Wanna Play?

It took us several hours to realize, while watching the SuperBowl, that we would never ever understand American football. European football on the other hand - a.k.a soccer - we know. The rules are simple, the guys have teeth.

When our American friends then asked us if we would like to watch them play "soccer" we didn't really know what to say. We've heard the rumor: Americans suck at "soccer".. Norwegian girl football is more interesting.. So we dragged it out.. Until the day came for their last match. There was no longer an excuse - we had to go.

To be honest, the game was fun. The guys were good. I mean.. Better than we thought! Absolutely! And I got to take a lot of funny pictures. Who cares who won when a guy from the other team had the most fantastic hilarious ways of running!

And of course we've got Sebastian to thank for all of the excitement. He fell, slid, kicked and rolled all over the place. Someone has to make action! Seb took charge. Sebastian ActionMan.

They probably wouldn't want me to write this but they LOST.. Tragically.. Sadly.. Badly.. Madly.. And they didn't take it well. Even blamed me and my camera for being a big distraction. I'm sure I was. Losers!

Sorry about that. At least I made the game memorable (took about 255 pics) and I guess they would want that. To remember the game of shame:P

The American Fest - Bonfire and Beer Pong!

Tonight we were invited to Santa Cruz for a real American party with beer pong and bonfire at the beach. Chris (a good friend of my sister) was kind enough to drive us all the way and let us meet his friends and the Californian beach. It was awesome.

Our first encounter with beer pong was scary - BUT we kicked American ass. Hard. It was so much fun. They even had to drink 5 of our cups because we were too good to be in such amateur competition.

(Terese and I have now decided to start our Norwegian Beer Pong team and start playing in the elite. Tournaments starts next season.)

After the devestating match (from the American point of view), we went to the beach to try the American bonfire (the ones you see on tv). We had fire, we had red cups and Maria was dancing the Norwegian-African firedance while yodelling. Everything was great. And then the police rolled up and told us to leave - again, just like in the movies!

Returning to the house, a couple of the guys got out their guitars and started playing for us - perfect end of the evening. I was gonna post a video here, but sadly the file is broken.

A Maria quote instead:

In the car - going to Santa Cruz. Maria and Chris just met 5 minutes earlier.

Chris: "So we have this song that is about this road right here, talking about the places we pass and stuff, so my friends and I when we drive here, we usually play it like really loud and sing along just for the fun of it!"

Maria: "Why don't you just sing 'Highway to Hell'?"

Silence.

Chris: "Well I.. eh.. huh?"

Payback Time

Though it seems through this blog (or so I've heard) that we don't do anything except having fun, traveling and eating cake (we do this a lot, but not all the time) we're now in a place I'd like to call the pay-back-period of our Berkeley semester.


In three weeks we have 2 exams and one 30 page paper we have to hand in that we haven't even started on yet. The weather is gorgeous and our rooms are hot (and messy) and there's nothing less tempting than reading and writing right now. We've already had 4 exams and 1 paper (due next week) that we just finished, so it's not like we haven't done anything lately, but these days are just the worst.

With no money left, the only thing we can do (and are allowed to by our conscience) is to go to the gym. The non-writing/non-guilt part of the day. We like it at the gym (for once) and that's where we'll be for the next 3 weeks. Till all "hard work" is over.

AND this means we shouldn't feel guilty by eating ice-cream everyday:)

Ben&Jerry<3

The City of Money

Money is everywhere in Vegas. It's in everything you see, it's all you hear and there is always something to spend money on - food for example;)

To give ourselves a little treat we went to the Bellagio for their famous lunch buffet, and oh my god was it worth it.. Delicious food was brought to another level! And when we were beat after three servings of the main course, there was dessert to press down as well. Heavenly dessert making me dizzy just thinking about it.. And there was Champagne..

Hardly able to stand up we went out to discover the famous Bellagio fountain that dances to the music played over the speakers. Married people taking pictures (here as well, there were chapels all around and girls in white dresses having the most special day of their life.. ....)

In the evening we went to the most fenomenal Muse concert there ever was (I wouldn't really know, this was my first). And though no one in America has ever heard of Muse, 10.000 managed to fill up every corner. It was amazing. Another successful day in Vegas...

The Day of Delay

Of cooooourse our bus is delayed (the one taking us to Vegas) of course we have to make a transfer and wait an aditional 1,5 hours half way there, of course the bus breaks down in the middle of the desert and of course we arrive in Vegas at midnight – 4 hours later than planned.

But Vegas starts at midnight.

Our hotel was situated in the middle of the Fremont Experience and as we walked in the roof (covering the whole street and casinos and hotels and everything there is) turns into a Queen screen showing his most famous moments on stage as the music blazes out of every corner – this can only be Vegas.

The view from the hotel takes your breath, cause Vegas is not to be imagined – it can’t be – it’s just moooore than you could ever believe. The casino’s are so big and there are so many lights, signs, music and people swirling around you at all times. And money is spent big time.

I’m not a gambler – but almost became one as I won $100 dollars by playing $5 at the bar (if you make the highest bet you get free drinks, which led to my big win;)) is was so much fun (especially as the drinks kept coming).

Girls just Wanna have Fun

Warner Bros Studios - Home of Friends

We don't need Disneyland, Sea World, Universal Studios -but we need Warner Bros Studios. And we'll never regret going there. Not only did they start of serving us the best ice-cream in history - we got to see it all.

From film and series sets inside (we went into the house where the episode of "Friends" when they're all young and going to prom was shot) and outside (the "jungle" where some of Jurassic park was shot) to costumes (All of Harry Potter's costumes and props! There was no touching allowed but I'm proud to say that I've touched Malfoy's suit from the sixth film and Harry's cloak - thihi).

Then we saw THE Batmobile.. And it was sooo cool.. Sadly there were no testrides included..

It was so cool seeing how everything was made. The sets were so small and as we walked around the set where the Mentalist is filming (they weren't there at the moment, apparently they were filming on Hollywood boulevard that day - tough luck) everything just looked so realistic yet so fake. It must be so much fun (yet boring) to work in that business. And the city in the background seen from out the window was just a biiig poster. With a spotlight behind it. Cool..

THE best part was of course.. Wait for it.. You ready?? ... We got to see the actual Friends set. And walk in it. And touch everything! No, that part's not entirely true.. But we DID get to sit in the famous sofa. Which was just OK comfertable. But it was cool. And we took pictures (an old man was very nice and said he'd e-mail them to us as soon as he figured out how the internet works.. it might take a couple of years..)

But it was great. Hearing gunshots in the background where they were making a movie.. I felt like a star just being there. And you gotta love the bluescreen;)

Everybody goes to - Hollywood

No, we shall not rent a car!!! From the beginning we were both very sure about one thing, we were going to manage in L.A. wihtout a car (as none of us really wanted to drive the roads of horror). Everywhere we went people urged us to drive, park and rent rent rent – there was NO WAY we were going to do without one!

Stubborn as we are – we were going to prove them wrong. Though I agree that we would indeed save a couple of hours if we did have a car. On the bright side, the bus fare was only $1,25.
Going to Hollywood we decided to drop by L.A. downtown (a huge detour, but of course this was the only way by bus) and as we’re about to take pictures of the amazingly huge sky scrapers in the financial district – we realize our camera has decided to quit. Forever.. So we’re traveling through L.A., Hollywood, Las Vegas and a Muse concert without a camera! Sure, why not!? Our new Holga camera would have to do.

Hollywood though.. was just… Hollywood, baby.. Sooo cheeeasy, but ooooh sooo cool.. Celebrities walking up and down the walk of fame (no, not the real ones), costumes, wiggs and every kind of junk (that you looove) is everywhere and everything is just big and faaaabulous.. (as well as the Hollywood sign)

Standing outside just admiring everything (after an aaaamazing lunch) we got free tickets to Jimmy Kimmel and decided to go (we didn’t really have any plans) and on our way down, we took a short-cut (I believe) down a deserted alley, where suddenly Luke Wilson comes out and gives us his autograph (yes! ”see a celebrity” check!). He was one of the guests of the show that night. However, no bags were allowed inside and we weren’t too keen to find a place to put them, so we decided not to go (already seen the celebrity – why bother..?)

Instead we went to a script store selling movie and episode scripts from tv-shows, and of course I had to buy a script of an episode of Friends.. It was super cool. And it looked like a lot more work than what we see on tv..

Trusting our guide book oh once again, we managed to find a comedy club, more hidden, where Hollywood locals were hiding, and saw one of the best and funniest shows ever. With great drinks and a lot of laughter we had an amazing time in Hollywood. It was definitely worth the bus ride (even though we spent about 3 hours getting home – couldn’t find that damn bus stop!!)

The American Date – in L.A.

Our first day in L.A. actually started with a 2 hour flight delay at the San Francisco airport. Which meant we didn’t arrive in our hotel in L.A. till 6 pm – somehow 3 hours later than planned – but on the bright side, I managed to read the whole guide book and by arrival I felt I knew L.A. inside out. (I didn’t…)

The hotel was nice (right at the beach and very cheap) and we started the day (or evening) by wandering by the beach and getting the worst lunch we ever had (deep fried junk covered in sauce - led to about 2 hours in severe pain).

Still regretting ever having placed a foot inside the horrible lunch place, we went to discover Venice city center – this was to be quite an experience according to my book – but it was not. The place was deserted. And the restaurant we were headed to ("A lively place!" - Book quote) just didn’t exist.

We had just about had enough when we returned to our hotel (still a bit sick from our dreadful lunch), but decided to give the book another try. This time it worked. We walked the beach at sunset (this time in the other direction towards Santa Monica) and ended up at the sweetest little amusement park by the pier. Inside was also an arcade where we tried out all the games we hadn’t seen since we were 6 visiting Spain - and believe me, it's just as fun now!

A perfect date at sunset by the Ferris Wheel and riding arcade motor bikes (I looked good) had to continue at a nice restaurant (recommended by my book – but this one actually existed woho!) where they served the best dessert and wine we’d ever tasted (at least so it seemed, still remembering our lunch).

For drinks and ocean view we ended the night at Bubba Gump bar with America’s super size drinks. (No, we don’t really need the glass as a souvenir, thanks..)

Hotel California

Finally I got to be a real tourist in San Fran - I'm gonna sleep at a hotel. And not any hotel, the 4,5 star Inter Continental hotel;)

Usually we could never afford living any better than at a hostel, but at the easter-special-price, we took a chance. And it was worth it.

I've never felt richer and I know that if I always lived like this I would become a very obnoctious and terrible person. Good thing I'm just a poor lovely girl.

The room was enormous, the bed was enormous, the bathroom, the shower, and wherever you went, you have a full view of San Francisco. Even from the shower.

After showering (using up all of the soaps the room had to offer) we put on the bathrobes and walked around the room looking for more free stuff. We found a gift certificate for bloomingdale's, a sowing kit (always good to have) and of course the minibar. It was so hard to resist. Everything is so tiny in there - so tempting. And after looking at, touching and lifting out some stuff (just to get a better look) we realized this minibar had a automatic scanner - we'd probably just bought everything in there..

Sadly, one day was all we had, and it ended too soon. It was a sad goodbye to the hotel experience we'll never forget.

SF Parks

Beautiful weather for a stroll in the park(s).

The parks in San Fran aren't just big and beautiful - they're fit for any kind of excursion! You have the dog part of the park, the children's part, the youth's part, the exercise part and the family picnic part - all surrounded by magnificent trees, squirrels and green nature.

Usually, you hear nothing but the birds and the childrens' laugh in these areas - sadly this was not our case. The hotel we were going to this day told us we had arrived at the wrong day (i.e. booked the wrong day) so we had to carry our suitcase around the whole day at the parks. This meant that the horrible suitcase rumble followed us everywhere.

But we managed. Alamo square was nice with its view over the pink ladies, Buena Vista Park was even better with its hills and thick trees. Then at last as we arrived at Golden Gate Park, everything else seamed tiny - it was huge (and we saw about 5% of it). After having seen the botanic garden we felt tired and managed to get a cab to the Marina to eat their magnificent fish & chips. And it was one hell of a ride. We felt we were a part of the French Taxi movies, feeling to sick after jumping every San Fran hill at 100 m/h..

Where did we end up but at the Buena Vista Irish pub at the end (where we celebrated St. Patty's day - yes, they recognized us..) and had some (a bit more than some) irish heavinly coffees;) Mmmm, a lovely lovely day indeed..