LA - Disney - Universal! July 2006!

So, we found ourselves in Santa Monica, LA! Me and Mark, Rosalie and Wee Tom were all staying in the same hostel, which was fab, and a nice way to ease ourselves down from our GT trip! We coudn't check in until 2pm however....so had a few hours to spare! We went and checked out Barnies Beanary...a cool diner with a news paper style, and size menu! Rosalie headed for the shops and me, Mark and Wee Tom chilled! I was literally falling asleep in my breakfast! (We had been dropped off quite early in the morning!) There were a couple of nice streets, with shops and cafes along that were nearby, so it was nice to wander down these. We then went for a walk along the beach and the pier....checking out the LA sunshine! (and drinking a lovely frozen lemonade!) Once we finally got checked in to our hostel we slept!!!! We were all shattered! That night we headed back out...the streets were alive with performers...of all skill levels and we soaked up the atmosphere and headed for an Italian, followed by the cinema! We were still quite tired! Had another chilled day on the monday....a very very very long breakfast in Barnies...including a rather interesting 'smores' - which is like a chocolate fondue! Tom and Mark loved it! That afternoon we said goodbye to Wee Tom.....and sent him off with his bags to continue his travels! We went to the cinema again - this time to see Superman! The next day was Tuesday 4th July..Independance Day! Me and Mark headed off to Disney! I was very excited....i have wanted to go to Disney for ages!!!! We went on Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Carribean, (and saw Jack Sparrow!), Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain (our fave!!!), Haunted Mansion, Paddle Steamer, the Carousel (the only ride that made us feel sick!), Space Mountain (ace!!!), Bobsleigh Mountain and Star Wars! We also saw the Disney Parade! We had a great day...and i know Disney beat Mark's expectations...but i'm not sure it lived up to mine....it was really just like any other theme park...i think i was expecting more!!!!! I wanted the fairy tale! Our drive back to the hostel was amazing.....it was dusk and as it was Independance Day there were fireworks going off everywhere.....we happened to drive over a really high bridge, and all you could see, almost 360degrees were fireworks on the horizon, that was pretty cool!!! We chilled that night with Rosalie, then headed to bed! Next day was Universal Studios! After breakfast with Rosalie and her Ozzy friend Simon, we headed off again! We went on Back to the Future, The Mummy, (well cool!!) Back Draft (a show), Special Effects Tour, Studio Tour (my fave bit!), Waterworld (show), and Shrek...and i snogged Shrek!!! (I don't think Princess Fiona was very happy though...she threw me out!!! Mark didn't mind...he was taking a picture!). Mark also went on Vanhelsinc. We saw lots of characters and sets, and all in all had a fun day! I even jumped when Jaws came out of the water at me....woudn't you???!!! We headed to an English pub that night with Rosalie and some others....and had sausage and mash! Then we had to say goodbye to Rosalie......very very sad! The Buritto Fairies were heading their separate ways! Santa Monica seemed quite nice, so our impression of LA was quite good - neither of us were that bothered about seeing Hollywood or anything though...so we didn't venture there! xxxx