north, south, east, west

NEWSFLASH. America is a big country. we have literally spent 2 days travelling...bus (i would say 'coach' but that would be an over-exaggeration) from boston to nyc. a night in nyc back in our trusty hostel near central park....2 hours in the wee hours to commute on the new york subway to jfk....jfk to lax (are you loving the abbreviations?) 6 hour flight. 4 hour bus (yes, bus) from LA to SD and FINALLY we're here in San Diago...and in San Diago we've landed on our feet .

I feel like im home (the aussie one...). as we drove down the coast from LA and watched the sun set - waves on one side, mc-mansions on the other, the heat of the day turning into a chilly night, i could have sworn i was in australia...maybe one of the glitzier, more showy parts...the gold coast perhaps....but aus all the same. and as we stepped out of the taxi into our hostel in the gaslamp quarter, SD's party central, i could tell i was going to be right at home here.

i know i've already complained about backpacking, I imagine there will be more complaining, and i know i've got just under 7 months of it to go (so you're just going to have to put up with it i guess! as am I!)...but backpacking can be quite a strain. and when you've been staying in mixed dorms for 2.5 weeks, in a bunk bed - one of 10 or so strangers - you begin to realise how much you value the odd bit of privacy and the luxury of spreading your stuff wherever you damn well please. so, coming to SD we booked a private room in order to preserve what little bit is left of our sanity - but couldn't imagine the luxury we would be met with - a loft bed, our own sink, sofa, desk.........................and to think we used to take these things for granted!!! Pure, unadulterated, bliss (i can't imagine the pleasure i will feel when faced with a 4* hotel room in vegas!! i mean - our very own ensuite...!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont be surprised if i don't leave the room...!)

and today we had another special treat....we met matt's cousin, louiza, for the first time. due to the fact that she grew up in vancouver, canada (later moving to san diago) and matt obviously grew up in toowoomba, australia...worlds apart...the two had never met....but families are funny things and somehow it felt like we'd known eachother forever. from the moment we hugged on the street when we met in the morning to the moment we hugged on the street saying goodbye late tonight, it was like we'd only seen eachother yesterday. we chatted non-stop all day and in between and around we played with dolphins (and more whales). the three of us spent the day at sea world, marveling at killer whales and seals and dolphins and puppies and kitties (no, i didn't think they fit in the mix either but the dogs and cats had their own special show - my personal favorite in fact). The day was topped off in absolute style with a meal at Louiza's cousin's (the other side of the family...) restaurant in Little Italy....gorgeous food, a family atmosphere (not surprisingly!!) and plenty of wine....the day couldn't have been any better. Thank you Louiza....was such a pleasure to finally meet you and what a day to remember in beautiful San Diago....

xx