Some funny facts, what I've learned and a whole lot more

So here's a post about some juicy facts about ourselves that we have learned on our journey, some addictions and maybe some funny stories to share with you all! 

5 things I've learned about the Miss Katherine Elizabeth Warburton:-

1. TURQUOISE. she is obsessed with turquoise, especially in jewellery. If we are walking down the streets of New York and a stall consists of turquoise jewellery I will lose Kate, she will stop and I will carry on walking talking to her to realise I'm talking to myself. But, if the jewellery is gold and turquoise it's a NO GO.. It has to be silver. Her addiction is proven on her arm where a collection of blues, turqouises and silver bracelets have grown in the last 77 days.

2. Caramel, she loooovessss caramel. She is all over Starbucks caramel frappes but with no whipped cream. I would say she loves caramel just as much as I love coffee, so it's a lot! ranging from caramel macaroons to caramel chocolate to the frappes.. If there's caramel, Kate is all over it! 

3. She has the weirdest eating habits extremely picky. I don't think she actually realised how picky she was until being out here but here are some things..

 -she does t really like dairy (cream, butter)

 -she HATES cheese in all forms, but loves pizza.. Mind blowing I know

 -she doesn't really like chocolate flavoured things.. She's not normal

 -it's a rare occurance that she will finish a meal, but we can kind of understand as meals are rather large out here. She likes to eat little and often where I would rather 1 large meal! 

- I'm sure there's a whole lot more, actually there definately is, but I can't currently think of them at the moment.

4. She absolutely LOVES animals. Every time we walk pass a dog, specifically a Husky she's goes all googley eyed and high pitched then gets all sad as she misses her dogs at home. Polar bears and Giraffes, especially giraffes are her fav zoo animals. If I could, I would buy a giraffe and take it home for her, but that's just never going to happen. Sorry Kate. 

5. She hates her forehead. She claims she has a huge forehead but I personally do not see this. We will be looking through photos and she will comment on her forehead. Not going to lie I find it amusing simply because as said, I just don't see it. 

Here are some addictions and obsessions:-

Since being in the states without American SIM cards we have both become massive Wi-fi whores. As much as we live each other and have lots to talk about, it's nice to chat to other familiar people and share a load of pictures to brag at what we are doing. I mean, it's only fare of me to to share pictures of myself sunbathing on Miami beach in 36 degree heat whilst you were all working and probably freezing cold right!?

I am a massive coffee lover but since being out here and a Starbucks on every street corner, I have become not just a coffee whore, but also extremely dependant on a grande iced coffee every morning to prepare myself for the day ahead! 

TWIZZLERS. Oh my god these are the greatest sweets (not as good as haribo strawbs but very close!). We got out first packet when we went into the Hershey's store in Times Square, New York which were a variety of flavours. Since then we indulged in packets of cherry, packets of strawberry, sweet & sour and liquorice. This could potentially be why my skin is so bad but meeh, they taste great and they get us through every travelling journey in the greyhound! 

Fro-yo, fat free deliciousness until you get to the toppings. I don't know why it's not a big thing back in the UK because we are obsessed with this stuff. Just like Ice-cream but without the guilt factor! After trying a faire few flavours over the 11 weeks, my favourites are:- lemon, cookies & creme, green tea, peanut butter and French vanilla. I can't narrow it down any more! Now this is the healthy part, toppings can make it very unhealthy but I try not to. Fresh strawberries, kiwi and blueberries, some chocolate chips and granola and it's heaven in a cup! 

Whilst enduring between 10-21 hours on a greyhound bus and if wifi is available, Netflix has come in very handy. My addiction with Cake Boss has grown since discovering it in Salt Lake City. It's about at Italian family who owns a bakery in New Jersey where Buddy makes the most incredible cakes.. Like almost ridiculous, but amazing cakes! I am currently on series 3 and I am praying that once I'm in the UK it will still be available on NetFlix! 

Some amusing stories throughout the trip-

Only a few days ago here in LA Kate was rather hungover. The night before was spent playing ridiculous drinking games and it ended with whiskey. Hence the hangover. We went on a bus tour around Hollywood and within 1 minute of stepping off the bus, Kate throw up into a tree on the walk of fame. More than once! This is a story she will NEVER live down!

It really wasn't funny at the time, but after 8 weeks we can finally see the funny side. In Miami we had our purses, phones and Kate's passport stolen. The whole process of cancelling cards, replacing phones and sorting an emergency passport wasn't fun but it was defo a life lesson. When we talk about it now we can finally laugh!

We were enjoying our fro-yo when the most ugliest-devil like child got pushed in. It took a lot for me to hold my laughter in but I was genuinely horrified and scared. I was happy to leave! I mean look at it..

Where we sitting in a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco enjoying our lunch when a bird flew in and extremely close to me. Kate's aunt Helen grabbed me and was also freaking out.. I ended up crying but soon after found the funny side. I definately HATE birds so much more now!

We all know that I am 20 so not legal to drink out here in the states. We managed to get away with it at times until we got to Dallas. We went and watched a rodeo and our ticket got us free entry into Billy bobs club. Whilst queuing I realised security were checking ID, as we got closer I managed to sneak in. We were all very happy and made our way to the bar. I didn't notice the fact we needed our hand stamped so when I was asked for ID and couldn't show it, security came over and escorted us out. Haha so embarrasing but highly hilarious!

We went out on frenchmans in New Orleans to a jazz bar and were enjoying the music a little to much. After a few hours pre-drinking we ever so slightly drunk! The main guy in the band got Kate up on stage and she had to strum the washboard with spoons for the length of the final song.. Which was really bloody long! She wasn't loving life but we all were! Haha!

After leaving you with all that craziness, I would like to say my farewells. I'm sure we will write a few post America blog posts once we are home but this will be the last one written in America. 

77 days is a real long time but I cannot tell you just how fast it has gone. Some parts of the trip feels like a seperate holiday simply because each state is so different from another. New York and Dallas couldn't be anymore different, I legitimately cannot think of once similarity. My favourite places were obviously New York because its just New York. I enjoyed everything about it, the chilled/kooky side of Brooklyn to the craziness of manhattan. New Orleans was just so much fun as we met a lot of great people and experienced a few hangovers. However it was the greatest pick me up after disastrous times in Miami. And of course the Grand Canyon. It was probably the highlight of the whole trip and by far the most incredible place I have ever seen. Only 1% out of everyone that visits a year will hike below the rim, and I am extremely proud to say I am part of that. My legs killed the following 2 days but it was worth it completely!

I haven't hated anywhere we have been but my least favourite place was probably Dallas. We were there a little to long so finding things to do got a little tricky, public transport wasn't great and it was SO HOT, like uncomfortably hot! But we got a great tan, saw a rodeo and also met some cool people!

I'm sad to be leaving this incredible trip but 11 weeks is long enough and I am skint. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, legally being able to drink and warning money again.

If you're in doubt about travelling, YOU SHOULD GO!!!!!

bye bye, for now

Yas xoxooxoxoxox

La La Land

So we've decided to do a quick round up of our time in LA before we both write an overly emotional goodbye to this trip and this blog. The overly emotional part might just be me and I apologise for it now, but for those of you who know me you know I cry at adverts so really what were you expecting?

I'm just going to to a quick run down of our adventures in LA to get you up to speed as I'm sure you're all sick of us gloating at you from behind our phones. Just a little bit more then I promise it will all be over. 

So we have been very lucky this week as after a chance meeting in New York, all those weeks and months ago, we managed to bag ourself a stay in a lovely little apartment with a lovely couple of Texan boys, rather than paying extortionate amounts for a horrible hostel. Michael and Tyler have both been very accommodating, not only in giving up the bed and gallantly taking the floor- though I think that has more to do with mens general aversion to spooning than anything else- but also in showing us around and getting us very drunk. 

After saying goodbye to the Greyhound for the final time late last Tuesday night we headed to Michael's apartment and started to plan our week. 

First up on the agenda was going to watch a new sitcom be taped in Fox studios. I was VERY excited about this. Not only because we got to see James van der Beek in the flesh (thank you very much), but also because we got to watch the really interesting process of shooting a show from start to finish. The day was very long; it took about 3 hours to get through various stages of security, and then 7 hours or so to shoot the actual thing, but there was a comedian on hand to keep spirits up and pizza and candy half way through to stop us revolting from hunger. It was honestly probably one of my favourite things that we have done out here and so much fun to be a part of. Unfortunately we weren't allowed phones in there so we don't have any pictures, but keep an eye out for when Friends With Better Lives hits the UK and keep an ear out during the second episode for two British girls laughing away and munching on Nerds. 

The next day, with our tourist hats firmly on our heads, we headed to Hollywood Boulevard to walk on some stars. Thankfully, and despite many warnings to the contrary, navigating our way around LA on public transport hasn't been that difficult so after a quick ride on the metro we spent the rest of the morning bumping into people as we walked with our heads down shouting out random celebrity names. 

After popping our Hooters virginity with some cracking chicken wings, and a quick visit to Grauman's Chinese Theatre we did a bit of cheeky shopping- which I would like to say was at least 50% for other people, we hopped back onto the metro and back to the apartment. 

What happened when we got back to the apartment I'd really rather not talk about. I just remember it involving Malibu, and Jack Daniels and so many games that ended so very badly. Especially the next day, (and Gran, I recommend you closing your eyes momentarily), when I may or may not have thrown up on the Walk of Fame. Twice. It is not something I'm particularly proud of, though looking back it was incredibly funny, but it is definitely something that me and Yasmin will both remember for a very long time. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Miss Wyatt however for accidentally getting some on her foot. MY BAD. 

The reason we were back on the Walk

of Fame was because we decided to do a bus tour up to the Hollywood sign and then around Beverly Hills. It was a lot of fun, when I wasn't trying to throw up all over the boy next to me, and we spent most of the time picking out which house we wanted in the Hollywood hills. 

The next day, with me feeling a lot perkier and with an overwhelming need to redeem myself and do something classy, we headed over to Beverly Hills. After a quick tourist stop at the sign, we wandered down Rodeo Drive and gazed longingly at all the things we couldn't afford, before stopping for lunch at a little cafe. 

We then took a stroll through Bel Air and picked out some more houses before ending up on Sunset strip. We attempted to do some celeb spotting but were very unsuccessful and instead settled for gelato and limonata. 

Yasmin was very excited about it. 

The next two days were designated ad beach days, first up was Santa Monica and then Venice. Unfortunately these were the worst two days in terms of weather here and although it was warm it was very grey and overcast. Nevertheless we both still loved Santa Monica and had a very fun day playing on the pier and FINALLY going to Bubba Gumps. With the exception of accidentally starting a fight between two of the waiters it was a lovely meal and we got light up glasses to take away with us. Winning. Venice wasn't quite as nice but we were still glad we saw it and we actually ended up walking along the beach all the way back down to Santa Monica which was a lovely way to spend our last day here. 

After our final dinner of pulled pork (obviously), we headed back to the apartment to pack our bags for the final time. I'm not going to start going on about how sad I am to be leaving, I'll leave that for the next post, but I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to Michael and Tyler for letting us stay and an even bigger thank you to LA for giving us such a fantastic last week. 

xxxxxx

From Santa Barbara to the Whale's Vagina

I'm in trouble. I've been told off by my Gran, and by Yasmin, for being so slow and useless when it comes to this whole blogging thing, BUT I figure it's better to keep you guys guessing and wanting to know more than it is to inundate you with lots of posts. Yes? No? Maybe? Oh well, I know I've been bad and I apologise. 

Picking up where the lovely Yasmin (I'm grovelling, can you tell?) left off, we said goodbye to San Francisco with a smile on our faces and a slight wine induced fuzziness in our heads. I would like to take a quick moment to say thank you to my beautiful family, I got to spend a week with three of my favourite people in the world and I missed them as soon as I left the hotel.

Well, I say this, I missed them until we arrived at our hostel in Santa Barbara four hours late because our bus broke down and we had to wait in a gas station for it to be repaired, and I was met with an email telling me that they'd scored an upgrade on the way home and they flew back to the UK first class. It was at this point I told them they could go suck it and I hoped Ipswich lost their next game- which they did! Such satisfaction!

Anyway, we were only in Santa Barbara for a couple of days due to it being very expensive but we were both very glad we stopped there. It really was a beautiful place and after having to suffer the cold of San Francisco we were so excited to be faced with a beach and a blue sky. 

We spent the only full day we had there wandering up and down the street market they had set up along the beach. We both had to fight the overwhelming temptation to buy lots of pretty things, reminding ourselves we still had to fit and carry them in our bags, but we did buy a few presents which we figured were totally justified. Does this mean we're growing up? I really, really hope not. 

 

We then took a trip to the end of the pier, poked around in some more shops and had a rather delicious seafood lunch. We may have also been cheeky and got ice cream for pudding- I may have been extra cheeky and had bubblegum ice cream. Bubblegum! It was blue and everything. I loved it. I looked about 12 eating it, but hey what else is new?

After an afternoon of sunbathing we headed back to the hostel, had a shower, performed the increasingly boring process of booking our next journey* before heading back out for dinner. After some delicious pizza and a stroll down the beach as the sun set we went back to the hostel and fell asleep watching Cake Boss. Perfection. 

 

Our bus to San Diego was booked for the following afternoon so our Sunday morning pretty much took on the form of another stroll through the street markets, a customary iced coffee at a local cafe and a quick steal of public wifi to contact friends and family. I also got to enjoy the fairly bizarre episode of a lady on roller skates coming up to me, handing me her dog and proceeding inside to get herself some coffee. Luckily me and Henry got over any awkwardness very quickly, formed a strong bond and we've promised to keep in touch. I miss him. 

The rest of the day was spent travelling down to San Diego. Amazingly it was completely stress free and straight forward. Our experience with Greyhound has been anything but relaxing, with almost every journey being plagued by delays, break downs or dodgy buses, but for once we got on the bus when we were supposed to and we got off when we were supposed to and there was a lovely long lines of taxis waiting for us when we arrived. Due to San Diego being busier than we expected we had to book a night in a separate hostel for the first night before checking into another one for the rest of the week on the Monday. We didn't arrive until late so we just went straight to bed and made the most of the free pancake breakfast the next morning before heading to the other hostel. 

Despite the painfully long check in, and the agonising process of watching two men take half an hour to change two beds we settled in to our new room quite quickly. Located in Little Italy, with beautiful views of the bay and a cheeky Starbucks just a block away we became quite happy in our decision to spend a week in Ron Burgundy's stomping ground. 

We spent the rest of the day soaking up the sun on the balcony and discovering the delights of the Italian deli on the corner that served us sandwiches so big they served as lunch and dinner. 

The next day we walked up to Balboa Park. Word of caution for any of you heading to San Diego. Balboa Park is huge, almost ridiculously so. We spent almost a whole day there and barely saw any of it, and we didn't even go to the zoo. It is beautiful though, and well worth a visit. It's full of museums, cafes, pretty pathways and fountain filled rose gardens, as well as some pretty spectacular architecture. 

It also has, and I feel loathe to give away this secret, a restaurant that gave us a meal that we have unanimously decided to call, 'the best meal we've had out here'. I know, I hear you all saying, 'woah now, bold claim', but I feel pretty confident in this one. A tapas platter with warm bread, salami, prosciutto, olives, smoked almonds, cornichons, mustard and an almost orgasmically good fig marmalade. I'm serious, if it were legal and socially acceptable I would have married it on the spot. The picture doesn't do it justice but trust me we sat there with such contented faces for such a long time we started to get funny looks. 

Oh god, look at it! We liked it so much we went back and had it on our last day and I miss it already. 

Anyway, one mustn't get carried away. Pull yourself together Kate. After a day of wandering the lush green of the park we decided a day of doing nothing on the sandy shores of the Pacific was in order so we hopped on the bus and headed to the beach. It was honestly beautiful and we just spent the whole day rotating ourselves so we basted evenly, with possibly a brief detour in Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters on the way home, which proved we definitely haven't grown up at all. The only people who got presents that day were two cracking girls called Kate and Yasmin. Sssshhhhh, don't tell anyone!

This brings us to Thursday, a day we were both very excited about as it was designated as 'Zoo Day'. Zoo Day was a very important day because a) we haven't done a zoo since DC and b) it's San Diego Zoo y'all, you can't do San Diego and not do the zoo. That's like going to Disneyland and flipping off Mickey. Not cool. 

So with the sun shining and our new purchases proudly adorning our bods we skipped merrily back to the park, buying our tickets along the way so we didn't have to queue with the 'regular people' and headed into the zoo fully prepared to push any small kids that got in our way. 

The rest of our time in San Diego was spent back at the beach- we are like so totally tanned right now- and eating our way through Little Italy. We also spent a couple of evenings down in the Gaslamp Quarter which is a lovely area of downtown San Diego filled with restaurants, bars and beautiful buildings. 

We are currently loving life in LA and cannot believe that we only have four days left of this incredible journey, but we would like to thank San Diego for a lovely week. We felt very at home, had a lot of fun and, as previously mentioned, (in a hideously American way, I apologise) we now have banging tans. 

We will be back soon, I PROMISE, with our adventures in Lala Land. We've only been here two days and it's already been lots of fun so hopefully we'll be saying goodbye to America in style. 

See y'all real soon! 

*Boring in terms of booking buses, finding hostels, paying deposits, blah, blah, blah. Definitely not boring in terms of where we're going. Just wanted to clarify in case you thought we weren't allowed to be jealous anymore, because, let's face it, you really should be.