Day 2 June 12th

I knew this was going to be a big day.  There was a long trip down the Pacific Coastal Highway planned and also Dan wanted to see the Aquarium at Monterey. I had often wanted to visit Monterey but for a different reason.  Many years ago, while studying the logging industry, I found out that this is where New Zealand's first commercial pine trees had been imported from and because of the similar latitude to NZ, they had been very well adapted for life here in NZ.  I also had read a bit of Steinbeck in my day and knew that Monterey was the home of Cannery Row.

So we quickly were on the road and past Carmel on the Sea where Arnold S. is from and out to Monterey.  It was pretty brown in California and this due to the droughts they had been having.Monterey was a place like no other.  Really retained the history of the area in the environment and it made me want to read Cannery Row (and the Grapes of Wrath etc) all over again.  We walked past the Pacific Biological Laboratories bulding, which was a plain wooden block structure and I sneaked back down past the building where Doc was based, taking a few snaps.  Dan walked down behind the buildings with me and I felt very emotional again, connecting with places (even in fiction) from my past.  It was warm, I was on holiday and very relaxed suddenly.

 But time did not stand still and we were off in the car down the Pacific Coast  Highway.  Heaps of photo opportunities along here and so many people just wanting to drive and tune out of city living.  (Or thats what I imagined.)

It was late when we arrived for dinner at ......... and much later (after 12pm) when we checked into our Santa Barbara motel - home for the next three nights.  I was tired but happy.

2016 USA Trip Saturday 11th June

We left Auckland just a little late on June 11th. 12 hours of sitting torture with swollen ankles at the end. But I did survive the flight with a little help from my sleeping tablet.  Which made a nice change from my usual nervousness (fear of flying) keeping me awake.  Thank you Mr Chemist in Taupo.  San Francisco was warm. We were conscious of the fact that we were a little late and that Tom and Janet would have arrived fromWisconsin before us instead of the planned "just after" so we hurried to the rental car depot via the blue train (a bit of a mission getting up to it with luggage via the elevators.) San Fran Airport does need to work on this - people arriving with heavy suitcases need easy access to the train.  There were long waiting lines at the lifts.

However, once onboard the train, everything went well and with my phone I was able to track down Tom and Janet.

It really was quite emotional to see them again.  Well, I was feeling emotional anyway after mum's funeral the day before.  So a bit of a cry and then all sorted and into the lovely big Kia.

Tom capably drove us down to Salinas where we checked into a hotel 

Ours was room 410.  After a quick freshen up, we went to a Thai restaurant for a meal before settling down for the night.  Here are some of our meals.  First rate Thai and then some nice icecream for free!

  

Day One down.

And on San Francisco

Just a few more photos again.
On the way in from the airport, South San Francisco advertises themselves as an industrial city. Hmmmmmmm


SF has a dubious claim to fame having a prison on a rock in the ocean.


A closed prison.


The world famous steep Lombard street with gardens.
Impressive looking civic centre


And opera house


Victorian houses galore


Golden Gate Bridge trying to emerge below the fog


Some good looking buildings - just forgot what this one was.


Beautiful flower boxes at Pier 39


And nice views


But i didnt leave my heart in San Francisco.
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DisneyWorld

There are four parks in Disneyworld. I have already talked a bit about them but as internet was not great have decided to add a few more pics.


The third day we visited the Hollywood Studio park which has an Art Deco theme going on. The 20s, 30s 40s and 50s are represented in the building styles and the dining. Here is one of the shops.


This popcorn booth was typical.


Pastel colour was big here too.


Hunter went in the Tower of Terror but found it pretty scary.


My dad had a breakdown truck similar to this.


And this old Chevy was popular with the men in our party.


The rides were appropriately themed for entertainment.


Great looking roller coaster.


And so was the dining.


This place was hilarious. The waiters treated you like naughty kids and growled if you had elbows on the table or left anything on the plate.


They called out "Bye kids" when you left. The whole park was about entertaining so very good.


Indiana Jones and stuntmen centered show was great.


All kept Hunter entertained. Muppets in 3D, along with Beauty and the Beast, and American Idol shows.


We got to vote on 3 of the contestants but my favorite did not go through.


This park was a lot of fun but it was very hot the day we were there. And the show at the end of the day was as exciting as the fireworks from the previous two nights. Mickey was the hero.


My favorite park may well have been animal kingdom which we visited on the fourth day but I really am unsure.


The safari experience was very well staged.


Animals all looked in natural looking environments.


The tiger was placed in Asian temple ruins.


The jungle looked very natural along with the ruins



There were all sorts of birds and wildlife on display - loved these huge gorillas


Even the backside


Entertainment a la Africa.


Flamingoes


Fish


Mt Everest roller coaster was very exciting even just watching it - this one was the one Hunter and Dan got stuck on.


And the it was on to Downtown Disney..... A shopping extravaganza along with Disney Quest which I mentioned in a previous blog. So this is just a small taste of the experiences we had. Have never been to Disneyland but they say DisneyWorld is bigger and better.