Dreams DO Come True

January 1st, 2013,

I honestly don't think there's another way I'd rather kick off my year than in beautiful sunshine, surrounded by passionate football fans enjoying an incredible parade (and if you're not into parades and think I'm crazy, I can assure you, being in person at THIS parade will change your mind) and gearing up for a great game! 

My alarm went off at 4am to get ready to go.  It's less than an hour to Pasadena from our hotel but with all of the people that attend the parade, it was 7am before we even got there.  This is the most famous parade in the world and at 125 years running, they've got it down to an art.  Even with the multitudes of people and vehicles and things going on and things to see, everything runs so smoothly.  We had grandstand tickets and so we didn't have to find ourselves a spot on the roadside and deal with people in front of us and not having a good view.  The only downside to that was that our spot was actually before the beginning of the parade route, meaning the pace cars and opening banner and even the Grand Marshall Vin Scully all lined up on the road before our seats.  This is because the parade is nearly 2 hours in length and has 80-90 some components between floats, horses, marching bands and cars and in order to line everyone up and the space require to put up grandstands is limited, alot of the  grandstands are just behind the starting line.  Also we were facing the sun rise which was nice but interfered with photo taking.  All in all it was simply mind blowing to watch in person.  I've been watching the Rose Parade every year for as long as I can remember and it's always been on my bucket list to get there and see it in person.  When Dad said last year "let's book it and go" I honestly never thought we'd actually do it, and now that it's come and gone, it was even BETTER than I could have dreamed.  There were even skytypers!  If you don't know what that is, neither did I until I seen it.  See pictures....

After the parade we piled back in the bus and they brought us to the stadium where we had full VIP access to the pre-game party.  Sadly only open from 10am-1pm (but we only got there just after 11am) we only had a little time to enjoy this part of the action.  Open grill buffet and open bar.  All you can eat and drink in 2 hours before kickoff.  Let's just say Moo and I took advantage of this great opportunity.  The weather was only getting better, the Sun just never seems to not shine here and there were games and live music and a whole pile of other things going on to pass the time.  There was even a tent that was giving out free shots of tequila!  Yeeehhawwww!!!  This place was a very happy place :)

Pre-game activities started at 130pm with kickoff at 2pm and I still didn't get football because they were sold out yesterday.  So I send the family in and I, in my state of bliss, trek on determined to find myself a souvenir football!  Success!  Also, I should mention that Michigan State was playing Stanford (from California for those of you who don't know LOL) and that we decided to cheer for Michigan State a) because they are sort of our neighbours and b) because we figured they would be outnumbered by Stanford fans.  HA! Boy were we wrong!  The Rose Bowl stadium is HUGE - sits over 100 000 people now and attendance was almost 96 000 at the game.  I would guess that 75 000 of those people were Michigan State fans.  We were in a see of GREEN!  For every Stanford fan, I'm sure there were 3 MSU fans.  It was crazy!  And the Michigan State fans are crazy fun too!  By the time we got to the game we'd already made a bunch of new MSU friends because we were wearing Michigan State shirts and hats etc, clearly demonstrating our partisanship and we were right into their chanting and cheering which DID NOT STOP from the  parade until the medal ceremony.  One person would yell out GO GREEN and all of a sudden 1000 people are yelling GO WHITE! And it just goes back and forth GO GREEN!  GO WHITE!!!  GO GREEN!  GO WHITE!!! And they have a song they sing too but I didn't quite get all of that.  Next year I'll have it down pat.  We found out that it's an MSU thing that when one MSU fan runs into another MSU fan, this is how they greet each other anywhere in the world - one says GO GREEN! The other replies GO WHITE!  We are now part of a big green family.

I thought NFL fans were intense - nothing compares to College patriotism. It's completely encapsulating and even if you're not a fan, you get drawn in by the passion and excitement.  I LOVE IT!  The game was incredible!  It was close until the very end and both teams played well.  I don't watch alot of college football and forgot some of the rules are different and so sometimes I was confused about why certain things were or were not happening but it was fun just to be there and experience it with people who are so passionate and dedicated to their teams.  Michigan State DID WIN but it could have gone either way.  I left the game with a hangover from both the alcohol and the cheering.  Never have woken up with a headache in the middle of the night.  Worth it!  So very worth it! I would do it again tomorrow!

It was a long 48hours with very little sleep from the morning of NYE to the time we got back and went to be on NY's Day but I have even more respect and appreciation for this event than I did before.  As I mentioned, coming to this event was on my bucket list and it's been a dream of mine for so long and the fact that the theme of this year's parade was "Dreams Come True" really attests to that.   Obviously this is MY dream but if that's not the best way that I could have spent the 1st day of the new year, I'm not sure what is.  Whatever your dreams are, no matter how big or small, do what you need to do to make them come true - wish on those stars, work hard, make sacrifices, jump through hoops, whatever you need to do - because I promise it will be SO WORTH IT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and may ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

New Years Eve countdown - TWICE!

We are now in Los Angeles and it's New Year's Eve.  Our morning is planned with an early trip to Pasadena to see the float decorating exhibits.  Up bright and early (630am) to catch the bus, we head over and arrive in beautiful sunny Pasadena only to find out that we have to wait in line to get in to see the floats.  We have 9am-noon to see the floats and do what we want to do but if enough people are done earlier, they will fill a bus and send us back earlier and wait for the others.  We're in no rush so we head in the direction of the float decorating exhibit figuring it would have a lineup and want to get that out of the way before buying souvenirs and stuff to wear to the game.  Good thing because we were right about the lineup.  The lineup was 1/2 mile long I swear and took up 1h45 min to get in to see the warehouse that houses the float decorating.  It was worth the wait and really cool to see and part of the hold up was due to them moving out a 5 section float onto the road and the line not moving at all for quite some time. 

We did get to see the Honda float (the 5 section one) on the road while we were waiting in line.  It was INCREDIBLE!  One of the sections was a large boom camera and the next was a massive video screen all constructed and decorated from plant-based materials.  There floats are all motorized and massive.  They do not get pulled by a truck or anything, the vehicle is actually hidden underneath the float and you never even see it.  At this point because it's the ROSE parade and is known for the beautiful flowers that decorate these elaborate floats, this last day before the parade is dedicated to the final touches and gluing the thousands of flowers (that would otherwise die if done any sooner) on the float and prepping for judging.  The workmanship and creativity is simply astounding.  The line was long but we met a couple from Abbottsford and chatting with them the whole way passed the time nicely.  That's the thing about lineups, the longer the line, the more friends you make!

This line was so long that we didn't get out of float decorating until 1130 or later and now had to rush to find and buy hats/shirts and souvenirs while the crowd was thin.  We made it back to the bus with our gear by 1205 and considering I didn't think we'd ever make it, that was pretty good.  We weren't even the last ones back.  Everyone was in the same boat though so it's not like they weren't expecting it. 

Back at the hotel we chilled for a bit trying to figure out what to do for NYE.  Not knowing anything about LA and keeping in mind I'm with my parents and a brother that doesn't drink I figured we'd hit up Universal Citywalk because they were having a big NYE gig. $30 cover but at least I knew how to get there and what was going on.  So I figure out the bus/subway route and we head out.  Unfortunately the only way to get to the subway was via bus as it was way too far to walk, only thing is (what I didn't know at the time) that the bus was 1 hour long to get to the subway station we needed to get to. OY!  Then we needed to figure out how to pay for the subway because it's all automated now, but a nice man helped us out.  Luckily LA was running the metro system 24 hours and making it all free after 9pm which was awesome so we only had to pay until then.  We got on the subway and got off at Universal but walking out I seen a poster for a NYE celebration downtown at Civic Centre/Grand Park that was FREE!  So I stop everyone and we decide to get back on the subway and go completely across town to see what's going on here instead.  Free party is better than a paid one anyday!

It was a good choice!  Grand Park was apparently renovated last year and it's lovely!  This is the first year LA hosts it's own NYE party and I guess they are trying to match Times Square.  One thing is for sure, they have the weather working in their favour. So they have a stage set up and the park is tiered with streets separating the sections and different things going on everywhere.  Live entertainment at one end, a beer garden, really cool decorations and a photobooth with props that you could take pictures with and they would project it on the massive screen that overlooks they entire park.  Food trucks that were way too slow and unorganized for the massive crowd was the only complaint.  No big name acts, but the entertainment was still good.  City hall was lit up and that would be where they would do the countdown from.  They were also going to show the New York ball drop at 9pm and so we decided because a) we had to be up at 4am to get ready to go to the parade/football game and b) 9pm here is midnight at home so technically it was NYE for us anyways and c) it was well over a 1 hour trip back to the hotel via free transit - that we would consider the 9pm New York ball drop as our celebration on NYE. 

This was  a great idea!  Until we LOST Dad.... AGAIN!  He was RIGHT BEHIND US!  We've already learned at this point to keep stopping to turn to check to make sure and we were doing that... and mom was right behind us and he was right there too.  We were on the street corner and he was in the middle of the street and we turned to go down the street to the subway station and we hit a massive crowd of partyers who had just exited the station and when we got to the entrance and looked back, he was nowhere to be found.  So we waited some more.  Then we sent Kyle to run after him.  Kyle came back empty handed.  Now I'm PISSED because how are we going to find him in this crowd?  So I send Kyle out again while Mom and I wait... still nothing.  So I turn on my phone and bite the roaming bullet charge and text him... the first few attempts FAIL and now I'm starting to lose it because I just want to go back and I have no idea how I'm going to find him.  Finally a text goes through and we wait... he finally responds to my "where are you?"  with "I don't know".  FANTASTIC!  So I try to text back telling him where we are, won't go through again. I  try to call... no luck.  Rage is boiling.  Finally he calls me and says he's at the metro entrance where we came out.  Uhhh NOoooo... WE ARE!  Then he tells me the street names etc and I realize he's at the opposite end of the subway station at the other entrance.  We meet up inside after nearly an hour long search.

Between that and the subway ride, followed by a boisterous bus ride we finally get back to our hotel's street and Kyle and I are ahead and I look at my watch - it's 11:59 and seconds... Kyle's like " I guess we WILL get to see midnight here afterall".  So him and I do the countdown, high5 one another just steps from our hotel at this point and he's like "well we can officially say we've celebrated NYE TWICE in the same night".  GO TEAM!

Now just over 3 hours of sleep before we need to get up again...HOURRAY!  Bring it 2014!

Pacific Coast Highway 1 FOR the WIN!

The next leg of our adventure has us taking the trip from San Fran to L.A. via Pacific Coast Hwy 1.  This trip can normally be taken on the freeway and takes only 3-4 hours (like Sudbury to Toronto), however, if you take HWY 1 down the coast, it takes much longer because not only is it more miles, it's much slower going.  That being said, I gave us 2 days to make the journey and every second was worth it!

This amazing highway follows right along the coast for 90% of the trip leaving nothing but either beach or cliffs between you and the ocean.  On the other side is either farm country or mountains.  The terrain is incredible and pictures cannot do it justice.  Every angle is a postcard and takes your breath away.  Huge surf, sea air and not a cloud in the sky are the perfect combination in any context.  It really makes for a great Sunday drive.  In fact, there are so many vista points along the route, at times, you can barely go 1km in between each. 

Santa Cruz was our first town stop.  I've heard about the Santa Cruz pier and the fair by the beach so we headed there.  It was just opening when we got there and we didn't have much time to hang around but there's a roller coaster right by the ocean and a permanent midway.  It was also the first time I and Moo dipped our toes in the Pacific!  Next was a long drive through the 17-mile road through Pebble Beach which is a detour that takes you through this beautiful park (always along the coast) that houses many beautiful and famous golf courses as well as many mansions... I'm sure it must be a tough life living there.  This road comes out in Carmel by the Sea which was very cute but too busy to stop in so we continued on through Big Sur.

Now, I had read alot about this Big Sur in all the research I had done and in the books I read and it was always described as THE highlight of the Central coast route.  Now, I know why.  Big Sur is 65 miles of curvy coastline roads that line cliffs and beaches along the mountain line that lines that portion of the coast.  Hairpin turns, stunning bridges and cliffs that make your jaw drop, every inch of this stretch is incredible and to be honest, beyond words.  WOW was all we kept saying over and over again.  I'm glad I got to be a passenger (and took Gravol beforehand) because I really got to see everything.  I'd almost like to do it again from the other direction because no doubt there's more to be admired.  Roads were so curvy and narrow that we basically had to slow to a snail's pace at times.  Big Sur is the reason HWY 1 takes so long to travel.  It's worth every second!

We stayed overnight in Arroyo Grande just over half way between SF and LA and had the most incredible pizza in the funnest atmosphere of a restaurant I've been in in a long time.  It was called Klondike and the only other location is in Alaska.  There are no floors, just dirt and posters all over the walls and 80s arcade games to be played while you wait for your dinner.  One can also get a pitcher of beer for 10$ here... YAY!!!!  Across the street, just by chance, was this Dr. Bernstein's Ice Cream Lab that I had come across in my research for the trip.  Obviously Moo and I left some room for a little dessert.  So good, but gluttony might have got the better of me... HAHA! 

The next day over the last leg of our roadtrip was a stop in Santa Barbara, aka the North American Riviera.  It comes by that nickname honestly.  I felt like I was back in Antibes in a way and there's just a very chill and chic vibe to this town that is really fun.  My book described it as "a damn pleasant place to wander around" and it couldn't be more true.  Aside from Big Sur (that you can't live in because there are no towns), this is everyone's favourite place to date.  It's a city of all stucco buildings with red tile roofs.  More beach as well, of course.  We picked up a whole pile of groceries at a local market and decided to park and have a picnic on the beach.  We made a seagul friend there as well  and put our feet back in the water.  Much warmer here than in Santa Cruz!  This place just has a terrific vibe that I can't quite put my finger on.  It's pleasant without being IN YOUR FACE.  Picnics on the beach are also hard to beat... especially on December 30th.  I think we all wanted to spend a little more time there.

Reluctantly we packed up and headed back to finish our trip to Los Angeles because we needed to check-in before 6pm.  We drove through Ventura, Malibu and Santa Monica to name a few others, all very interesting in their own way and the endless beaches and endless sunshine just never seem to get old.  I highly HIGHLY recommend to anyone who comes to California and has the time to make this trip and make  it as long as you can. I promise you will not regret it.  It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to and I've seen alot of amazing places.

After being stuck in a car for 2 days and really not having much relaxation time, after checking into our uber fancy hotel (via the tour company we booked for the Rose Bowl) we opted to stay put for the night and just relax and the next 2 days would be crazy long and busy!  Sleep?  What's that again?

Alcatraz and the Amazing Race

Only spending 2 full days in San Francisco we really needed to jam as much in as we could.  Moo is an expert at speed tourisming, as am I but the parents... well they're a little slower...I shouldn't be too hard on them though, they are old! HAHA

When I started planning this trip and knew we were going to be in San Fran, the only thing (aside from the bridge obviously) that I wanted to see was Alcatraz.  Now it had been suggested to me  to take the night tour because apparently it's amazing but having been so busy with work and whatnot I didn't get around to booking stuff until late November/early December and when I went to book tickets for Alcatraz, not only were there no night tours, there were no tours period. I was panicking and incredibly disappointed because I really wanted to see it... luckily with a little persistance I did find 1 tour company offering a package for Alcatraz and a boat cruise around the bay.  I booked it ASAP!  YIPPEE we're going to prison!

We had to pick up our tickets between 930 and 10am so we drove (to avoid the issues we ran into the day before) and were at the pier bright and early.  We didn't leave for Alcatraz until 1pm so we had plenty of time to explore making it all the way down to the amazing farmer's market (I've been to my fair share of markets but this one is the BEST I've ever been to)!  Very busy but everything you could ever want and more!  Kyle and I also found an outdoor skating rink where people could rent skates and skate around for an hour... the place was jammed and aside from the rink guy, only 1 kid could actually skate, the others were all gripping the boards for dear life. You know you're in California when... How they keep that ice?  We have no idea...

Once we get to Alcatraz we find out the boat tickets to and from are sold out until January 5th.  That's why I couldn't get any... so I lucked out BIG TIME!  Turns out Alcatraz is more like a museum than a tour.  You just buy the boat ticket and once you're there you can see what you want.  However they do offer an audio tour through the cellhouse that I highly recommend doing if you're there.  It's included in the ticket.  Unfortunately because I had to book with the boat cruise (and knowing what I know now...we should have done the boat cruise BEFORE Alcatraz) we only have barely 2 hours to see everything before needing to rush back to get to the other pier to catch the cruise.  The audio tour is supposed to last abour 45 min so we figured we'd have enough time and then a little more to explore but you can pause the audio tour at any time and explore further which means it lasts even longer.  By the time Mom, Kyle, Moo and I made it out we were already likely going to miss the boat we needed to catch but Dad was still way way way behind and there was no way we'd ever make it.  Finally Dad comes out and we inform him that we missed the boat we needed to catch but had 2 options, stay on Alcatraz and keep exploring or rush down to catch the 305pm boat and hope we get to the other pier in time to catch the cruise... however if we rush and still miss it, we rushed for nothing.  We decided to try the rush and Dad said he'd push it.  So began the amazing race...

We make it back to mainland at 320 or so and now have  to haul it about 1km to the other pier for 330.  Off we go... walking so fast and dodging people from every angle, the 4 of us are racing to pier 43 1/2 trying desperately to make it.  We arrive just after 330 and make it with plenty of time because they didn't start boarding until 345.  Arseholes!  We didn't need to rush like maniacs and take out little old ladies in the process.  The boat cruise itself was nice and relaxing except we were sitting on the wrong side of the boat - it's an audio tour with one of those headsets and well as it's describing all of the landmarks as we go by, we were on the OTHER side and couldn't see any of them until the boat turned around and when it finally did loop back, she started talking about the landmarks we had just passed on the side we were on.  We did get to watch the sunset though and that was great!

Dinner and  hanging around Pier 39 topped off the night before heading back to the hotel for our last night in San Francisco.  All in all, despite the really long lines, getting yelled at by bridge patrol, finding ourselves in a sketchy neighborhood and running the amazing race to catch a boat, San Fran is ok!  It's not as warm as I thought it would be but nothing a comfy hoodie can't fix.  We didn't see much but what we did see we really enjoyed.  And the people are great!