even though we drove through Inglewood!).

After LA we spent a week relaxing in San Diego. Mum and Dad rented a beautiful penthouse apartment and it was so nice to be in a home for a week! We were between a bay and a beach and it was sunny and warm what more could you want?!

Penthouse Apartment in San Diego
Image: Mum & dad in front of Penthouse Apartment in San Diego
© Adam 2006
Ad & Scott at La Jolla beach San Diego
Image: Ad & Scott at La Jolla beach San Diego
© Adam 2006
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
Image: Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
© Adam 2006
New York New York Hotel on The Strip
Image: New York New York Hotel on The Strip
© Adam 2006

A complete contrast was Las Vegas the entertainment capital of America. It was so crazy and so much fun. Its one of those places that has to be seen to be believed! We were there for Christmas and instead of a turkey dinner we went on a rollercoaster in New York New York ate ice cream and saw a lion in the MGM Grand! We were there for 5 days and had a brilliant time.

Grand Canyon (7000 ft above sea level)
Image: Grand Canyon (7000 ft above sea level)
© Adam 2006
Salt Lake, Death Valley (282 ft <u>below</u> sea level!)
Image: Salt Lake, Death Valley (282 ft below sea level!)
© Adam 2006

Over the next few days we did a lot of driving but it was worth it as we saw the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Mono Lake, a glacier, a hot creek and Lake Tahoe.

Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
Image: Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
© Adam 2006
Mono Lake (12 ft  high tufas in lake)
Image: Mono Lake (12 ft  high tufas in lake)
© Adam 2006

This long trip eventually brought us to Napa Valley - Wine Country where I must admit we had a very merry New Years! New Years day was not spent nursing hangovers however, we went to a petrified forest (thats a stone one not a scared one in case like me you're wondering!), saw Old Faithful Geyser and had a delicious picnic in V Suttui Vineyard.

Californias famous wine region
Image: Californias famous wine region
© Adam 2006
Bread, cheese, wine and Coke at the Vineyard
Image: Bread, cheese, wine and Coke at the Vineyard
© Adam 2006

Back in San Francisco once again we got a much better impression of the place. Fisherman's Wharf was a great touristy area, we took a ride on a cable car, saw sealions in the harbour and got some great pics of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sadly though Mum, Dad and Scott had to leave us in San Francisco and go home to work and uni.

Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco
Image: Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco
© Adam 2006
The infamous Alcatraz  or 'The Rock'
Image: The infamous Alcatraz  or 'The Rock'
© Adam 2006

We were sick of California (lol!) so we decided to change our plans and fly to Chicago before Florida. So thats where we are now in the land of the mob! The Windy City is actually one of my favourites so far. Its really clean and not a bit scary! We've been up Sears tower and to a few parks. Its a lovely city and as the scene of "While you were Sleeping", "Never been kissed" and of course lots of the gangster films Adam likes we've been having a fun time! We're here until Monday when we're flying out to Florida to stay with our Aunt & Uncle - so we'll get some warm weather again soon!

Well my short summary is actually quite long now but trust me theres tons more to tell. Every place I have mentioned deserves at least a page! I'll see what I can so about getting it all out to you/on the website for you to read at your own leisure!

Lots of love Carly xxx