Well hello from sunny LA!!!!! I thought you might like to know i've just spent the afternoon sunning myself on the beach, jealous much?? Anyway as you can tell i arrived safely after a looooong flight, it took my body a couple of days to properly get over the jet lag but i'm right on LA time now. The hostel i'm staying in is in Santa Monica (about 5 mins from the pier-hence the photo) which is a good area to be based in i think. There is everything nearby, shops, cafes, bars etc. Santa Monica State Beach is huuugge! There were loadsa people there today, its memorial day on monday too so i think everyone is geared up for a three day weekend. Party!! I had my first night out in LA last night with a couple of guys from the hostel, went to a couple of really nice bars (with sectioned off VIP areas for celebs-Britney spears aparently lives down the road-didnt see anyone tho) After that we ended up at some dodge English pub Arrrgggghhh!! DID NOT STAY, not that i dont like england or anything but i've only just left and soz but i aint missin it all that much yet. I have been pretty much everywhere there is to go now. Venice is really lovely-muscle beach is as tacky as you'd imagine, outdoor gym, bench pressing competions the lot but funny to see too. I found the best street ever tho after taking a slightly wrong turn (had the map the wrong way up, oooppps, gosh i'm my mothers daughter-only joking mum ha ha!!) Anyway, Venice is quite a quirky boho area and not one house down this street was like another. There were old american 20s and 50s looking buildings alongside surf shack type houses, morrocan houses, modern geometric glass houses. It was really cool the way they were all together, i just wanted to go in and be nosey my head was turning everywhere. I think you would have to see it though-i'm not a nut getting excited about houses really. Yesterday i went on a tour to hollywood, beverly hills, rodeo drive, sunset strip, well, everywhere actually. The driver took us to see famous peoles houses, felt like a right intruder, he slowed right down so people could take photos-i did of course but i still felt cheezy. Oh well, when in rome!! We also saw the hollywood sign, went down the walk of fame and saw all the hand and footprints in the floor, i couldnt find anyone to match mine tho. I'm going to Vegas tomorrow for a couple of days then i think i might head off to san fransico before coming back to catch my flight to equador. This doing what you want when you want malarky is great!! So all in all im having a really good time, have met loads of people who have done/are doing similar trips and all ive heard are good things so am very excited about the rest of my journey around the world. At the moment i cant find anywhere to upload my pix (america seems to be quite strict with this) i will keep looking but you might have to wait a while. Sorry. Keep them messages comin, i can hear you all as i read them and mum, write as many as you like as long as they're that funny, and stop deleting sentences coz you dont know how to spell the words. Love you all, will write again with success stories from Vegas, if i win big i'll fly you all out to join me. Speak soon XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX