Vegas baby, here we come!

This is Murray and my new car. Ok.. its actually a hire car. But I take back everything I ever said about Toorak Tractors. I want a Ford Escape.


On our drive to Las Vegaswe ummed and ahhed about going to the Grand Canyon, but decided that something so Grand deserved a road trip of its very own.

But we were surprised to come across the Hoover Dam on our way to Vegas - turns out that you can't miss it! It really is quite a sight!

I had a little surprise for Murray - he didn't know the hotel we were staying at in Vegas. I told him it was something 'okay' just in the middle of the strip. Driving up "Bellagio Drive" I confessed that I had a small surprise... that we were actually staying at the Bellagio Hotel. Murray is a huge fan of Ocean's 11 - and I'm a huge fan of nice hotels... and it really did live up to its expectations! From the the moment we arrived it was amazing.

First of all - on my next trip to Vegas I'm spending a whole less time on the strip and a whole lot more time in the Hotel - You could stay there a week and not leave the Bellagio.

There was a fantastic "Harvest" display set up inside which was great to walk around. There was also theatres, pools, games rooms, pokies galore, all sorts of gambling, enough shopping to have to take out a mortgage on your house, any kind of food you could think of...

But we were pretty keen to get outside and check out the bright lights of the city that never sleeps. And an halloween there was no way this city was sleeping tonight!!!

The fountains at the Bellagio were amazing. I just couldn't get enough of them. You have to watch the video posted on this blog to see what I mean.

It was kind of odd to visit a city where the Hotels are the actual attractions. Its the whole world (in a really tacky way) in one city.

After just a few hours in Vegas the night felt like it was disapearing so fast - and we still had so much to do! Even though we'd only planned for one night in Vegas - we decided to stay for an extra night! We're so glad we did!

Road Trippin' to Phoenix

After a few days hanging out in Santa Barbara Murray and I took a road trip to Phoenix and Las Vegas!

The drive was amazing. I loved driving through the desert and seeing all the cacti - I thought they might be like kangaroos, like you might see one or two of them, but noooo - hundreds! They were everywhere.

The Main Event of our trip to Phoenix was not the Cacti, it wasn't even the beef Jerky. It was of course the Basketball. Our first ever NBA game - New Orlean Hornets at Phoenix Suns. Where we had some pretty awesome seats.

Murray met and got a photo with Boris Diaw, despite being told the chances of meeting a player were next to zero. He also got his Jersey signed - so this is now obviously a sacred item.

I'm not sure what Murray enjoyed more... the actual game or the pre-game entertainment where he got to hang out with some of the Suns Dancers.

The game itself was great though - so much hype and so exciting. And those guys can move! And Shaquile ONiel.... HUGE. GAINT. MASSIVE.

Out and about with Murray

After 3 long months we're finally together again! Murray arrived on Thursday morning for his first overseas experience, and to visit me here in Santa Barbara.

We went straight from the plane to Santa Monica where we enjoyed catching up and doing things like long romantic walks along the beach.

Thursday afternoon, after a bit of an afternoon nap, we went down to my favourite wine bar on Stern's Wharf to enjoy a cold bevvie.

Friday we spent the day out and about in Santa Barbara, checking out all the local attractions.

The Courthouse where you can get 360 degree views of SB is a great place to start.

(Maybe these two photos should be combined... please keep off the ladies?)

We walked through La Arcada checking out the turtles in the pond, and all the bronze statues.

For lunch we went to Brophy Bros. down on the Harbor. Everyone tells me constantly that I must go there and have thier clam chowder... of course I don't do seafood, so Murray had the honors of trying thier clam chowder and was very impressed.

Friday afternoon we went for a bike ride about town and stopped in at my work - where the golden tickets had arrived! We have one very happy Murray here with courtside tickets to Boston.

Friday night we took some drinks down to Hendry's beach to watch the sunset.

On Saturday it was our 6 year anniversary! YIKES! To celebrate we thought we'd try to drown ourselves by doing some Kayaking out at the Channel Islands.

The boat left early in the morning from Ventura Harbour.

And arrived out at Santa Cruz island which was surrounded by fog, which thankfully mostly cleared.

The Kyaking is not quite as peacefull as it looks. Or perhaps we just got a bad day. But we paddled out to the rock in the middle there which is covered in 'pelican snow' and into a cave there. There were also some other caves that we see further behind where I am standing.

After lunch we had pleanty of time to walk around the island and see where we had paddled.

And here is Murray with our guide (who manage to get tiped over by a swell inside a cave! We thankfully stayed dry.)