Disneyland - The Happiest Place on Earth!

Freakiest photo ever. Old Sherry and Sherry now... (and yes smarty pants, thats old on the left!)

Allyson - I wish you were here! No rain in the TeaCups today!

Dummmbo the Grrreat! There was also a Casey Jrn Train that I didn't get a photo of.

Real life Woody - with a real life kid!

When I grow up this will be my house! You can come and visit if you like.

I love Dumbo!

These dancing chipmunks remind me... Even though Disney really is the happiest place on earth... who needs Chipmunks at breakfast? I went to have breakfast downstairs at the hotel cafe and there was freaking giant singing chipmunks!!!

From the Parade of Dreams.

Out and about in Santa Barbara

Just a few photos from Mum's time in Santa Barbara.

All the pelicans on one of the restaurants on the Wharf.


Mum with some salty sea dog!




This is the wine bar where I like to enjoy the sun and a glass of wine on the weekend. Its too windy to sit up there this weekend though!

This morning I had an hour or so to spare with the hire car I had to take Mum down to LA last night for the start of her tour around the Grand Canyon. So I explored the roads that go just north of SB.

And here is the hire car! Its made me realise how much I really miss having a car. So much more freedom. And so much more time! With a car i can just 'pop down the beach' rather than it taking me half an hour to get there then half an hour back home again.

Hearst Castle

”…Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in tents at the ranch in San Simeon, I would like to build a little something…”

So William Heast, newspaper mega millionaire wanted a holiday home (yes, this is just a holiday home) built on his family land in California, inspired by the Castles of Europe that he toured with his mother when he was a boy.

This the one of the first views that we have of the property as we step off the bus. I thought this was the castle... no... this is just a guest house!

The first of two main pools at the castle, this is the Greco-Roman style Neptune Pool

Lots of marble and statues in the beautiful gardens. There is a whole other tour dedicated to the gardens of the property.

On the 'Enchanted Hill' we were surrounded by a fog.

Four Egyptian sculptures of the lion-faced goddess Sekhmet, more than 3500 years old.

Casa Grande—The main house. The tour includes 5 main rooms. I'd love to go back and see other rooms which are part of other tours.


Assembly Room, the largest of 14 sitting rooms, once the gathering place for Mr. Hearst’s guests.

Refectory, the only dining room on The Enchanted Hill. And yes, that is Mustard and Ketchup on the table with paper napkins. This, after all, is just his 'holiday house' where it was 'casual dining'.

Morning Room, an east-facing sitting room filled with Spanish antiques and Flemish tapestries.

Billiard Room, a game room featuring two 1920s-era billiard tables and a Gothic “mille fleurs” tapestry.

The indoor Roman Pool with blue Venetian glass and gold tiles. Yes - actual gold.

Big Sur

After Mum and I finished up in San Francisco we drove down the coast to San Simeon.

Driving out of San Fran was a little scary, but we made it!!! Once I got used to being on the wrong side of the road and car, I settled into the drive and really enjoyed it. Poor Mum was a little white knuckled for a while - but I think that she relaxed a little too.

We made a stop in Santa Cruz. Which always reminds me of Califonia Games, I always went Santa Cruz!!!

Now, I dont know if we didn't go to the best part of Santa Cruz.... but it really looked like it hadn't been renovated or invested in since the days of Californian Games. Which really surprised me, a beautiful beach town, just 2 hours from San Francisco, a bit of a shame.

After a quick walk along the beach there, we continued onto Carmel-by-the-sea - an uber trendy, dog friendly, beachside town. Here we sipped lattes, browsed all the beautiful shops, and oohed and ahhed over handbags, diamonds, and shoes!

From Carmel it was onto San Simeon! But first... it was me Vs Big Sur. I guess its similar to Victoria's Great Ocean Road, with some pretty intense driving for about 2 hours. I didn't do a great deal of looking out the window as most of my concentration was on staying between the lines. It got a little challenging as the foggy seamist rolled in, which was only made worse by the smoke from a nearby bushfire - so close by we could actually see it!

Alcatraz - by night

30 or so years ago Mum missed out on a tour of Alcatraz. I was fortunate enough to take a tour on my last visit. So on this visit, we did a night tour of Alcatraz.

The boat approached the island which mysteriously became visible through the fog, as we circled the island to view it from all sides.


After arriving on the island we have a brief tour up to the cellhouse with a guided tour about the history of the island. Once we arrive at the top of the island we take the guided audio tour, the same that is available during the day. However certain parts of the island are open at night, which are not accessible during the day. Including the prison hospital.

This is one of the recovery cells. Originally all hospital beds were in one ward, but these were divided up into seperate cells, with a couple of beds in each to help seperate the prisoners.

And this is one of the operating rooms in the Alcatraz hospital! The only thing I can think of that would be worse than being in Alcatraz is being cut open on that table!!!

Foggy city sights of San Francisco

It seems like a lifetime ago that I was last in San Francisco - but believe it or not it was only in December of last year, just 10 months ago.

Only this time I was with Mum - and despite her being quite sick - we saw a fair bit of the city. We had a bus ticket that allowed us to go on three different tours of the city. So we got to see some great sights.

Union Square - The figurine at the top of the monument, "Victory", was modeled from the likeness of a local heiress, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. And it is Alma we can thank for the term "Sugar Daddy". After modelling for this, the Sugar magnate Adolph Spreckles just had to meet her, and eventually married her, despite being twice her age. She referred to him as her "Sugar Daddy".


The Seven Painted Ladies - recognise these? Yes, Full House! (Cut it out!) Third house from right.


The typical view of the Golden Gate Bridge - covered in fog!




It was SO cold driving across the bridge, the fog was so thick it felt like rain stinging my face!

Ay mateys!