ATLANTA GEORGIA TO ST LOUIS MISSOURI

Another early start today as we had about 666 states to go through!
Hey Micum check this out, you never told me!

After we got through Georgia we were in Tennessee where we stopped for lunch in Nashville at what we hoped was a genuine western bbq place. Adam got the pork sandwich and he loved it, I got the chicken sandwich and they asked do you want white or dark meat…. Then they gave me two slices of bread with half a fucking chicken slapped ontop!

Next state we went through was  Kentucky. The scenery here was real prutty… and the accent was so deep and southern. Not as many billboards just lots of trees.

We flew threw Kentucky, thinking about some people we know where one is from Louisville and his wife is an aussie. HI GUYS!!

Next state was Illinois. We were waving to you the whole time Paige!!

I have to be honest we were all kinda over the drive a little in Illinois, its about 8 hours or so by now and it was getting a little old. Still was awesome and I’d definitely do it again.

FINALLY we hit St Louis – Missouri!

Where we checked in (staying at the Hilton which overlooks the St Louis Cardinal’s ballpark), ate dinner and now drinking Bud Select 55 – never heard of it? DELICIOUS

ORLANDO FLORIDA TO ATLANTA GEORGIA

Bit of a long drive on the cards today.
The drive from Orlando to Atlanta took about 7 or so hours but we stopped a few times. I think the highways were full of billboards, some of them were hilarious!

Not an awful lot going on for the drive, we stopped in DQ which is Diary Queen here, standard boring really. I think it is the reason for this though...

Then we drove to Atlanta and saw more funny signs:

 Then we got to then hotel then stopped into Taco Bell for dinner - um.... I never had it when it was in Sydney and I'm glad! Everyone else loved it but I wasn't that much of a fan. We then had to get a few things for our even longer car trip tomorrow so where else do we stop into....

And now we are gonna go to bed real early so we can get up early for our long drive to the destination of my choice :)

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, ORLANDO FLORIDA

(Sorry so late, stupid internet died last place )
Today we went to Universal Studios and we decided to check out The Islands of Adventure rather than the Universal area.
The themepark was crazy expensive again, we paid $350 for four of us ($82 p/p plus tax) but it was so good.
First things first I went on the Incredible Hulk roller coaster, WOOHOO was sooooo good!

It was probably a 7 on the Kate thrill scale.
Then we were walking through Superhero Island and FML the whole OMG ITS KATE HUDSON happened again, PHOTO PLEASE he said

So after we met Spiderman (which conveniently was in a gift shop) and Adam picked out the tons of stuff he was going to get we moved on to Toon Lagoon. That was ok.... then we went into Jurassic Park which was fairly cool. Check out the dude that  had a dinosaur under his arm, was cool!

Then, Micum, we went to Hogsmeade. It was so packed out, I thought we were back at NYC, its was FULL, but AWESOME.  We lined up for about 30 minutes to have a butterbeer

It was soooooo cool and there was so much to do but seriously we weren't waiting a full hour and a half to go through the bloody castle, the place was so packed, seemed like everyone was at the HP section! Cool thing was the Dragon Challenge Ride (where there are two the same and they pass 12 inches of each other) had a 15 minute wait so we went on that and it was WAY better than the hulk ride. 

Not the Ride (like Adam would do that) but a thing in Dr Seuss that was funny

Then we went to the Lost Continent and Seuss Landing (not that exciting) and came back to our hotel. WE then thought lets go out cause I was like OMG BMTH NEW ALBUM so we found a best buys and were going to get them there but it was SHIT!!!!!! They had NOTHNG AT ALL.

We found a FYE (for your entertainment) and we got 4 cd's - COF (limited edition one I haven't seen), BMTH new, Stonesour New and Mushroomhead New. Brilliant.

Then we went back to T.G.I Fridays and I had the same meal as last night (brushetta chicken pasta, YUMMO) and now I'm on Bud 6 again :)

Big day tomorrow driving, blog might be yawn material.

MAGIC KINGDOM ORLANDO FLORIDA

We didn't get up that early this morning, maybe about 8am. We went for breakfast then I was like FML I'm such a tool I didn't think ahead. So we dropped into some local factory outlets (mmmhum they are everywhere!!!) to get me some shorts. It was like maybe 28 degrees today with an intense no cloud sun.
We found me some shorts and rather than have my unbrella up the whole time I thought lets put about 20grams of sunscreen on every 2 hours and thats what I did.
So you think Disney World and you think one big place. But we realise driving there you need to pick an area. While we are driving we go yep Magic Kingdom we have all heard of that one so we go there.

Enter childhood - after catching a tram from the carpark then a monorail to the park itself (yes its that massive) we all regressed to childhood! Tix were crazy expensive, $82 p/p and more if your doing more than one park a day (like anyone would do that) then we go inside to get unorganised me a hat. But wow, I'm not much of a girl or colour or whatever but this shit was AMAZING.

Thats like that disney castle behind us!

So this park is HUGE and we are there all day. We looked at a ton of different places including Toon Town and a area that had Monsters Inc. stuff. We went into this one interactive place where we had to laugh so we could fill the canisters haha it was way fun cause they included the audience.

Adam really wanted to do a water slide at Splash Mountain but he couldn't be stuffed waiting (ya'll know I wasn't going to do that) so we went to the Haunted House instead. It was HILARIOUS the guy was like no flash photography but I snuck this one in

Then we checked out Mickey's house

Then we walked around more and we like F its time to head. As we were heading we saw some spec peeps who were like LOOK ITS KATE HUDSON GET A PHOTO

Then we went from Magic Kingdom, and went to T.G.I Fridays and had a YUMMO meal (including a bud on tap or draught as they call it) then we went back to the room and I got all domestic and did washing while Adam pumped some iron and now we are gonna crash after beer 6 for another themepark day tomorrow.

MIAMI TO ORLANDO

This one time, I told my grandad I was going to get a motorbike. He said temporary australian are riders, they will all die. Pa would be devistated here...

This is what we saw on our drive from Miami to Orlando. We were doing about 100 k's. It appears that it isn't compulsary to wear a helmet here, even if you have one next to you on the bike. Also, it appears that you don't have to have to have a number plate on the front of the car.  People don't stick to the speed limit either, but thats no surprise. We went through about 4 tolls and each one was like $1.25 or 75 cents, how expensive HAHAHAHA I think all up the tolls cost us like $4!

So we stopped in the Kennedy Space Centre on the way and well um......

 

This is about as exciting as it got. Rediculously expensive ($41 pp), but I must admit you pay it cause its not government funded its paid for by the visitors, still.... They had a similator of what its like to go into space, that was the most exciting part.

Then we went to check in and head off to see Chicago Bulls vs Orlando Magic. Was a great atmosphere, they really get the crowd going, had a great time. We had no choice really but to go for Magic, but thats ok it was well worth it. (They won by the way). AND they had Bud Select on tap so now we have a bit of a problem... I love it and you can't get it at all in australia!!!!

SOUTH BEACH MIAMI/HOLLYWOOD FLORIDA

Tell ya I'm getting used to this sleeping in......
We decided to go back to South Beach Miami today since the weather cleared up. Check out what we saw!

We decided to go for the whole tourist look and stand out the front getting photos. We went inside and would of loved to get a tat but way too expensive. And guess who we saw there, Yoji! Yep not cool but oh well.

We then checked out the beach again and walked approx 15 blocks (the blocks here are HUGE btw). I took the sensible route after yesterday up the top of the beach and the suckers took a walk on the lower part that was like too hard...

We then obviously had to walk back so we walked on the street. We needed to put more $$$$ in the meter then we though lets eat. We looked for a long time for a good place but finally found one where we all got a sandwich (which here means roll) with american salad - lettuce, onion, tomato. To get more than that in salad is exceptional. We haven't found it yet.

Since we leave early tomorrow we thought we should go back to the hotel and do some washing and packing and stuff. So J and I do this stuff and the men peeps go to the store to get a cooler bag for our food. LOOK WHAT THEY BOUGHT FOR LIKE $6 AND I CAN'T BRING IT HOME WITH ME!

Anyhoo, they then decided to go for a stroll while we finished with the clothes drying. And they found this whole area behind our hotel (did I mention we are staying in Hollywood?) thats got like a path with shops and restaurants and bars like FML!!! We go to a bar and they had Bud Select!!!!! I hadn't tried that yet. It was yum.

And now we are back at the room and about  to crash for our early start and drive. BYE (yep I've had a few)

SOUTH BEACH

After sleeping in again we all got up and had breakie then headed down to South Beach.
Adam was really keen on lying on the beach for several hours. It was a real overcast day and after we found a spot and set up Adam decided he wanted to go for a walk down the beach.
So after we walked the equilivant of the whole length of Palm Beach it started raining so we left the beach.
Then we ate lunch and everyone decided to go back to the room.
So we come back to the room for a few hours then after my suggestion we went to the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino. Here I was thinking awesome we'll eat and maybe have a few drinks, watch some live music... we walked around to see what was there, a few shops and restaurants, decided to eat at the hard rock cafe and had one of the best meals we have had here so far (steak, mash and beans) then everyone was like well we might as well go back to the hotel. What a fun day.
oh one thing of note though, Miami is the tattoo district of the world, seriously I think we saw a tattoo shop every block! And mustangs, there are so many here, its like seeing commmodores! And South Beach is nothing like you see on tv - of course I should of known better but still, no hotties or anything! (Except below hehe)



in spanish!



I'M IN MIAMI BITCHEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Yeh yeh you got it, I'm in Miami!
Today we woke up a little late, probably cause this is the first time we had seperate rooms, was nice :)
After we got up and ate and showered and stuff we went outside and I was like.... are we in Darwin? Or Cairns maybe? Cause its real humid out there and air conditioned inside. Anyhoo, we got a bus into Miami but thought due to a recommendation and a search of the online store lets find a hot topic - so we headed to a shopping centre in Miami.  Now I thought it would be a small place but we ended up spending all bloody day there!
First thing we did was eat - Adam had a turkey salad wrap and I had egg salad (that means egg mashed with celery and mayo then they add salad too). Was delicous. Like every other store in the foodcourt had fried shit, one had good stuff.
We then went to Hot Topic and um...... well I got something awesome for you Micum and thats about it. Sorry Grant but it was really disappointing, we even looked online beforehand and found some trueblood stuff, a ton of things I wanted to get for Kim but they had none of it! All the exciting things they had there was a guy who was trying real hard to be Michael Jackson... haha Well ok I'm being harsh they had some ok stuff but I bought a fan and thats it. (and the stuff for Micum). I was lucky thought I did find a store that had some stuff for Kim.... \/vvvv\/
We looked around more and found a Ferrari Store. Adam found something in there he went on and on about for ages afterwards and I practically dragged him back there to get it, he seriously never buys himself something of worth and he deserves it after all the shit I put him through. You like?

So very very nice indeed. And about time hus band even in bloody america I write myself off then get sick and you have to look after me, talk about a write off!
Anyways, we were supposed to pick up the hire car on Friday (remember we are so yesterday here) but decided after the long trip and two buses we might get it earlier. So we picked up a Impala - not a 64 f f f f f  but a new one but still we have a chevy! Check out Adam driving in america

Sorry I don't know how to adjust it!
So we then found a supermarket, and bought a heap of shopping and I went so tourist in there, check out the weird arse shit they have! After that we ate and gonna crash soon so we can spend a day at the beach (and yes I bought a umbrella hehe)

We're staying in a suburb called Hollywood

It says bread and butter chips, their bloody pickles!!

In a supermarket - there was a liquor store next door!

TRAVELLING FROM ATLANTIC CITY TO MIAMI

Today we travelled from Atlantic City to Miami. Well, almost, we are still on the plane! We had to get a taxi from our hotel into the bus terminal in the city so that we could get the greyhound bus back into NYC and get a flight from JFK. There were no taxi companies in AC that had a wagon or a minibus (we now have 5 suitcases thanks to all the great shopping) so we ended up having to call 2 cabs. It appeared that the cab company wasn’t even able to get 2 cabs organised so one turned up and a toyota tarago looking van turned up behind with a guy in normal clothes, his wife in the front seat and his 3 year old son in the backseat playing with a batman toy!! That was our second cab, I think he just called a mate for a favour. However he was a really nice guy and his wife was “Fine” (that’s how black women describe themselves) and I got to talk to a 3 year old about Batman so it was okay. Safe to say that we had an interesting array of taxi drivers in AC!

We are flying American Airlines and got to do a kerbside check in. You know how the taxi drops you off at the outside of the terminal at a normal airport? There are people from the airline waiting right there to check you in so we gave them our luggage, passports and they gave us tickets and in we went. Then we got to experience the paranoia of the american airport systems. To go through security you have to take off your shoes, jackets, wallet, metal items and remove laptops. Plus they want to check your ticket and ID before you go through. It’s a real pain! JB got frisked because he looks mexican. I think they just wanted to touch his shaven legs.

We arrive in Miami in about an hour and it it going to be 8:50 pm and 27 degrees so it looks like good weather again. It rained briefly in AC this morning and last night there was a major hailstorm in NYC that we just missed.

SO if any of you are going to the USA at all, NYC is a must see. It is very fast paced and there is sooo much to see but I wouldn’t recommend any more than a few days there. There is just so much traffic and you are always battling past people on the street because it’s so crowded, but Time Square at night is incredible. Imagine being there on New Years Eve. WOW. AC was brilliant for the shopping. And it’s all kinds of shopping, clothes, shoes, bags, perfume, jewellery, homewares….everything. I think the prices of most things are about 30 to 40 percent of what we pay back home and the conversion is almost dollar for dollar at the moment so great value. In AC there is a ghetto area just a few minutes walk from the casinos and shopping so you have to be a bit careful as the sun goes down, it’s amazing how there can be so much wealth right next to so much crime and poverty. And you have to eat at Tony’s Baltimore Grill just outside the Tropicana hotel.

Contrary to popular belief in Aus, the people here have been very friendly and happy to help you out, especially once they hear your accent. They ask a lot of questions about Aus and seem to genuinely want to talk to you. We have had many people approach us just to say hi and that was before they even know we were foreigners. It seems that people providing services are a little short sometimes, like people at information booths at train stations but I guess they just get a lot of people come through and get bored of answering the same questions. Overall I would say we have had a great experience so far and can’t wait for MIAMI!

By Adam <END TRANSMISSION>

SICK ATLANTIC CITY

Yesterday I woke up with swollen tonsils. I didn't think that much of it since it happens fairly regularly - although I did feel like everytime I swallowed I was swallowing razor blades.
Woke up this morning and knew something wasn't right, looked down my throat and I was very much fml. Decided rather than go shopping again like we had planned we better see a doctor.
We asked at reception and they said there was a clinic not far from where we were so we went back to our room and showered then went back to reception for her to hail us a cab. Works out the cab driver didn't know the place we were talking about, so he went and asked reception and we had to go into the city not up the road.  She had called and they told her they only take walk ins at night. We get into the city (after stopping at a drive through atm!!) and the place he dropped us off at asked if we had an appointment (no), do you have insurance (no) then she said we don't have any available appointments until January. Lovely.
We went to a place up the road that was a walk in clinic, it was very clean and the lady was real friendly. I had to fill in about a 600000 page document (well 6 pages) asking zillions of questions and wanting to know if I was suicidal and whether I have schitzophrenia, my family history, like a lot of questions. Then I had to tell them how much I make a month cuase they sliding scale the fee! I told them in american dollars and the fee was $99 and $3 for the prescription.
We waited probably 45 mins to see the dr which is standard, he comes in and hes in a wheelchair, as soon as we speak he knows where we are from. He tells us how he spent 7 months in wollongong in 1980, and how he got hit by a drunk american driver there and ended up in the wheelchair.  The irony huh!
So I have strep throat. He sends my prescription to the chemist and all we had to do was go there and tell them our name and they would fill it, cool huh! Problem was we get there and shes like you can wait which will be about 40 minutes or you can come back in about 2 hours! We decided to wait and it was only 20 minutes.
Then we went to a restaurant that the dr recommended (he was real nice we chatted to him for ages) and had a sandwich!!!! I asked for a grilled chicken sandwich but the chicken doesn't taste the same, I think its like smoked or something! Still was nice but wasn't what I thought it would be. At least it wasn't fried or battered. She asked us where we were from then when she went to give our order she goes hey their from australia and this other worker comes over for a chat, I must admit people seem pleased to meet aussies!
We then got a cab back to the hotel, and the driver was full on gangsta, totally a Des, he was jivin to the music, glaring at other drivers for cutting him off, sittin low in his seat, wearing baggy clothes, was real weird!!
Anyways I'm just gonna try get better cuase I don't really feel the best and  I don't want to waste another day on this sickness so I better wake up ok tomorrow!

ATLANTIC CITY

Today we pretty much spent the day shopping. I think Adam bought more clothes for himself than hes ever bought before! Hes got so many new things its nuts. I got some stuff too like you can see in the pic below. Most of the stores were Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Esprit, Timberland etc none major cool but I guess that was NYC.
We ate dinner at a Kosher restaurant, the hotel we are at is a little out of town and the closest place we could find was some joint called a steakhouse down the road. I got the Australian chicken, thinking it would be grilled or something but guess what, it came out battered!!!! It wasn't really the best experience, it took ages to come out and it seemed everyone else in the place were getting their meals first! Wasn't fantastic but they steamed our veges for us which was nice, its so hard to get just a standard steak and veges type meal around here.
So heres from photos I promised from last entry too.