Rachel and Matt’s World Tour

We have had 4 final nights back in LA. We have been to see The Queen Mary and a Russian Submarine at Long Beach, been shopping, and had a day at Universal Studios.

The Queen Mary was beautiful – but a little neglected. The owners had shuffled the layout around a bit. A beautiful art deco bar ahd been turned into a country and western bar (but since returned almost to full glory again). There was stunning wood panelling and etched glass to be seen. There was a great tour guide who showed us around and told us all about the years this cruise ship was requisitioned by the UK government to be used as a troop ship in WWII. It’s history is really very interesting. At the same site was a Russian Submarine, which we enjoyed clambering through. On board of which was a US submariner who had been to where Matt’s Dad was once based (also a submariner).

We went to a huge mall to buy a few hot weather bits and pieces having come to the US mainly prepared for the cold. Prices not as low as we had imagined – blame the exchange rate. Stuff is costing us 25% more than it would have a few months ago.

Today we had a great time at Universal Studios – the Simpsons 4D ride was the highlight for both of us and had to be experienced twice. Very cool. Very impressed.

Tomorrow we leave for Fiji. Lazy beach days – a welcome contrast from the hustle of our USA road trip – 37 days and 6,000 miles.

Highlights –
The Pacific Highway – amazing coastal drive, hundreds of seals.
Salt Lake City – Great city, fun skiiing, Ogden for Xmas was like a fairytale.
Vegas baby – lights, gambling, cocktails.
National Parks – Bryce and Yosemite, gruesome treks, awesome views.

Lowlights –
Having to turn around from Oregon en route to Yellowstone due to terrible snow and cold.
Not being rich in Vegas.
Not doing the Grand Canyon trek – cos we couldn’t see it for snow.

Fiji is unlikely to have internet on those lovely islands so it may be a while before our next installment. Will be sure to have plenty to tell you when it does come! Thanks for all your comments so far – please keep ’em coming – we love to read them.

Laters x

We got to the Grand Canyon close to sunset and watched the rocks change from red to grey as the sun went down. It was immense.

The plan was to get up early the next day to do a trek along the canyon so we stayed close by. We got up at 4am as Matt had read on the internet that sunrise was at 5am and we wanted to be at the canyon for that. However on checking the Grand Canyon information paper we realised sunrise wasn’t til 7.30am so we had an extra couple of hours lie in!

We left for the Canyon in the pitch black but a clear night. 10 minutes later at the Canyon it was a snow storm! We couldn’t see 10 feet out into the Canyon. We were gutted. We left the Grand Canyon and drove the 550 miles to LA – and were there by mid afternoon.

Sorry for the title, it had to be done!

Today we left Vegas after spendng New Year in the “Entertainment Capital of the World”
It won’t be an experience we’ll forget. The size and sheer opulence of the hotels, casino’s and shopping malls has to be seen to be believed. We wish we were rich! Planet Hollywood had the best casino and The Venetian was the poshest.

Our motel was cheap and not too far from the strip. It had a great view.

As it was New Year, the strip was very busy, and the millionaires were out in force. Watching people play on the $1k minimum bet tables was sickening as we walked over to the penny machines. The free drinks were good though!

New Years Eve was very good, though the fireworks were a BIG letdown, ie we didn’t actually see any! Considering the Casino’s must make the cost back in an hour it was very disapointing.

We saw the newly refurbished volcano outside Mirage (at a cost of $25m) , the pirate show at Treasure Island, the Fountains of Bellagio. We were due to see a show but were hanging after NYE so gave it a miss. (Rach drunk a cocktail out of an Eiffel Tower container the size of a midget and ended the nght flat on her face after tripping over a man hole cover!)

We are now just outside the Grand Canyon National Park, ready to do a trek tomorrow.

How was your NYE? Let us know.

Matt

I hope everyone had a great Xmas, and got everything they asked Santa for!

We have spent the last week in and around Salt Lake City.
Our first visit was to Temple Square, which as it is Xmas was heaving. Neither of us were converted but we did notice that the men-women ratio was a little skewed!

As you may have noticed by the photos they do Xmas lights pretty well!

On Xmas Eve we went skating in the Olympic Oval, built for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Rachel was really good. I on the other hand sucked!
Thanks to the help of a really friendly lady, Tammy, who took pity on me (or Rach!) I was able to complete a few laps, though her and Rachel’s arms must have been aching afterwards as they had to pull me round.
We had a great chat and she introduced us to her very friendly family.

After skating we made our way to our Xmas cabin in Ogden.
We booked the cabin even before we booked our flights, so we had high hopes. Thankfully we weren’t disappointed and the cabin was superb.
Our DIY Xmas dinner was also surprisingly good, considering it was cooked with only a kettle!

We couldn’t visit Utah without sampling the “Worlds Finest Powder” so we went to Snow Basin for two days. Snowbasin was also an Olympic venue.
We both had a great time on the slopes though Rach did tweek her knee on the first day, after a few rough tumbles, which meant she had to finish early.
She did bounce back for day 2 and didn’t fall over once (apart when getting off the lift, which doesn’t count apparently!).
I did overestimate my own skill a few times, which resulted in my own share of rather large “white outs”!
You can check our skills on the video page and there are also a few new photo’s in the Ogden gallery, featuring Mr Frosty.

Tomorrow we head for Vegas, so we might be home in a couple of weeks, once the money’s gone.

We wish everyone a happy new year and a great 2009!!

Hello everyone

We miss lots of you already and wish we could come home just for 1 day to share Xmas!

I hope my girls have a good time this evening at the Roey! Love you and miss you!

Eat, drink and be merry! We have found NO restaurants open on Xmas day so we will be dining on picky bits in our Xmas themed log cabin!

We hope you all have a fantastic christmas break and get to spend lots of great times with your friends and family.

Merry Christmas!

Love Rachel and Matt XX