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Hi Bob! Great to hear from you! Like you, I'm finding
it difficult to comprehend 3 whole months have elapsed
since our parting in San Diego. Oh how we moaned after
that parting - the constant refrain was "Wish Bob was
here!!" Eventually we got used to using public transport
and I have nothing but praise for your excellent system
of trams, trolleys and buses (despite the fact they
use the wrong side of the road!!)
San Diego was wonderful; I liked the laid-back atmosphere
there and the very friendly and helpful locals. We spent
2 whole days at SeaWorld - Joan hired an electric wheelchair
each day which made life much easier for both of us.
We decided after SD to take the Surfliner up to LA
then Greyhound out to Vegas rather than fly. I'm glad
we did that as we saw more of the countryside (a lot
of which went up in smoke just after our stay there,
alas) and also got to speak to ordinary Americans and
gain an insight into their lives.
We certainly packed a lot into the 4 short days we
were with you; I got heaps of photos but unfortunately
the new camera was not in operation at Disneyland as
I had forgotten to boost the battery so the old, broken
one was used hence the poorer quality.
I made up a few folders with some photos for you but
for some reason they wouldn't send in one email so you're
going to be getting several emails with photo attachments.
When we arrived in Vegas at night we were like stunned
mullets - real provincial hayseeds with mouths agape
at the sights, sounds and lights. I've never seen anything
quite like The Strip or the luxury of the Venetian and
the Bellagio. Eventually, however, the smoke in the
Casinos got to me and I went around for those few days
with red eyes and a stuffed up nose. Oh - and don't
forget the aridity of the desert atmosphere - my skin
was like crazy paving and I can see if you lived there
permanently you'd want to get a humidifier!
We took in a show - Cirque du Soleil's "O" which was
stupendous. Also splurged on a trip out to the Grand
Canyon with a helicopter ride, boat trip along the Colorado
River and a fantastically tasty slap-up dinner served
by the Hualapai Indian people.
We'd have liked longer in Hawaii before heading home
but I did manage to persuade Joan to get into the water
for a lazy swim!
Weather is now beginning to warm up - after a very
hot November, December started out being cold so for
Christmas Day I decided to cook a roast turkey with
all the trimmings! Now the forecast is for 30 Celsius!
Aargh!
I hope you and your wife have a wonderful Christmas
and a happy, healthy and hopefully profitable 2008.
My sister has just spent 5 weeks with her son and his
family in Toronto and Rochester, NY and was building
snowmen in the 12 inch deep snow! I've told her about
your tours and should she and my brother in law head
over West, I've highly recommended Quintessential Tours!
I want to do it all over again! It was certainly the
high spot of our whole trip.
Ceud mille failte, Pat
(Hundred thousand welcomes in Gaelic - and, should
you ever come over this way, there's always a bed here
for both of you!)
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