Honeymoon1 - Cities of CALIFORNIA and....

Towards the USA

Our honeymoon begins, heading toward the USA... our dream trip that will last a full 36 days!!! Departure at 11:00 from Fiumicino Airport with the American Airlines flight to Los Angeles via Chicago. We land in Los Angeles at 19:00 local time, exhausted we go to pick up the car rented from Hertz, taking advantage of the shuttle that stops free of charge at every terminal of the Airport. We stay overnight at the Best Western Hollywood Hills, on the street parallel to Hollywood Blv. Truly excellent quality-price ratio. Nice, with a large and clean room. Pool in the inner courtyard which all the rooms overlook. Only the parking is a bit expensive (14 USD/DAY). After a first and excellent bacon cheeseburger we rush to recover from the jet lag.

LOS ANGELES

Today the entire day is dedicated to the City of Angels. First of all we left the car at the hotel and walked toward the Chinese Theatre, the heart of Hollywood, strolling the entire Walk of Fame along Hollywood Blvd. We begin to breathe in the American atmosphere. Breakfast at Starbucks and full immersion among the celebrity lookalikes! We go back to the hotel to pick up the car and head toward Beverly Hills. After a quick drive among the wonderful villas and its avenues lined with slender palms, destination Rodeo Drive... the most expensive mile in the world. We continue with a leap back in time... or simply with a blast of Mexico. After crossing downtown and visiting the Mission of Nuestra Senora de la Reina, we stroll along Olvera Street and visit the first house on which the city was founded... the Avila Adobe.

Here we treat ourselves to a lunch of delicious burritos and let ourselves be swept up in the festive, colorful atmosphere that characterizes this neighborhood. We go back to the hotel and after a bit of rest (jet lag is still making itself felt) destination beach with an aperitif and dinner in Santa Monica. Tomorrow we leave the city; we'll be back before returning home... Los Angeles confirms the opinion I had of it the first time. A myth created out of cinema and the luxury of some of its neighborhoods, the feeling of being in a TV series... but nothing more. The wonders are elsewhere.....

Towards NEVADA

This morning we leave Los Angeles heading for Las Vegas. We drive along the I-15 to the Nevada border, beginning to savor the taste of a true road trip. The intense heat discourages us from venturing into the Mojave reserve, so we decide to fall back on a visit to the ghost town of Calico. An outpost of the gold rush, later abandoned. Certainly folkloric, it's a pleasant stop for anyone passing through these parts. Without a doubt it loses some of its charm considering the development of tourist services and the reconstruction, which has made it less ghostly than its name suggests........continues in NEVADA.

...arriving in SAN DIEGO.

.......continues from ARIZONA. Finally we cross the border back into California. Still quite a few miles separate us from San Diego, where we arrive around 6:00 PM. Returning to the city is like a shock, but the atmosphere of San Diego draws us in from the very first moment. We settle into the hotel, the Best Western Bayside Inn, right in the city center, just one block from the waterfront and a short distance from the Gaslamp Quarter. We go out for dinner heading to the waterfront. The bay captivates us right away, with the colors of the sunset behind the trees of the Star of India. We finally treat ourselves to a seafood dinner and after all this time it seems even better...

crab, shrimp and finally the beloved Clam Chowder!! After dinner we're left a bit disappointed by the fact that the waterfront is completely deserted, unfortunately populated by homeless people and somewhat strange characters. We were expecting a different vibe from a city that at first glance makes you love it right away. Anyway, tired and worn out from the 1,000 kilometers traveled, we go back to the hotel for a good restorative sleep!

SAN DIEGO

First day to dedicate entirely to the city of San Diego. Our first destination is the Point Loma peninsula, to visit the Cabrillo National Monument. To reach it we cross several neighborhoods of the city and they all strike us for the gardens and the beautiful houses everywhere. When we arrive, the lighthouse and the Cabrillo monument are shrouded in fog; we take the opportunity to visit the museum while the sun gradually makes the fog disappear, leaving us with a spectacular view of the ocean and the bay. The monument is nothing more than a statue dedicated to the navigator, but the location is definitely worth a visit. We continue our day heading to the Old Town State Historic Park. Here nearby Mexico is no longer just nearby but a reality. Although the park has been reconstructed and is without a doubt not natural, the atmosphere you breathe is fantastic.

It gives serenity and cheerfulness. The little shops to browse in are numerous and the colors that envelop you are truly beautiful. The small cemetery is charming and the Bazaar del Mundo is worth seeing. We leave the old town and head to Balboa Park. Here the atmosphere changes radically. Tidy and impeccably cared for, the park strikes you with the beauty of its avenue lined with buildings constructed for the expo, now converted into museums. It no longer feels like being in America, but rather in a city in Andalusia. We have lunch here and enjoy the coolness in a corner of the park. We love this city more every minute. On the way back to the hotel, we dedicate the early afternoon to visiting the USS Midway Museum. The museum is the aircraft carrier Midway, anchored in the port and converted into a museum.

The pleasure of visiting it is without a doubt subjective and tied to each person's interests, but aviation enthusiasts will be thrilled. A visit could also be pleasant for everyone else... given the deck that offers views of the city, Coronado Island and the bay. Aside from the upper deck, the entire aircraft carrier is visitable, from the senior officers' quarters to the mess halls, the infirmary, the laundry. Everything gives a good idea of what life at sea must be like... the visit is not suitable for those who suffer from claustrophobia. Very interesting is the visit to the command rooms, the training and briefing rooms. A must-see first stop for lovers and fans of Top Gun. Here they'll really feel like they're inside the movie. We take a bit of rest.

In the late afternoon we go to see the sunset from Coronado Island, to see the infamous hotel, its paradise-like beach and above all the view of the San Diego city skyline. Beautiful. We go back to the city and go to dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter. This one is indeed swarming with locals and tourists until late at night. We join the local nightlife, toasting and reflecting that maybe San Diego is exactly the place where it wouldn't be bad to live...

Second day in San Diego

Here we are for our second day in San Diego. To be honest, during the first day we practically exhausted the must-see attractions, leaving today entirely for the beaches, just as renowned. We park at Mission Beach and walk the whole Ocean Front Walk to Pacific Beach and its Crystal Pier. Well...what can I say? Think of the Beach Boys, think of the most typical California stereotypes and here you will find everything that comes to mind. Little houses on the sea, surfers, lifeguards, the typical watchtowers, skaters, bicycles, nostalgic hippies, muscular tanned young men....absolutely a must-try! We continue by car north, to La Jolla, where San Diego gives its best. First stop is Windseana Beach, a town renowned for surfing and then the center of La Jolla with its park, the beaches of Children's Pool and La Jolla Cove.

Cleanliness, order, lots of greenery and dream villas distinguish this area unfortunately overrun by tourists. Relax. Sun. Sea. Tonight for the aperitif we choose another of those stops that, if you loved Top Gun, you can't miss. The film, in fact, was shot in San Diego and there are many places that will remind you of it. We chose the Kansas City BarBQ. It's the downtown place where the piano scenes and the final scene of the film were shot, which made its fortune. It would be an anonymous place, with outdoor tables, that instead today is like a shrine dedicated to the film. Plaque, walls, photos, crests, posters, posters and even the original contract with which the owner gave the place up for free for the filming...naturally the originals of the piano and the jukebox are not missing.

For dinner and the evening we decide to return to Coronado, the other luxurious and charming area, with the best views of the city. The last look we want to give San Diego is from here, with the illuminated skyline. The evening of San Lorenzo also gives us a fascinating fireworks display over what enters my heart as the first city of America! We would like it to be a see-you-soon.

SAN FRANCISCO

Early in the morning we transfer to San Diego airport, just a few miles from our hotel, we drop off the car that accompanied us over the roughly 6,000 km traveled and we board for the last stop in the States... the city of San Francisco. We land at 11:00, pick up the car and head to the Union Square hotel, located right on Powell St. Parking, as we expected, is very expensive... the hotel is very cozy, clean and modern, but we're forced to ask for a room change since the first one was very different from the ones seen on the website and faced an ugly wall.... with the second one it went much better. Just enough time to settle the luggage and we're already out to start visiting the city. The weather is magnificent, even though the temperature has dropped by about 15 degrees compared to San Diego.

We begin our car tour from the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, with Alamo Square and its beautiful Victorian residences. We continue toward Lombard Street, crossing Pacific Heights. Given the influx of cars and tourists we abandoned the idea of driving down it... We continue the afternoon with the Marina and Presidio neighborhoods and the intention of dedicating the rest of the day to the Golden Gate by crossing it. Unfortunately we have to change our minds... the bridge is shrouded in thick fog and the cold wind makes us give up even on taking a walk! Forced change of plans. We go to the Castro, the colorful gay neighborhood, which deserves at least a look, and to the Civic Center. Back at the hotel we take a bit of rest before going out for an evening at Fisherman's Wharf.

Below the hotel we take the Powell & Mason Cable Car, without a doubt the most characteristic and folkloric attraction of the city (It should be noted how in a few years the ticket price has soared to 6 USD per person one way!!). We make the most of the evening for a shopping stroll, even though it feels like the middle of winter. We have dinner at Liotos, of which unfortunately we can't say much good. Fresh fish, but not excellent and very expensive. Poor service and a tip pre-set by the waiter... to our surprise and astonishment we discover that the manager is an elderly Genoese immigrant of a lifetime who teaches his waiters that Italians and Spaniards leave nothing.... No comment. Better not to let it ruin the evening. Another stroll before heading back to the hotel.

SAN FRANCISCO

Today another day to dedicate to the city. We leave the car and get around on foot for a long walk through the most famous places in the city. From Union Square we proceed toward the financial district, turning toward China Town, which we enter on Grant Avenue. We go all the way through it and continue toward North Beach, the little Italy of San Francisco. Here we don't let a good espresso slip by (good... compared to average)! A refreshing stop in Washington Square and on again toward Coit Tower, through Russian Hill. Finally we arrive at the piers where we head toward Pier 39. The classic obligatory photos, toward Alcatraz, the city, the sea lions and the pier itself. Compared to the previous time, summer gives it well-tended gardens and beautiful colors. Unfortunately there are too many tourists here and they don't allow you to fully enjoy the view.

We go to lunch at Fisherman's Wharf, taking advantage of the many outdoor stalls to eat the unmissable crab and the usual clam chowder! Today the day is good... the Golden Gate finally seems visible, so we take the car and cross it. The effect is always the one I felt years ago, but certainly not being able to find a parking spot and driving across it at a snail's pace takes some of the charm away from the adventure... a shame. We use the rest of the afternoon for a bit of shopping on Market St. and have dinner in the Mission.... tomorrow a long day awaits us.

....Polynesia....We're here!

At dawn we return to the airport where the flight will take us back to Los Angeles. As soon as we land we only have time to change terminals and prepare to board Air Tahiti Nui 1 direct to Papeete, where we'll land late in the evening.....continues in TAHITI..........

Los Angeles

We land on the flight from Tahiti and transfer to the Hilton LAX hotel. It's well into the morning and we muster up our courage, fighting off sleep we go out and take public buses to reach Venice Beach, kept in reserve for the last day of our trip. Here we stroll along Ocean Front Walk, curiously observing the colorful crowd that populates this stretch of the city. Still the air of America... where anything is possible. Artists, impossible characters, athletes, young people more or less dressed, street people, Afro, all gathered here in what personally seems to me the most interesting area of the city of Los Angeles and, without a doubt, the truest. With a dinner at Marina del Rey, overlooking the ocean, our travel days come to an end. Now we can no longer tell if it's the nostalgia for everything we've experienced or the longing for home that's stronger.

We say goodbye to Los Angeles and the USA, convinced that this time too it won't be the last.

On the way home

We transfer to the airport where we handle all the formalities for the flights that will take us back home.