We spent a very long time in Cancun airport where there was nothing to do and everything was so expensive that our remaining Mexican money stretched as far as a glass of Coke and a tube of Pringles. So we landed late in LA following a very interesting flight with a very brash pregnant airstewardess who thought the best customer care procedures were to patronize her passengers, something that was funnier when it became apparent that she'd forgotten to bring the whole planes visa forms along. Having searched LAX arrivals for these we were then put through the ordeal of a 3 and a half hour queue for immigration, only to reach the other side and discover that because we had taken longer than expected to clear immigration our bags had been removed from the terminal, and after a few trips around the airport we discovered that they couldn't be retrieved until morning! So it was a very late arrival at our hostel, to discover there was someone sleeping in our beds and we had to squeeze in elsewhere, only to be woken in the night by a security guard demanding to know why we weren't where we were supposed to be! Anyway, day 1 in LA we wanted to be proper tourists, and so headed off to the walk of fame in hollywood. Unfortunately the Chinese Theatre was closed off to the public and we had to walk past on the other side of the street, only to discover the reason was that Kevin COstner was doing his handprinting ceremony, and having stood watching from afar for about 5 minutes, he came over and greeted everyone on our side of the street! And Mel was at the front! All very exciting, and Mel got pictures the paparazzi would have been proud of! That was the main highlight of Hollywood boulevard, although an American TV crew did attempt to get us on camera to answer who would win the Superbowl - naturally we had no idea who was even playing it - Mel had no idea what sport it was! Also saw a Johnny Depp look-a-like in a Starbucks dressed in full pirate regalia! Saw the hollywood sign then got back on the bus (very cheap public transport in LA but some very odd routes!) to Downtown for a nice wander around most of the important districts and finishing in Chinatown for dinner, we were very excited to find fluffy clouds (five for a pound!) The next day we went to the nearest Mall, decided there was nothing there for us, so went in search of a post office to send our souvenirs and Stu's now broken camera home (mum and dad expect it in just over a month!) and then to satisfy Mel's shopping desire we went to Target after a Wendy's. Our third day we headed off to Venice (beach) "to watch those inline skaters" ok that's Santa Monica but basically a continuation of the same place. Mel bought a stunning dress for not a lot, and Stu had a pizza with a spinach dough base - very unique. Due to constant interuptions in the night and never being in the correct or the same beds Mel made a complaint and we were moved into a suite for our last night - very posh it was too! The last day we stayed in the hostel, before we had to leave for the airport - by the way LAX doesn't have a lot in it in the way of traveller distractions- but we passed the time perfecting our knowledge of the state shapes! So after a flight that took us from the North to the SOuth hemisphere, the west to the east and obliterated the whole of Sunday from our existence (Date Line) we arrived in the small hours of this morning in Fiji. Eventually made our way to a hotel, nothing is particularly cheap here, and having not had a clue what we were going to do with our two weeks here we are now totally booked up with activities!) Have just had lunch by a pool on the shore of the Pacific Ocean - very spectacular! Lots of love from the black sand beaches! Stu and Mel