It's a stunning coastline, apparently used a lot in car commercials. There's farmland, large fields of yellow wheat growing right down to grey cliffs, long windy roads butting against small sandy hillocks and beaches where elephant seals flop about like they're too hungover to move, lonely lighthouses and tiny towns nestled green shady forests.
Hanging out in the hotel jacuzzi (which had multiple signs about not being allowed in the jacuzzi if you have diarrhoea, ugghh) we got chatting to a girl who told us about this nice national park we should stop at. We would have driven right by if she hadn't told us about it, but it was lovely, a really nice cliff top walk with seals hanging out on the rocks below.
When we got close to Malibu Robina turned off into a road that wound up through the hills so we could see the mansions of the rich and famous.
'Oh wow, look at that house!' she said, looking at a monstrous white, square block sitting on the edge of the hill.
'Woah Robina, road!' I said as she got to the corner and was still looking back over shoulder.
'Oops sorry,' she said hitting the brakes.
'Ummm, how about we pull over and I drive while you look at the houses?' I said.
We switched drivers and set off again, all the big ugly houses, often people get big confused with great.
We didn't have long back in LA before flying to Calgary, but long enough to visit our fave breakfast spot Bondi Harvest again.
I really enjoyed our three weeks driving around the US, the only thing I might consider doing differently is hiring a campervan over a car to make it a bit cheaper. There aren't a lot of hostels in the US so we spent a lot of money on hotels. I wouldn't want an RV, those things look like a nightmare to park, just a small camper.
So here's some tips I and tidbits on the US.
Where to stay
AirBnB is good as is hostels when you can find them. Hostels as well as being cheap often do tours and night activities so it's an easy way to meet other people.
We booked things last minute, we rocked up to hotels without bookings and it was fine. There's Super 6 hotels throughout the US which are basic but nice and reasonably priced.
Pace yourself, it's a big place.
America is huge and there's a lot to see and do.
In Vegas we met two Adelaide couples who were planning to get from LA to Florida and back in 5 weeks. That just sounded crazy, even while they were telling us about it you knew they knew they had been a little to ambitious.
In our three weeks we travelled through only three states, we got to see a lot of things and our pace allowed us to stay extra days at places when we felt like it, but I still feel like if I'd had an extras week or so I wouldn't have done much more.
 |
| Our route over three weeks |
Keep your eye on the little red man
You don't realise how much you must go by the sound when crossing the road at home. In the US their crossings don't make a noise when it changes to the green (or white as their little man is) so if you're like me and always looking at your phone or talking, you'll be constantly looking up and like 'oh shit, missed it again!'
Food for giants
Yes everything you've heard about Americans and their giant appetites is true.
But you can share meals which makes it pretty cheap. Robina and I were getting one meal between us and often still couldn't finish them and if you tell the waiters you're sharing most of the time they'll serve it on separate plates for you.
Tipping and taxes
Uggh, you cannot go anywhere in the US and just pay what the price says, even if tipping isn't expected there are multiple taxes that get added at the register, so it's always a big frustrating surprise as to what you'll pay for anything.
Tipping is also hard work, you don't really know when you're supposed to pay it or how much.
The expected rate is 15%-20% although some places suggest more. And the tip is for the service so even if your food is super shit you still have to tip. And you tip in restaurants, maybe taxis, apparently hairdressers, sometimes hotel staff and if you ask Americans what the rules are they all give you different answers and seem just as confused as us.
Oh and US currency is crap, it's all the same colour so you think you're flush because your wallet is bulging but then you find out it's all ones and you've got stuff all money on you.
Flights
Try not to fly around too much, it's the sneaky luggage costs that get you - some airlines even charge you for carry on luggage!
Last minute flights are expensive and going through security in US airports is a pain in the arse.
Anyway, now off to hang out with Haley in Canada :)
No comments:
Post a Comment