Day 1
Max picked me up from LAX and at that moment it was hard to believe almost 6 months had passed since he dropped me off!  It almost felt like I'd had one big crazy dream!  

Telling him all I'd done though made me remember how much I've accomplished in 6 months - a lot more then you ever do on the 9-5 grind! 

It was good to see a familiar face, be in a familiar place and be able to speak English - although still couldn't stop thanking everyone with a 'gracias' and it was so hard to break the 6 month habit of throwing the used toilet paper in the bin instead of the bowl ... I managed though although had to catch myself a few times! So normal in Latin America yet so grose here!!!

I'd arrived late so straight to bed.

Day 2
Went out for brekky with Max in the morning and discovered that Americans do drink good coffee and it's not all that revolting drip filtered crap - bluk!

Waved goodbye to Max & wished him a good day as he went to his midday shift, and stayed at his house for a bit enjoying some downtime to tidy up my bag, wash my clothes and upload some pics.

Headed for second street and did some arvo shopping, then met Max at his work (the sailing centre) for a few drinks after.

We stopped for another drink on Second before dinner, where a local started chatting to us about his woes - broke up with his girlfriend that morning, was meeting his mate there for a drink who was now sleeping with the girl he cheated with 3 months ago, and then he went onto give more details that we REALLY didn't want to know!!! Very funny but we drank quickly & moved on ...

We bumped into a guy Max sails with, Paul and his 2 kids and stopped for a delicious Mediterranean meal with them - his treat :-) 

I still can't stop getting a little bit over excited at meal time when I see things on the menu besides rice & beans!!!

Day 3
The next morning Max had to work early so I got up & caught public transport to Universal Studios.

A bus trip to downtown Long Beach, the Metro from there, via the infamous Blue Line which goes straight through south central LA - the hood!

Must say folks I was disappointed and think you talked that one up! The boyz in the hood didn't look all that hard! Probably easier to say when you're sitting on a train observing it out the window, but Managua was still scarier!!!!

I was impressed to see a Spanish speaking lady doing the rounds of the train selling snacks though ... Aaahhhh a small reminder of Latin America :-) that and the fact that signs and announcements are in English & Spanish!

Universal Studios was loads of fun!  A lady approached me as I walked to the ticket booth and sold me a ticket she had spare, then walked me in to show me there was no problem with it - paid only $50 which is a saving of $27 so a good start to the day!

I also discovered a 'single rider queue' which saved me on 2 rides lining up for about 45 minutes each & instead went straight to the front.

Kara had texted me that morning to tell me she'd had her baby - little Thomas! I was so excited and had I not changed my flights a few months back I would have been due home 29 June!!!  To commemorate the occasion I found a little sponge bob square pants mug with 'Thomas' written on it :-) so cute!

The train ride back was a little more interesting - more folks from the hood than were on it in the morning, and we even had a lady hop on with a cup asking for money 'I just need a little pick me up!' she says!  

I noticed another black hood couple in front of me shaking their head like they couldn't believe she was doing this! 

I just kept my ear phones in & ignored her.

That night was high school Ian's 'white trash party'.

I want exactly sure what constituted as American 'white trash' and it seems coming as myself was not it!

The girls did short denim shorts, singlet tops and cowboy boots and the guys looked like red necks!

A few tequilas and got chatting to Max's work buddies and had a good night.

Day 4
Next day I disappointed Max when he asked what I wanted to do by suggesting shopping!!!

He was good about it though & took me to the outlet stores Ross & Marshalls. 

The Americans laughed when I told them where I went but I love the place! 

I ended up with more work tops then days of the week, a few skirts, and 5 pairs of shoes - 2 of which were Nine West brand for less then $15!!!  Even max scored a pair of Converse out of it as a thank you for having me!

That evening Max's workmate Erin & her former 'long story' step brother, Nick, came over.  We had a couple of drinks before dinner - Nick insisting on a 50/50 ratio of gin & tonic so we were all happy very quickly!

We then went for Mexican and the lovely Nina joined us!  She also already had a few tequilas under her belt, and was ready to party!

After dinner we went back to Max's for a few more tequilas and I pulled out the souvenirs I bought for Max, Nina, Tanya and myself - a Cancun 'Tequila Amnesia' shirt.  Max loved it so much he literally wore it every day after til I left!  I got some good pics of us doing shots in them and Tanya will get her shirt when I get home.

We then caught a cab to a house party up near 6th & Cherry which later Max tells me is getting into 'the hood'.

The lounge is fully set up for a band and through out the night we hear different people play from hard core death metal then finishing off with a few guys wrapping with beats that reminded me of the Caribbean rhythms in Belize & had me dancing round the lounge room with Nick. 

Max's favourite rap line remembered the next day was, 'I got a pocket full of crack and a crotch full of cock!'. Tehe! He threatened to post it on anyones Facebook as a status if they left it unlocked - mental not to self - log out from his PC!!!

I'm not sure if Nick, A. did too many spins on the dance floor, B. couldn't stomach the nasty cheap crappy pre-mix drink he bought when we did a booze run earlier or C. Just drank too god damn much for someone who tells us he doesn't drink in Marine college!!! But suddenly whilst we're all chilling on the back lawn he starts throwing his guts up & doesn't stop for the rest of the night!

We take it as a queue to leave but then spend 2 hours waiting for a cab, during which time I find myself befriending a 52 year old mexican lady (who I keep complimenting on looking so young) and cuddling up to her to keep warm! 

Eventually we get a cab back to Erins and crash there the night.

Day 5
Next day we're all moving a lot slower!  We go on a mission to the Potholder where it takes them an hour to get our breakfast after losing our order!

I head off with Erin & Nick after to have a massage and we meet up with Max again later at Leeway where he's getting some more windsurfing practice in.

Erin, Nick and I head off for sushi - yum yum!

After we meet Max at Chris's for a few drinks with a few of his work mates and other folk.

I meet Max's mate Grant who will also be staying with us, and he has come down especially for 4th July celebrations the next day and is super psyched for it!

Day 6
The next day we get up and head straight down to celebrate 4th July at the dock near Max's' work aswell ad nearby 'Horny Corner'.

After several days of partying and such a full on trip, I'm not sure I'm up for a full on day but after no food and the first tequila I get straight into the swing of things!

Those 'Tequila Amnesia' shirts describe it perfectly!  

I don't think I did Australia too proud as may have not been on my best behavior but did have fun! (There was no mistaking I was an Aussie because of A. my accent, B. the Aussie cork hat & 'Aussie Sheila' stubby cooler I was using, and C. I was telling everyone I was one too - damn patriotic Aussie!!!

I think I chatted to most folk on the beach - a couple of mexicans, some red white & blue covered locals and a few members of the Long Beach Police Department :-)  I remember having a go at them for not letting me into the house that had the Aussie flag (although 4th July they took it down) to say hi. They'd actually locked the house down as were arresting the underage drinkers there! More Aussies behaving badly - tsk tsk!

I made it through the day safely, without losing anything more then maybe a little dignity and survived to see the fireworks at 9pm - but not too much later! 

Day 7
The next day I was surprisingly ok but decided I'm way to old to party this hard! Time to hang up the party hard gloves!

We had a sedate day - picked up Max's dad (Tanya's uncle) from the airport.  Hit a swish shopping centre in Wilshere near where he lives, but had lost my shopping urge. 

Popped into Ross on the way back and even Max out shopped me!

I had Max drop me at the airport early (almost 4 hours!) as was paranoid about the afternoon LA traffic and missing my flight!

I then spent the next few hours doing laps of the airport and having mixed emotions about the thought of going home :-(

Holidays over!!!