Hi

Unfortunately we are back from the cruise. It was fantastic and everyone should do one. I can't wait to go on another. Great way to visit destinations and so much entertainment and good food along the way. The ship itself was awesome, we had a nice room and onboard there was a pool, sundeck, spa pools, lots of bars and restaurants, rockclimbing wall, basketball court, theatre and casino. And there was always something to do from shows to live music and competitions. We had 3 day stops at San Deigo, Catalina Island (formerly home of William Wrigley of Chewing Gum fame) and Ensenada, Mexico. San Deigo was fairly boring really and so we went back to the ship early and enjoyed the atmosphere there. Catalina Island off the coast of California was beautiful. We had to get ferried from the ship to the island as the water wasn't deep enough for the ship. Then Nig and I wandered about the small town of Avalon which is a nice warm laid back little town. We also went on a submarine and enjoyed the view of the fish. We were lucky to get to go to the Island as in the days prior to our arrival it was being ravaged by fires which came unbelievably close to destroying the town we stopped at. The firemen were still there when we got there and the townspeople were so obviously grateful to them giving them free food and tours etc and a really big send off from the wharf - was nice to see. Then the next day we were in Ensenada in Mexico which was really different. The land is really dry and dusty and there was an obvious mix of wealth in the area. We went on a bus out to La Bufadora (and came the closest I have ever been to a major accident as our driver overtook another bus into oncoming traffic) which is an area with markets and a blowhole. You have to walk through the markets to get to the blowhole and the market owners hassle you a bit on the way to come and buy something from them, but then on they way out they are incredibly persistent. I didn't like their nagging and so I didn't end up looking at many of the markets. We looked in one and when we wouldn't buy a chess set the guy started abusing us - was kind of funny but a bit extreme! The next day we were back in LA an we spent the day with some friends from the ship looking around Hollywood. I have to say that Hollywood is not at all what I expected. The Kodak Theatre (where the Oscars are held) is really nice and flash and then you walk 100m and the area is really old and run-down and dirty with lots of rubbish about - not at all glitz and glam!! But there is a nice area near Universal Studios called CityWalk which we looked around today. We were going to do Universal Studios but today was our only day to do it and when we got there the lady at the ticket office said that the queues (can't spell) were really long so we decided to give it a miss (sorry Loz). Leave for Las Vegas tomorrow. Off to bed for me.

Night night, xx Jo