Travel Diary from Los Angeles to Seattle

Wednesday, June 20, 2001

Oh my gosh, I could fill pages over pages with little details that I have forgotten to mention on my previous entries but as it should not be a detailed telling of what I experienced but instead give you more an impression of what happened I continue with what I did the last few day since my arrival in Los Angeles.

Saturday I slept most of the time. Really needed it. Left as well a message at the Banana Bungalow for the others of my trek, but no reply yet.

Oh, Friday I went to the bar/club which I went to when I was here couple of years ago. Didn't change a lot. But I stayed just for a short drink and then went back to the hostel. Btw, the hostel I was staying at was the HI Santa Monica. A real neat place, almost more like a pension.

Sunday I was really depressed, because I still didnt receive any news from the others. So I went grosserie shopping, afterwards went back to bed and t hen tried to use the internet at the library. Alas all computers were blocked so I couldn't use the chat and talk to em there.(I had friends all over the world which I got to know through my friend Katja, which I met during my time when I used to live in Scotland.)
So I returned to the hostel and checked my mail there. No news.
Teh I though I am calling up Angelo, sooner or later I would have to do it anyway. (here to mention is that Angelo is one of these guys I wanted to chat with, but actually I never talked to him before.) It turned out to be the best idea to do so against my depressions.

After the first few confusing minutes, because it was so loud where he was (I even spoke with DAN, but it was more like: what did you say, cant hear you), we ended up on the phone for about 2 hours, with breaks.

This phonecall just made it. Afterwards when I checked the message board there was a message from Joe there, which said that they are going to Disneyland tomorrow (Monday) and I should call'em when I am joining in. So I did, asking to leave me a message where to meet.... I dont know if they got this one either. (Unfortunately it didnt turn out good as we didnt meet there but at least I have seen Disney Land now)

I also met a guy from Germany that night and my dinner turned out quiet ok (though Pasta isnt hard to do, but then in this "kitchen"...).

Yesterday, I just went to the beach. Watching people and life guards. Very funny. Wanted to go again but it is still so cloudy. Oh well, at least I got a wee bit of a tan yesterday, you even see where my glasses where. (I hate that, especially in the face.... *grmpf*) So maybe I will go shopping today and use the internet.

Oh yeah, I meet more and more people each day.
Cought a cold here... not used to sleep in rooms anymore.
Met 2 canadian girls who came here with the purpose of getting sunburned... and as they did, they didnt like it anymore and where asking themself if they were insane! (I had my laugh)

Thursday, June 28, 2001

Santa Barbara

Time flies by defenately too fast.

I am in Santa Barbara since last Sunday. Really enjoy my time here. All the old memories of my Language Year I made in SB are coming back to me. Unfortunately I had to figure out that my hostmother from back then moved away somewhere in the US without me knowing where.
The Banana Bungalow here is by far the most weirdest thing I have experienced yet and comparing to the HI in Santa Monica completely different. First when I arrived I was completely shoked (my gosh, where got I myself into it) but now I start to love it.
The weather as well is great and the people here are all much "cooler" than elsewhere. It is quiet easy to find some mates to hang out during my stay here than in Los Angeles.

Santa Barbara... loads of memories, as said. Somehow nothing changed and still did so much. Earthlings not existing anymore. A bookstore close by the library where we used to hang out, many new clubs and bars. Safari changed its name about 500 times and is now called 634 etc. On the other side, the guys from the school still hang out at the same spot we used to -> Eastbeach...

Met Helene from London and now went out with her the last couple of days. Was really nice, too bad she had to leave today.
Went to the movies quiet often, but nothing really worth to mention.
So, and tonight I will call Drew, a friend of Angelos whos sometimes as well in this chat-community.

Friday, June 29, 2001

These youth hostel is weird, well actually just the people....

Last night, for example (just to show that there must not be only happy things going on...)

There was an "elderly" woman (I guess in her 40 or so) in my room, who took too much drugs and alkohol and broke down. An ambulance had to come. I was (dont ask me why) the only one who could calm her down. As good as I am I went with her. But as well in the hospital she didnt stop terrorising the staff and the doctors. They called the police and he talked to her, saying if she did not stop she would be taken to prison.
Even after that she though slowly calmed down, but still had her moments. As I was still the only one (still wonder why) to sort of make her quiet, I was allowed in the emergency area. First the said I had to wait in the waiting room. But they kept me calling back in all the time. At around 23.00 the doctor decided that she was sober enough and could go "home". So we went back to the hostel and first thing she did was sitting with the other guy and start drinking again.
Well, I left her with "her" guy and made myself something to eat and afterwards went to bed. I mean, going out partying was not really what I was looking for after this. As Karen was still toxicated the next morning, she had to leave the hostel.

Thursday, July 5, 2001

Oh gosh, how time flies by so fast. Already one week passed and I did nothing. How I love this town. Makes me always feel like home. But its time for me to go. Bought me a ticket to San Francisco. At midnight I start. Just hope that I will reach my family up there soon. Don't have a bed yet in SF and that worries me a bit. But then, I still can go somewhere else if I shouldnt find a place there.

Sniff, all the good people have left and now just "funny/weird" people arrive. The weather starts to turn as well but hey, gives me time to write my review of the last week:

Friday, after this Thursday, I did nothing and hung around town and in the evening I went out with some guys from the hostel.

Saturady, first I had to wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and hope and hope and hope and hope and hope to get a ticket for the radiohead concert. Then we had luck and got one. I was there with Caio, a guy I met at the hostel who is from Brasil.
We met a couple at the concert who was staying at the hostel as well. Hey, and I bumped into a girl who was in Hyères last year with me (Language School, France). How small the world is. After this great concert Caio and I went back to the hostel where we met this couple again. We hung out with them till the early morning hours. Oh gosh, what a cute guy, unfortunately he was taken.

Sunday restday! In the evening saying good bye party from Dirk, a German guy who was writing this magister here in SB. Now he found a room in Isla Vista and was leaving the hostel.
And there arrived another cute guy, a swiss guy! He was living in the same town as I do aem did. Unfortunately he had to leave the next day to bring back the rental car to San Francisco. (couldnt he wait till Thursday!) So, another short pleasure.

Monday nothing really happened so I went to the beach where I met again the students from EF (as I said, they still hang out at the same spot we did back in 94/95). Jolle and I agreed on hanging out together on the 4 July as Seraina went to LA with her hostfamily.

Tuesday I met up with Drew. She sometimes hangs out in the chat and Angelo said I should meet up with her. Turned out to be a nice evening, even I did not know what was expecting me, as I actually never really had talked to her before.

4 July; Happy Birthday America So you could hear it all day long on the street. Jolle and I were watching the parade (must say the X-mas parade I have seen was better) and afterwards we went to the hostel. There we met Dirk and after hanging out there for a while we went to the BBQ the guys from the hostel arranged.
Unfortunately the day was not as beautiful as it was supposed to and was covered with little rainshowers.
Afterwards we went back to the hostel and Jolle went back to her hostfamily.

Today I am just pissed, simply hope that it will get better when I reach the Ammanns.

Saturday, July 8, 2001

San Francisco

Actually I still had a cool evening at the hostel. Celebrated and had a feeling I belong to them.
Another reason why I got a better mood was as well that I finally reached my family and therefore, everything concerning accommodation was solved and I would finally see them again.

Of course I didnt sleep a lot in the bus though I was egoistic enough to catch myself 2 seats all by myself.
After I had arrived in San Francisco I took all my 7000 things to Brigittas' office. After wa wee talk she was asking me until when I would stay and how I would get to Vancouver. I gave her all the information and 10 minutes later I had my seat reservation in the Amtrak (was cheaper than fly) to my next stop. Isnt it good to have a relative with a travel agency? *smile*
We agreed on meeting us at seven pm at her offices place again. So I made up to explore San Franscisco again. I as well tried to book my hostel in Vancouver as I now already had my connection up there. Unfortunately I could not reach the Global Village Backpackers and therefore I tried my luck with the HI Downtown. Booked out. Damn!

Ok, searched the library in my Lonely Planet Guide to check on the computer if the number of the Global was still the right one. Hmm, was about 6 to 7 blocks away from where I was now, up Marketstreet and arund me all homeless and the weird people. Very strange feeling. But they actually just were sitting/standing there but didnt do anything.

At the library I checked the address and phonenumber, which were correct. So I placed my reservation through the internet.

Caio wrote me... sweet guy, hope he found accommodation in San Francisco. Have to write him.

The afternoon I spent with walking around, visiting parks, churches, malls, union square etc etc. Ah yes, and every girls favorite... shopping.

At seven I met up with Brigitta and then it finally went "home". How could I forget that the street they were living at was sooooo long and steeeeeeep. I nearly died on the way to their place. I defenately have to send lots stuff home!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barely alive I managed it to their guest room and after a great shower i felt reborn. Vince had cooked "Bratwurst und Rösti" a typical swiss meal. Yummi!!! My Cousin Be was on a date with her boyfriend and thats why I met her the morning after. I for my part went to bed soon that night. Understandable I think. And they did so.

Thursday, July 12, 2001

On my way to Vancouver -> AMTRAK

Lets have a flashback / back to San Francisco:

Ah how lovely it was to have a king size bed for once and your own room and your own shower and and and. Next morning I got up at around 10.00/11.00 and went up to the others. Be welcomed me quiet hmm. enthusiastic? Was so neat to see her again. She served me breakfast. Wow, like a five start hotel :).
Brigitta was there too, she had to work herself though a pile of mail from the last weeks. Vinc had left for golfing.

Be and I were chatting and then I showed them the pictures of my first treking which I already had (as told) developed. White Sands Brigitta liked that much that she took it into her mind to visit it on one of her next travels.

Afterwars, Be showed me her new flat she will be moving in. On our way back we made a stop at the Hippi-Area and there we went for an African Lunch.

Oh, maybe I should mention that my cousine planed a surprise for me and therefore we had to be at a specific time (5pm) at a specific place (Muni Station Castro) to meet up with her friend. But the times went by so fast that we had to rush afterwards and when we were back at her parents place, it was for sure already after 4 pm.
Just mention btw, her new flat remembered me strongly at the house I shared with others back then in Scotland. (she will share the flat too)
With not much delay we finally arrived at the spot and met up with Jonathan.

Those two took me to a musical called Beach Blanket Babylon, the oldest show in San Francisco. It is sort of a satire about the topics of the world. Was hilarious. Then we went to a jazz club.

On Sunday I went visiting some friends of Brigitta together with her. These couple was btw as well at the Christmas party back then in 1994.
We drove to the Napa Valley, more exactly to Yountville. There we had dinner and after a while of chit chatting Brigitta and I went back home.

Monday and Tuesday I was "all by myself" meaning I could explore San Francisco as I pleased to. On Tuesday evening Be and I met up in downtown, had some Indian food before we headed to the movie. "Shrek"; great movie..!!

Wednesday I finally brought my parcel to the postoffice. Nearly 20 lbs so meaning nearly 10 kg less I dont have to carry around anymore. And the best thing is that I finally have space again in my backbag. In the evening, we had our last comon dinner and then Beatrice drove me to the bus station. And here I am now.

Wednesday, July 18, 2001

Seattle, Green Tortoise

Vancouver was awesome! Met alot of people. And I miss them already.

Arrived in Vancouver with a delay of 2/3 hours. After I watched the guy who arrived with me at the hostel building together his bike, I went to bed at around 4 am. First time I got an upper bed. Fortunately it was reachable quiet easy and as well quiet comfortable. Got up again at around 11 am and then went to the harbour. As it was a nice day I decided to visit the the sightesing tower of Vancouver city. What a great view. Went back there in the evening, as you can go up there for free on the same day you purchased a ticket.
Back at the hostel I met some more folks on the terrasse.

On Saturday we had pretty cloudy weather and therefore I visited one of the billion coffee stores, read a magazine which I got from one of my roommates. then I went walking around, window shopping until I saw a store where I could buy another alarm clock, as I forgot mine in Las Vegas. A pretty cool thing which shows the date and temperature (how I will hate this thing later on on my trip) The rest of the day I spent back at the hostel. Met more people.

On Sunday it was raining for the first time since Kissimmee. I stayed in the hostel all day long. But there was plenty of things to do at the hostel itself and with all the folks I had met we had quiet a party going on there though it was still raining.

On Monday it was still raining but not as heavy as the day before. Michi and I decided to watch a movie from the movie library the hostel offered. Finally we ended watching two movies and after this hard work we went for pizza.
In the evening we visited a bar called Roxy for free beer and Karaokee and then went back to the hostel and...

Yesterday the weather was more or less ok, at least it stayed dry. I made a trolley tour around downtown. Havent mentioned yet that the public transportation was on strike there for about a month now. Therefore, this touristic thing was the only one on duty.
Met up with the others in the evening and we did what we did the last couple of days.

So, and now I am in Seattle and ask myself why. Somehow I didnt get the vibes for this town yet.

Sunday, July 22, 2001

Still in Seattle. It is still not my town. Hostel is in one of the bad areas of the city. All the homeless out there and even some drug dealers.

At least I met a great Kiwi Girl who arrived with me there from Vancouver. She was there just for 2 days before she headed back to Vancouver, where she stayed with some relatives.

As I spent the last view days on my own, I got up quiet early to join in with Lisa to visit the Boeing Factory outside of Seattle. It turned out further away as expected and unfortunately, she who was such an airplane freak couldnt go on the tour through the factory as she had to catch the shuttle back to Vancouver. I instead went on it, and it was interesting but you couldnt see that much.
Saturday I made the underground tour of Seattle, as this town is built up on the burned ruins of the old Seattle. Was spooky and funny. I as well visited the Klondike museum. Had to get some facts for my next trip.
Back at the hostel I watched "TV" with a girl I met there. This meant we were sitting on the balcony of the hostel and where watching the street life out there. E.g there was a sex shop opposite us and we made up our own stories why certain men were visiting this location.

Though I spent Sunday in the hostel, called up Angelo again and he told me all about the girl he met, I still had my action for today:

Car Chase
Punch up
Arresting of a dope selling dealer

Yeah yeah, and tomorrow will start my second trek all the way up to Alaska. So, and thats about it.

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