One's gotta love California!

So since my last entry I have had quite a few experieces. That is partly why I didn't write sooner- I am just too busy :)

So during the next few days I explored the area. I went down to the beach again, but this time I walked around the pier, along 'muscle beach', which is hilarious by the way- all these muscely men working out in the boiling heat, right next to the walk-way. I kind of felt embarassed for them, because I think it's weird when peoeple see me go all red and sweaty during my exercising. anyway...
So i had a nice walk, then headed to Third Promenade with all the shops and Starbuckses ( plural of Starbucks??). I left Ruthy at home that day and unfortunately completely lost track of time. At around 5pm I was at the beach and watched the most beautiful sunset, happily snapping away with my camera. As the last speck of the sun finally got engulfed by the mass of the water I then strolled home. Around 5:45pm Ruthy already started to call and I suddenly realized that not only was it completely dark by that point but that I was still quite far from the house. So I picked up my speed and charged home. That evening we watched a few Sex in the City episodes and I continued wuth my applications. The following days, we then headed out to Malibu and just lazed around on the beach. Seeing that my very own auntie ( lets ignore that she is about 500x removed) was THE legendary 'Gidget' I felt a certain bond with the beach in Malibu and the urge to suddenly become a hard-core surfer really started to be rather intense. That night I read the whole 'Gidget' book and felt like I was already a part of California.

In between all our bigger trips we just went for lunches and dinners and breakfasts and teas and cakes and.....lets just say we had it good!!!

We didn't just laze around though- one day we did a good, tiring hike to the mountains. And boy was it worth it- the view of the sea, the wide expanding L.A city and the smog gently setting onto the city- a setting fit for a romance :)
To finish off my visit to L.A., we drove out to Clermont last night, where we visited more of my extended family ( boy who would have thought a family can be so BIG) and celebrated yet another Hannakeh dinner. I feel like my last week has turned me into more of a Jew than my whole childhood with a jewish mother in the house. Nonetheless, the evening was a success and after plentiful conversation and a very filling dinner we headed home- back to good old L.A.

So now my trip to California is coming to an end.
I have met at least 20 memebers of my family I have never met before, I saw the 'Hollywood' sign, I celebrated Hannakah, I drove through Beverly Hills, I walked down Venice beach and I (mentally) surfed the waves of malibu- yep, I think I have been to California.

Where do I go next?

Today, at 4pm I fly from L.A to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil....YYEEEYY!!!!

ever seen 90210?

Well today the weather was once again on our side and so we headed out onto the beach...Venice beach of course!!!!
It not only looks exactly like in all the movies and series ( e.g. 90210) but is actually beautiful. Everyone seemed busy doing something- cycling, jogging, selling medicinal marihuana, working out, playing basketball, sitting at a stand with earrings....surrounded by palm trees and the setting sun one cannot deny but feel slightly 'californicated'.

For dinner we went to a very lovely restaurant on the beach and ate crab salad accompanied by Sauvignon Blanc. I actually didn't feel bad that seated next to us were 3 brazilian models, who were pretty, tall and skinny (and clearly earning good money with their modelling) as I was after all eating a crab salad :)

Back at home we then watched Julia& Julie and another day in 90210 drew to its end.....

L.A. baby.....

So I didn't get to write on here again after my last entry because the pc in fact broke down.

The last few days in San Francisco however were definately wisely spent:
I did a 8 mile march/hike on Thursday around Lake Meritt in Oakland and went shopping for books. That evening I made my way to Palo Alto and walked down Palm drive only to arrive at one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen ( also the 2nd biggest after Moscow university). Stanford was very fun- I stayed the night with Ebony ( a good friend from St. Paul's Girls' School) and we had a blast. Amongst some of the more exciting experiences were a frat party at Sigma Mu, climbing to the top of the Psych-building at 3am and sipping on vodka-cranberry, looking for the steam tunnel entrance and playing "Thumper" :)
We woke up around noon ( still slightly drunk) and so quickly made our way to the dining hall. Before doing that however I checked my application status at UPenn only to find out that I got rejected. But no worries ( no need to cry just yet), I am loving the Westcoast ( probably more than the East) and would thus in fact love to go to college on this side of the country.
So the rest of the day Ebony and I cycled around campus and sat on the floor of the book store reading jokes ot loud to eachother :P

That evening I returned to San Francisco and experienced my first Hannakah. It was really pleasant, with lots of food, lovely company and generally a nice way to spend the last night.
On Saturday we then hit the road and headed for L.A.

It's now Sunday ( the 13th) and I have a whole day of L.A. sight-seing behind me.
The weather was relatively 'bad' for L.A. at about 65- but for a Brit liek me it was still on the better side of things.
What did I see?
Well....Belair, Hollywood ( yes I did see the sign), Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice beach....
We drove down Sunset Boulevard from West to East, down Hollywood Boulevard, along the Sunset strip, and Downtown to the Disney Concert Hall...
In other words when we sat down to have a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin I felt like we had checked the boxes.
Tonight I have the joy of filling out more applications for university and then get ready for another day full of L.A. glamour :)

If you're going to San Francisco...

I LOVE San Francisco...

it is really a beautiful city. i have been ridiculously lucky with the weather ( tough wood) and have so been able to explore a bit. I have seen the famous Golden Gate Bridge, which shines in its bright orange colors brighter than ever and have also driven over the Bay Bridge. I have been mainly residing in the East Bay- Oakland but feel like these ends are equally lovely. There are lovely neighborhoods, with family houses and beautiful little markets. 

I have also been to the Natural History Museum, which blew me away: the aquarium and planetarium were breathtaking. I arrived on Monday morning ( I flew in from Seattle) and have been staying with my family I have never encountered before. So whilst getting acquainted  with new members of my family, eating delicious lunches and dinners, strolling around San Francisco and visiting all the famous sights I have been having a darling time ( as Ruthy would say).

Tomorrow I plan to go for a 3.5 mile jog with the father of the family ( he is a lawyer and basically just wants to prove that he not only has brains but also physique). After that I am hopefully going to watch a criminal trial in court and am then heading to Stanford to see my longly missed beloved friend Ebony ( a student at Stanford).  I am planning on staying the night and then having a nice day in San Francisco with Ebony. I think we have a few Starbucks visits and a bit of walking around Downtown in mind. I will then hopefully go on  the tour of Alcatraz ( the famous prison on the island from which no one ever escaped- i think) and finish off my day with a Hanukkah dinner ( I am fully embracing all the cultures of the world- starting in North America :))

Today I also went to see UC-Berkley ( not the place for me but cool nonetheless).

So that is it for now. 

We leave San Francisco on Saturday ( Ruth and me) to embark on the adventurous drive on Highway 1 to L.A!!!!

I am only hoping that my first drive in the US doesn't repeat itself. However this tiem I will not be alone.

For now I will still be taking in every inch of the wonderful San Francisco air but soon enough we will be venturing on the next journey. destination: Hollywood!

( I will probably write on here before that though because I find out on Friday if I got into my Ivy-league option: UPenn)

An average human scalp has 100,000 hairs

So when we are born we have 300 bones and once we reach adulthood we have 206.

Women have more tastebuds than men.

Every year the average human sheds about 1.5 pounds of skin off.

A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months.

A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.

Your heart is about the size of your fist.

etc......

I just wanted to share some of the amazing things I saw at the Bodies exhibition today.
After walking 12.7 miles around Seattle, in beautiful weather, and taking photos until my camera ran out of batteries I am still of the opinion that Seattle is great.
I also went to see the Washington University ( very nice)....
More later..

Well rested in Seattle!

So I arrived in Seattle on Thursday, the 3rd. I was supposed to arrive on Wednesday but apparently when the bus schedule states 18:15pm, I read 8:15pm....bummer ey!?
So on Thursday I arrived and after Joe invited me to feel at home in his comfy little house I certainly did by spreading my stuff all over the house. I then went onto a approx. 10miles long walk around Seattle- through University District, over the bridge from Maple Leaf into Downtown- all the way to Madison Park etc etc :) yeah I think what becomes clear is that Ilike to walk! Then Joe and me watched 'Sleepless in Seattle' ( just had to be done- after all I had never seen it and where else should I watch it if not Seattle). Today, on Friday, we first had a nice 3 mile brisk walk around the Green Lake with peppermint mochas from Starbucks and then drove out to the Cascades Mountain range to experience a bit of snow.
After a lovely dinner of mahi mahi tachos we headed home and now sitting down with a warm cup of tea and watching 'community' I am ready for another day of exploring.
Seattle has a certain charm to it that really does make you want to just get your own place and start living here. Tomorrow I am going to have a large pancake breakfast, do a tour around UW, visit the first Starbuck coffee shop in the world and roam around the Pike Place Market ( apparently fish just fly around in the air as they get thrown around). I also want to see the 'Bodies' exhibition, as I missed that in London. On Sunday I will then go to the Aquarium and then take one of the famous seattle farries to the peninsula, where Twilight was filmed.
That are all the plans for now but I will add anything if necessary- On Monday it's then off to San Francisco!!!

The Westcoast has definately started out on a great note.....

Time to pack my bags

So its now the 1st of December. Unbelievable!!

I have further been exploring Vancouver by going to the Art Museum and Anthropology museum ( don't underestimate museums- i love them!!! its the place where i can wonder around alone and no one looks at me full of pity for the girl who has no friends and walks around alone).

I also took the sky train and went to see UBC campus...i have brought the children to school twice in a row now ( so yes that mans getting out of bed around 8 am -horror :)) and tomorrow we have a special treat coming up as it is Santa's breakfast = getting up at 7 am to go and consume tons of pancakes and maple syrup and COFFEE at 7:30 am!! one really wonders where all the common sense goes in those first few minutes of the morning.

so tomorrow i am doing that and than heading downtown for one last visit before i get on the evening bus to Seattle where I am sure I have more adventures to come. Staying with James's brother, Joe, I am in good hands and very excited. Did I mention: to all those ' Grey's Anatomy' lovers, this is the point where you start punching the wall enflamed with jealousy because i get to go to Seattle Grace hospital :P i am just making sure we are on the same page....

that is it for now ( that hot tub really wears me out ..haha)