21st February 2011

Last night we arrived at our hostel and it is SO much nicer than the last one! It's a USA hostel and we have a twin room with a fridge and a TV - simple things make you happy when you're travelling! Clean sheets for one!

We went on the internet for a bit (there's meant to be free WiFi but it wasn't working unfortnuately) and then watched TV and went to bed!

TODAY WAS SEAWORLD DAY!

We bought our tickets from the reception at the hostel as it was cheaper and, after a hearty breakfast of free (mostly burnt) pancakes we set off. San Diego is such a nice place - so much nicer than LA. We got a tram and a bus for $5 (all day) and ta-da! We were at SeaWorld!

On the way to SeaWorld we got a phone call from the tour operator that we had booked our 7 days with and they told us there were no seats left :o( I was really angry as they waited until the day before we were meant to leave to tell us and had also let us book the tour which I think was a bit bloody stupid. He said he would email us with alternatives so we shall see.

Our first stop was the Shamu Stadium to watch Believe - the whale show. It was amazing! We had lunch at Shipwreck Reef Cafe and saw fruit on offer as a meal choice for the first time since we had been in America. Shocking. We bought our lunch and some strawberries and watermelon and it tasted SO GOOD.

After lunch we walked around for a while and saw the manta rays and moray eels until we got to Journey To Atlantis - the log flume. We bought some Shamu ponchos (and a cinnamon churro - yum) and went on the ride. It was awesome - different to the one in Florida but still amazing!

After that we left our stuff in the lockers and headed over to the Shipwreck Rapids ride and got soaked! Then we walked back to Journey to Atlantis for one last go :o)

We next went on the Arctic Adventure and saw some polar bears and baluga whales - I swear one smiled at us :o)

We left the park and headed back towards San Diego. By this time Sarah had really sore feet because she was wearing new shoes and they had gotten wet and started rubbing. We also had pink faces from the sun. Silly us!

We went out for tea at TGI Fridays (biggest portions EVER) and then on to Starbucks to pilfer their WiFi so we could look at alternative tours. He had sent an email with two 3 day tours so we had a look through those and will think about it.

We went back to the hostel and did some laundry - so nice to have clean towels!

22nd February 2011

This morning we checked out of the hostel and left our luggage in storage so we could explore the city freely.

I really wanted to go to Encinitas as that's where Blink182 are from so we got another day pass for the trams and busses and headed off!

Unfortunately, when we got to the station we realised that the trains to Encinitas were few and far between so we couldn't go :o( Sad day.

However, some weird man had spoken to us on the tram earlier and told us that if we got the number 35 bus then we could get to the beach. So we did! Ocean Beach to be precise. And it was BEAUTIFUL. we spent a couple of hours there and received a phone call form the tour people saying that if we wanted to book we had to do it soon. So we had to go to the library to use the internet and book the tours. What a farce!!

We made our way back in time to get our bus back to LA and stayed in the USA hostel in a 6 bed dorm with a gay guy called Charles and a Chilean scientist called Ricardo. Bed early as up at 5 to get the bus to Vegas!

x