San Diego, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon
Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 01:21 PM
We set off from Disneyland down the coast towards San Diego but stopped at Newport Beach and Balboa Island along the way. The sand here was much more golden and it was such a beautiful day. Balboa Island was really pretty and again we saw lots of really nice houses.
After arriving in San Diego we took a walk to the harbour, wandered around the shops and had dinner by the sea. After sunset we wandered around the historic Gaslamp District before heading back to the hotel.
The rest of the time in San Diego was spent relaxing. One day we went up to Mission Beach and spent the whole day body boarding which was great as the conditions were so good. The next day we went to a retail outlet centre to do a fair bit of shopping before hitting the beach again.
On Thursday we drove from San Diego to Las Vegas, out of California and into Nevada through the Mojave Desert. We got out of the car along the way and the heat was incredible. Very grateful for the air conditioning we continued onto Vegas. We checked into out hotel and then took the car back to the airport. We stayed at the Luxor Hotel which is in the shape of a pyramid. It was really great although a little confusing at the reception. The first evening we wandered along the strip through Excalibur, New York New York and onto Bellagios to see the fountains. We were a bit unlucky in the casino that night but we knew we still had another night to win it all back!
The next day we set off very early and took a flight from Boulder City over the Grand Canyon. The view was simply stunning and the Canyon is so vast it's unbelieveable. Definitely a very memorable trip even if I was a little apprehensive about flying in a small plane but it wasn't even bumpy!
That day we spent by the pool and then hit the strip again in the evening. This time we continued to Caesar's Palace and had dinner by the Trevi fountain where the sky design on the ceiling makes you believe you are outside! We wandered around the shops and then crossed over to the Venetian where gondalas were heading down the canals inside the hotel. They really are amazing places. We even got lucky in the casino that night and Stefan won back the money we lost the night before so we were able to go back content!
On our final morning we went down to the breakfast buffet only to discover they wouldn't give us breakfast that morning. We had no choice and therefore had to go for the champange brunch...such a hardship! It was amazing. There was so much food to choose from and I was so full but the desserts looked incredible so I took a selection just to try them but there was no way even I could finish any of them!
After another day by the pool we started our very long journey home. Las Vegas to Toronto, Toronto to London, a night at Stansted in the airport, London to Venice and finally a drive from Venice to Ljubljana. We had been up for about 50 hours by the time we got home so needless to say we were pretty tired. We had such a fantastic holiday though and have so many amazing memories to last a lifetime!
Photos:
San Diego
Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon
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( 3.1 / 129 )Los Angeles and Disneyland
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 03:43 AM
We began our journey to LA at 7am and after a few coffee stops arrived in Malibu for lunch. Had a wonderful walk along the beach peeping into all the expensive houses along the front. Unexpectedly the beach was really quiet which was great. We stopped at Dukes for a Malibu and coke and then continued to Venice Beach. Here we had a walk and an ice cream while watching the beautiful and crazy people along the beach. There was even a gym outside on the edge of the beach! After checking into the hotel in LA we drove to Sunset Boulevard to do some more people watching along the Sunset Strip.
The next day we set out for Hollywood. We parked next to the Kodak Theatre and then wandered around the various handprints of famous stars at the Chinease theatre next door. After a first glimpse of the Hollywood sign from the shopping centre we went for a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and did a bit of shopping along the way. After some lunch we drove to Beverly Hills and marvelled at all the rich homes trying not to get too jealous! We finished the day in Griffith Park watching the sunset and then the full moon from the observatory.
On Sunday we went to Disneyland. We went on all the major rides and had such a great time. Although it was busy we didn't have to queue long at all thanks to their 'fastpass' system and it all worked out well. We even met Mickey and Minnie Mouse! We saw the parade and the fireworks were amazing...Tinkerbell was even flying through the sky! We were there from 8am until 11:30pm and the day finished with a spectacular light show over the lake featuring Mickey Mouse and lots of other Disney characters. Definitely worth a visit at any age :)
Photos:
Los Angeles
Disneyland
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( 2.9 / 125 )Monterey and Carmel
Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 05:44 PM
Kevin and Stephne drove us to collect our car and then we were let loose on the freeway. Stefan drove us to Monterey and after checking in at the hotel we drove into the town itself. After a mexican lunch we had a wander around the shops along Cannery Row and then went to the Aquarium which was fantastic. We then headed to The Sardine Factory, a restaurant where Kevin had suggested we order a 'Flaming Sardine'. Not quite knowing what we had let ourselves in for we ordered it and the waiter made this cocktail for us and then set light to it.....it was actually really nice and luckily not at all fishy in taste :).
The next day we went to Carmel. Unfortuantely it was a bit cold and foggy but it was a very pretty town and quite old-English like. We walked down to the beach and then back through the shops in town. There was also a vintage car exhibition starting up.
From Carmel we drove around the 17 Mile Drive along beautiful stretches of coastline. I drove for the 1st time in the US....I had never driven an autimatic before. It felt far too easy like I was driving some kind of toy car! We ended up at Pebble Beach but it was so busy there was no where to park so we continued to Pacific Grove for a proper American burger.
Took it easy in the evening to prepare for the long drive and packed few days ahead in Los Angeles.
Monterey and Carmel photos
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( 3 / 99 )San Francisco and the Napa Valley
Friday, August 15, 2008, 05:39 AM
After a fun day in London meeting friends and doing last minute shopping we flew to San Francisco via Toronto. By the time we got there we had been up for nearly 24 hours and had a bit of a delay so we were very happy to be greeted by Kevin and Stephne who we met through this very blog. Before going to their house they took us into the town to show us a few sights and for a delicious pizza.
On Sunday Kevin drove us to the harbour and we took the ferry to San Francisco. After a look around the shops in the Ferry Building we headed up the hill on our first cable car and then down to Union Square for coffee in the sunshine. Next stop was Fisherman's wharf and Pier 39 where we saw lots of sea lions and a clear view of Alcatraz. It was pretty busy here so we decided to get away from the crowds and go walking up on Russian Hill before a meal at 'Street' resataurant. We then took a walk down the very twisty Lombard Street and then went back to Union Square for an Irish coffee. Taking it easy from then was a good idea as the jetlag began to kick in.
Monday was wine tasting day and Kevin and Stephne took us up to the Kuleto Estate in the hills of the Napa Valley. Nothing could have prepared us for the views that awaited us. It was completely breathtaking and the wine also exceeded our expectations. We finished the wine tour with a picnic and then set off for a final tasting at Domaine Chandon. When we got home we continued to be spoilt with delicious Bbq steaks.
On Tuesday morning we set out for the Redwood forest along with the boys....two corgis named Tim and George. we drove through the wealthy Marin County before arriving at Samuel P Taylor State Park. The Redwood trees were huge...it's hard to believe they get so much bigger further north. Next stop was the Golden Gate Bridge which we walked across to the city. It was very windy but we had great views despite patches of fog. We were then taken on a sightseeing trip by Kevin and Stephne around all the parts we missed on the first day and then went for a meal at the Nob Hill Cafe. Here we met the San Francisco Twins...Vivian and Marian Brown dressed in matching furry leopard skin cowboy hats!
We loved San Francisco and can't thank Kevin and Stephne enough for their hospitality!
Click here for photos
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( 3 / 124 )Time Flies
Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 07:50 AM
Not only has it been ages since I updated this but it's almost 3 years now since I moved to Slovenia. Another season has ended and I'm enjoying another hot summer here in Ljubljana.
The whole orchestra season was very busy because the orchestra are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Since my last update we've played in Vienna, Zagreb and all over Slovenia. Our main anniversary concert took place in Kongresni Trg outside the Philharmonic Hall itself. I've never seen the square so busy and the concert was a success despite the difficulties of strong sun on the stage during the rehearsal. We began the rehearsal 3 times because of this! Every outdoor concert seemed to create more problems than usual this year...it was either too sunny, pouring with rain or windy causing music to fly from one end of the stage to another! None of them were cancelled though which was quite an achievement considering.
In a few days we are leaving for London and then continuing on to San Francisco to see Kevin and Stephne who we met through this very blog! We are so excited about the trip and looking forward to having a completely different type of holiday to usual. No doubt there wil be many stories to tell!
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( 3 / 142 )Brussels, London and a White Easter!
Monday, March 31, 2008, 10:22 AM
The trip to Brussels was brief but good. We had time to have a quick look around the town and stop off for some lunch but the windy weather meant we didn't mind too much that we soon had to head back inside for the concert.
After the concert I asked at the info desk for directions to my hotel and rather than ordering me a taxi one of the kind stewards drove me there as he had just finished his shift. It was so nice of him and I felt terrible that I wasn't capable of speaking more French with him. I kept digging for words that seem to be buried right at the back of my brain these days! He did keep asking me how it was to live in Slovakia but I guess I'm used to this all too common mistake.
From Brussels I took the Eurostar to London. It was great to be back although I did spend far too much of my time (and money) on Oxford street! I met up with some friends too and although I was only there 3 days I managed to pack a lot in. It rained of course and Stefan had to rescue me on a traffic island when my umbrella blew inside out and got tangled in my hair. He wondered what was going on when he heard me stuck behind him giggling in the wet and windy weather....at least I saw the funny side to it!
Since being back in Ljubljana I think we have seen all four seasons! My birthday, supposedly the first day of spring, started off beautifully sunny, it poured with rain in the evening and Ljubljana was completely white the next day and the snow continued throughout the Easter weekend! The weather didn't stop us enjoying ourselves though and I had a great time with friends enjoying Ljubljana life. Today is beautiful so I'm really hoping the Spring is here to stay now!
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( 3 / 374 )Pokljuka
Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 08:30 AM
The weather has been all over the place lately. One day we've had sunshine, blue skies and 20 degrees and the next cold and rain. At least Spring certainly seems to be on it's way.
We had one day cross country skiing on Pokljuka and the weather was perfect that day. The blue skies and sunshine made up for the freezing temperatures. My only problem was the fact there was quite a bit of ice around and going up steep slopes proved a bit difficult for me but it was lots of fun and good exercise!
Soon we are off to Brussels for a concert and I will then spend a few days in London. I'm looking forward to meeting up with friends and hitting the shops!
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( 3 / 92 )Sarajevo
Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 05:40 PM
It’s just as well I have been getting used to bus travel lately. The journey to Sarajevo took us almost 11 hours and I think we arrived later than expected that night as we were supposed to go to a concert but we missed it. We ended up going into town and to a restaurant high up on the hill with a fantastic view over the city. We ate traditional Bosnian food whilst some musicians played Bosnian music in traditional dress.
The next day we had time to go back to the centre and wander around the Bascarsija and all the little shops there. Not surprisingly we ate cevapcici and spent a while heating up in a café because it was so cold. Sarajevo has such a great charm to it and I’ve now seen it in both summer and winter and I think it’s a great place to visit any time of year. We played the concert in Navodno pozoriste in the centre – a beautiful hall but quite a difficult acoustic to adjust to as we were further away than usual from the conductor.
Our hotel had a few bowling alleys so that was the next stop for the evening and where a bit of luck gave me some success. I was pretty rubbish most of the time! It was fun though but meant another late night. At least I knew I only had a 10 hour bus ride the next day!
The only downside to this trip was seeing all the burnt out and destroyed houses en route. It is always a shock to see what were once peoples homes completely devastated and covered in overgrown discoloured grass and trees not to mention the inevitable signs warning about land mines that are still very much in existence. Perhaps, however, it’s good to be reminded of what these people went through in the not so distant past even if it comes as a shock.
see photos here
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( 3 / 430 )Burns Night
Sunday, February 10, 2008, 03:37 PM
Having never been to a Burns night before this year I was invited to two! Unfortunately, the first one was the day I got back from Bratislava so I missed the meal but made it to the end which was lots of fun. A French guy in a kilt (Florian by name) was a sight to behold and I had a go on a bagpipe chanter which is remarkable similar to an oboe. Little did I know that this would prepare me for playing the bagpipes at the next Burns party.
The 2nd Burns night was a more formal affair at the Hotel Slon in Ljubljana. It is an annual event celebrating the life of the Slovene poet, Preseren, and the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. It is interesting that the Slovenes use the date their poet died as the annual holiday while Scots use the date Burns was born. Anyway, they had a lot of speeches, poems and music and I tried haggis for the first time. I found that if I didn’t think about what it contained it actually tasted ok! Towards the end of the night there was some Scottish and Slovene dancing and then I had a go on the bagpipes. I actually managed to get a sound out for a while but then I seemed to lose all sense of coordination so the piper helped by controlling the airflow and I tried to play just the chanter bit. It was a lot of fun and I’m wishing for my own set of bagpipes for my birthday….lucky neighbours!!!
View photos here
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( 3 / 463 )Budapest, Bratislava and Cannes
Sunday, February 10, 2008, 09:21 AM
I seem to have spent a lot of time over the past month travelling. I have learnt to quite enjoy passing many hours on a bus and a 10 hour bus journey now seems quite reasonable! As well as travelling my time has been filled with playing Mahler’s 5th symphony, Dvorak’s 9th and enjoying a hectic social life in Ljubljana. Maybe the foggy weather during January encouraged people to throw parties and go out more to get through what can be a depressing winter month.
In Budapest we gave two performances of Mahler 5 but there was also time to have a wander around the city and soak up the atmosphere. I was there 6 years ago so it was good to go back and revisit some of the main sights again.
The next stop was Bratislava which for me was my first time in Slovakia. I was really impressed by the city and the old town was really beautiful and very clean. I was also able to meet up with a friend, David, who lived in Ljubljana for a while and I met some of his friends which was fun. He gave me a tour of the city and took me to some great places to eat and drink coffee and chocolate! We played two concerts in the Slovenska filharmonia – a slightly confusing name to us as members of the Slovenska filharmonija in Slovenia. There they called us the Slovinska filharmonia!
After a few days back in Ljubljana it was time to fly off to the south of France. We flew from Ljubljana to Nice and transferred to Cannes by bus. Unfortunately the sun decided to hide that day and only show it’s face again the next day when we flew back. This didn’t stop us from having a fantastic meal outside, finishing with crème brulee and then we headed down to the beach for a walk. We had a walk around Cannes at night before the concert and the castle looked pretty with all the lights and the extravagant boats were very impressive. Milenka and I found a great chocolate shop. We tried some 100% cocoa chocolate but I have to say that was a little too bitter for me – I’m obviously not sweet enough for that!!
See photos here
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