Day 1 & 2 Manchester/Dubai/Singapore

Picked up in posh Merc limo at 11ish. Fast track through security and into Emirates Lounge. Had couple of beers watching planes then smoked salmon blini, chicken & avocado salad, chicken curry andRead more
Day 3

Up 7.30 after pretty good sleep. Feel fine. Tea in room and bit more bag sorting. Got Hop on hop off bus (€78 for 2) from near hotel (after a false start where the guy gave us cable car tickets byRead more
Day 4

Long time wide awake during the night so not up till 8.30. Cloudy sky - very warm but no intense sun.
Andy went for run when he finally found all his kit, running watch etc from the cases.
Came backRead more
Day 5

Hotel phone rang 6.40am. Very annoying as we were both fast asleep. Tea and sort out bags. Confirmed transfer for Sydney with help from concierge then out for stroll. 2 beautiful temples very close.Read more
Day 6

Didn't think much of Qantas. Had fish something with very hot sauce & glass wine. Andy had beef. Not great. Bed seats so low they're almost on floor - bit like a coffin. Only 1 loo for business classRead more
Day 7

Good long sleep very much needed! Didn't surface till after 9.30am.
Message from G about meeting for lunch at 11am so we asked if we could join them. Arranged to meet at George Hotel but nobody thereRead more
Day 8

Good sleep again. Up 9ish. Out for walking tour 10am. Eastern European girl took the tour. She was very good. Took us all over the city and told us lots of interesting snippets. Rocks area very busyRead more
Day 9

City to Surf Day.
Up 6am and out 7ish. Thousands of people milling about in Hyde Park. Cambridge Hotel hotel is perfect location for the start.
Andy went at 8.05 and I went at 8.30. Not a cloud inRead more
Day 10

Up 8ish.
Tea and decide what to do today. Another beautiful day. Smokey outside - were told it's 'backburning' because it has been such a dry winter.
Headed to Rocks. Had sausage roll & ham quicheRead more
Day 11

Up 7.30 to do washing and start packing.
Can't believe it's raining today! Not what we planned.
Booked airport bus for tomorrow and confirmed pick up in LA.
All sorted by 11ish.
Out to museumRead more
Day 12

Up 5am for final packing. Sydney has been great and we were so lucky with the weather.
Bus to airport 6ish. No problem with check in and security so now very early. Had fruit & buns & pancakes forRead more
Day 13

Woke up 7.30. Good sleep so feel fine.
Tea & pack then out for early walk. Sunny morning and streets being jet washed.
Busy but manageable. Saw stars foot & handprints outside Chinese theatre.Read more
Day 14

Up 8.30 after pretty good sleep once I'd settled. Had tea/fruit/weetabix - all left for us by V. P & V gone to do some work. Wandered around the estate and took pics. Paul then back so we returnedRead more
Day 15

Up 8.30. Another pretty good sleep.
Tea and fruit for breakfast. Sorted bags, played with dogs and watched garden life. Really beautiful but there is nothing to do here. Everything is so far away!Read more
Day 16

Up 4am. Andy out 5am for San Diego 'Finest City' half marathon. V and friends also doing it.
I met Paul 6.30 and we walked to finish - took about an hour.
Cloudy but warm.
V finished just over 2Read more
Day 17

Woke up 7ish. Good sleep again. Tea and final pack.
Checked out 8.15am - we paid for P & V. Total cost about $900. A lot of money but they were so hospitable with us and saved us lots of $.Read more
Day 18

Hard to settle in yet another bed. Chilly in the night so pulled covers back on.
Up 9ish. Window cleaner with a head for heights outside - abseiling down the pyramid!
Out looking for lions - mmmm.Read more
Day 19

Up 7am. Picked up 8.15 for Grand Canyon trip. 6 + pilot per helicopter. Used birthday vouchers from Anne, Peter and Chris to pay for part of trip - special birthday outing.
40 mins flight acrossRead more
Day 20

Up 8ish. Tea & biscuits from buffet yesterday.
Out on Deuce to Fremont Experience - the original Las Vegas. Bus very busy and took ages. Fremont is a dump. Might look better at night when the lightsRead more
Day 21

Phone call at 4.30am from Virgin Media. Grrr.
Up 7.30 and packed. Out for breakfast. Streets reasonably quiet and temperature pleasant.
Went to FatBar - not the usual menu on the table. OnlyRead more
Day 22

Restless sleep - time change again but not too bad.
Tea and out 9ish. Tried to get metro to meeting point for tour - couldn't find entrance! Eventually realised gates were locked so got taxi.
PutRead more
Day 23

Slept till 8.30 ish. Tea, biscuits and out to Arlington National Memorial cemetery.
Metro station closed for weekend work so got bus to Foggy Bottom 😀😀then metro to Arlington. Quite easy -Read more
Day 24

Awake early and up 6.30. Quick shower and final pack then very swish taxi at 7.15. Miles too early so hanging about at airport.
Flight 10ish. Landed 12.30ish. Bags quick then went to pick up car. NoRead more