Tuesday 13th December Another day in LA, staying at the Magic castle in downtown Hollywood, where the free lollies never seem to end and the dentist bill when we get back should fund his retirement unit at Mooloolaba.. Time for the boys and girls to go their separate ways on a field trip. The boys taxi'ed downtown and we hired an American version of a Holden Cruze for a couple of days. They boys then headed to the LA science museum and had fanciful thoughts of...

We are here! Yes, the flight was fine until we asked the kids to get some sleep by twisting themselves up like spaghetti without sticking into the aisles Not much sleep but more movies, tv, docos than we could fit in! I watched 6 movies and I am sure Connor watched more, Lara had the broken screen and of course we were not keen on swapping We are here and L.A. is starting to grow on us, in a strange smoggy, city type of way. REASONS WE LIKE/LOVE LOS ANGELES: ...

Day 1 continued: After a wee kip, we taxi'ed and heard stories from a Georgian (Georgia Russia) taxi driver about why he loves America compared to leaving behind poverty and snow! We travelled to a slick shopping centre and a great foodie place called the Farmers Market near Hollywood. Americans know how to set up a shopping centre! Large spacious shops with the occasional clothes rack! An amazing girls shop called "American Girl" (of course) that sells dolls ($...

The plane trip... Virgin willingly 'code shared' with Delta Airlines, so our American experience began early... Let's start with the pension plan for Delta which meant the retired hosties from other airlines must all work for Delta on the Australian flight... (Where's the Virgin hosties when you need 'em...). The food was fine, choice consisted of whatever was left in the 2nd back row of the plane as they worked back to us... (Too scared to ask 'em anyway..) The ...