Monterey, USA

After San Fran, Terry and I made our way down the west coast of California in the “Green Danger” (The new name for our rental car, courtesy of Teddie) to visit her best friend from Sweden who lives in the USA with her American boyfriend. Turned up at a place called Monterey where Easton’s (Teddies, best friends boyfriend – I know, bare with me) family live. That’s all by the by though. Booked a motel through some website and checked in where I quickly went for an urgent number 2. All was good until the manager was banging on the door and very rudely said to Teddie that our booking wasn’t confirmed and we had to get out. Trouble was, I was still getting used to the thin American plumbing and managed to block and overflow the toilet with my fresh creation, flooding the bathroom floor. Quite embarrassing walking out of the room telling the manager that he might want to “mop that up”. Teach the silly bastard to be so rude to us though.

Apart from toilet troubles, we got checked into another motel and got invited around for dinner at Eastons family’s house. It was really nice to experience some American hospitality with very generous amounts of food and drink and a family that made us feel really welcome. Although I think I might be noticing a certain trait about Americans. I think they talk too much. Maybe it’s the just the differences in cultures but there was constant chatter the whole time I was there. Its like they talk about everything and anyone. Whereas back home it would take 11 pints and to be lying in the gutter, covered in vomit and crying to get some of your more personal feelings out, these guys do it at the drop of a hat in normal conversation. However they were all very nice and I gladly accepted a great free meal from them.

“And the winner of the best unwanted xmas jumper of the year goes to…..”

We were actually here over Thanks Giving which is an American tradition of celebrating the fact that when the original settlers were dying of starvation because they didn’t know how to harvest the land, the native Americans helped them out and showed them how to do it. Obviously before they got the hang of it and decided to kill them all off in return. Anyway a massive feast with turkey is usually the deal so wanting to be a part of it me and Terry had some turkey slices in our sandwiches in the motel room to celebrate.

Not a great deal else to report. Did a little ice skating to practice before we hit the Rockafella ice rink in New York, and once again I was out done by four year olds as I imitated a pissed up Bambi. Lets hope it goes better in New York. Also went to a nice house party with all of Eastons mates where we were introduced to people as ‘Awesome!’. Tch! Americans. They’re so over the top, ho ho ho.