Exploring Washington DC and my first Baseball game

26-28 May 2014

After yet another delayed flight, I finally arrived in DC at around 10.30pm before taking a Super Shuttle over to Kari's place.  Super Shuttles are 8 seater taxis which are the next cheapest method of transport from the airport to the subway.  The benefit is that it takes you door-to-door.  

Washington DC is certainly a lot cleaner than I imagined it would've been.  I'd been told by other travellers that the city was dirty, grotty and to be honest a bit if a dump but I found it quite the opposite.      I was lucky enough to be shown round the city by my good friend Kari.  A personalised tourist tour.  

Our first stop was of course The White House.  A magnificent building which was just as I imagined.  Barack and Michelle's back yard was certainly very impressive.  Sadly they weren't in for a cup of tea...

We then wandered round to the Washington Monument which has only just recently opened from reconstruction.  We never got the chance to go up it as there are only 100 tickets released every day to walk up the monument.  From there, we headed over to the Lincoln Monument before wandering round the famous Reflecting Pool.  Lastly, we walked by the WW2 Monument and Vietnam Memorial.  Placed particularly poignant on Memorial Day.  It was quite eye-opening having been to a Vietnam and experiencing the war memorial from the other side. 

That evening, I met up with an old friend for dinner in Georgetown.  Emily and I haven't seen each other since living in the same town in France back in 2008/2009.  The weather was horrendous and DC was a washout.  That being said, we had a great evening at a quaint Italian restaurant which ended by almost being done by the cops for jaywalking!  It could only happen with Emily!!  So great to see her looking so well and catching up on old times. 

 It's my last day in DC and where better to spend it than a personalised almost access all areas tour of the US Capitol Building.  We swung by Kari's office where I got to meet her work colleagues before starting our tour of the building.  The highlight was without doubt sitting in on the House and Senate galleries. Certainly a lifelong ambition for a politics geek like me.  In the evening, Kari took me to Nationals Park to watch my first baseball game.  I'm not going to lie, I didn't have a clue what was going on for at least the first 30mins or so but I think I slowly got the hang of it by the end.  It was a great treat and an exciting way to end a fabulous few days in DC spending time with friends.

So, what are my final thoughts on DC:

1. Clean, spacious and friendly.  DC isn't what I expected it to be.  It was much more.

2. I visited government buildings, something which I haven't even done in my own country.

3. Experienced my first baseball game.

4. Would I go back again? Absolutely!!

Next and final stop: New York, New York

Lights Camera Action in LA

23 - 25 May 2014

After a long bus journey involving delays and unexpected change, I eventually arrived into LA at 8pm.  Thankfully, the bus dropped me right outside what was to be my last ever hostel stay.  Hostelling International (HI) USA Hostels could certainly teach other hostel owners a thing or two; great service, guided tours of the facilities, free towels, ensuites but most impressive of all private screens around your bed allowing you to have a rare 5 mins to yourself.  During check-in I met Rebecca, another traveller from London who was also on her last leg before home, infact her last night.  Regardless of how tired we were, I couldn't let her celebrate her last night of travels in a hostel, so we opted to go to The Piano Bar.  This bar is famous in LA for launching the careers of some incredibly talented musicians.  Seemingly, it's also a great place to meet people, like Lance.  A guy from LA who works for Disney and is one of the talented animators that worked on Frozen.

As Rebecca was leaving mid morning for the airport, it meant we had to take an early morning taxi ride to the Warner Bros studios.  It wasn't somewhere that had come up in my basic research of the city but I'm glad I had the opportunity to go.  The set is much much much bigger than you imagine so no wonder you have to travel round in a golf buggy!  After touring the grounds and wardrobe museum including trying on Hogwarts's sorting hat (I got Gryffendor) we finally got to explore the backstage sets of Ellen, 2 Broke Girls, The Fosters (comedy staring J'Lo) but most important of all...the FRIENDS set.  It's been a childhood ambition of mine to sit of THAT sofa in THAT coffee house. Another box ticked off that Bucket List!

Yet a trip to LA can't be made without a stop in Hollywood and Beverley Hills.  For a real estate geek like me, I quite enjoyed the "celeb spotting cruise" intcluding a drive by of Bel Air.  The same enjoyment cannot be said for the walk of fame and Central Hollywood. Sadly it looks nothing like what you see in the media.  It's riddled with tourists, dirty and somewhat plastic.  Not what I expected at all.

Thankfully, Lance kindly offered to take me out of Hollywood and show me another part of LA - Malibu.  After a drive through the hills, we arrived at a stunning vineyard located on the side of a hill.  It looked like a festival scene out of a magazine.  Certainly quite different from Central Hollywood.  In the evening, we had dinner in a beautiful beachside restaurant called Geoffrey's.  Not quite what you call a standard traveller's night out but the perfect way to end my first trip to LA.

Final thoughts on LA:

Although it wasn't what I expected and Hollywood was a massive disappointment, LA itself was a great place.  Yes it's pretentious particularly around Beverley Hills but isn't Knightsbridge or Chelsea?  

Public transport is next to none so plan your trip well.  Explore the suburbs outside the concentrated Hollywood and if possible, rent a car, you won't be disappointed with the view.

Sweet dreams LAX.  

Next stop: Washington DC