Philadelphia

Although the main reason for visiting this city was the course that I was attending, I was really looking forward to going to this city.


CBT course at the Beck Institute

If you have read my first post about the USA trip, then you probably know that the reason why I went to the USA in the first place was because I signed up for a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) course for Anxiety. I have a master’s in clinical psychology, but I am still waiting for my psychologist license in Norway, and the process really takes forever. Therefore, I thought that while waiting, it would be great to attend some courses that can help me in my future career and combine it with some long-term traveling while I still can. The CBT course was at the Beck Institute, and the last day of the course was going to be held by Aaron T Beck himself. For those of you who do not know; he is 98 years old and is actually one of the founders of CBT! I found it very hard to go back to “school” after being off since July, and after this amazing non stressful month in the USA of just having fun and having no obligations. However, I had been looking very much forward to this course.


I am not going to write about the course here, because it is not what my blog is about. I prefer writing about Philadelphia as a city, and if you have any questions about the course, don’t hesitate to contact me. I can just say that it was absolutely worth attending it.


Arriving in Philadelphia


I arrived on Sunday from Philadelphia. My plan was actually to stop by in Baltimore just to visit the city for a couple of hours to see the city from “The Wire”. In the end, I decided not to, and I am happy about that decision, because I would have arrived very late at night otherwise. The bus from Washington DC was on time, but getting around in Philadelphia was more complicated than I had imagined, and it was not that easy to get from where the bus stop to my Airbnb by public transportation (subway and bus). First, I could not pay for the subway ticket with my credit card, then my cash was not accepted. In the end I managed to buy it somehow, but then all of the sudden the subway to where I was going did no longer go and everything was very unclear, so I ended up taking an Uber anyway.


Airbnb in Philadelphia


I booked the Airbnb in Philadelphia many months before going, and I was surprised about how cheap the Airbnbs in Philadelphia are compared to in the other cities! I was happy to find an Airbnb close to the Beck Institute, because the hotels in the area were very expensive, even with the discount that we were given through the Beck Institute. Two weeks before my arrival, my Airbnb host contacted me telling me that she had changed her address. Luckily, the new address was in the same area, so in the end it made no difference.

To my surprise, the new address was in a very nice neighbourhood, and the house… it was HUGE! Never in my life have I been inside a house that big. It reminded me of one of those hunted house movies where the house is so big that you can get lost in it. And that is how it felt too! A very big, old house, made of bricks, with one of those huge staircases once you enter. The sister of the host met me when I arrived, because the host herself was on vacation. I was told there would be other guests staying in this house, but I saw no one on the first day, and once it got dark, it somehow became really scary. I love horror movies, but I remember at that point I really wished I had never watched any horror movies in my past. I stayed in a small room with a closet right in front of my bed (you know those closets that are not really closets but more like a tiny room?). I was just waiting for The Grudge to peak out of the closet. I also tried avoiding going to the bathroom, because it required going up the stairs to the third floor in the dark. Oh, did I mentioned there was a mouse in my room? At least I hope it was a mouse and not a rat. Luckily, I am not afraid of those, but still. Regardless of all this, it was really a cool house and definitely an interesting experience! The whole neighbourhood became very dark after sunset so I ended up locking myself inside and ordering a pizza (of course with a cheese stuffed crust!).


The next day, things got better. It was no longer as scary. Before going to the course, I made myself breakfast in the kitchen, and I finally met somebody staying in the house! It made me feel much better when I knew there were other people staying here and they were all very nice. In fact, they were long time renters from Philadelphia, so the also gave me a lot of local advice about the city.


Center City

The area were I was staying was quite a long drive from Center City, but it did not stop me from going there everyday after the course. I could not imagine coming back from Philadelphia without exploring the Centre! I always took the bus to Center City but returned by Uber, because I was advised not to take the bus after dark in Philadelphia. I was told that one should not walk around in Philadelphia in general, although the Centre City is actually supposed to be safe. I must still admit that I never felt unsafe here. The only thing that was a bit bothersome was the large amount of beggars following me. I had to be careful who I made eye contact and smiled to. I tried to help as many people as possible, but of course, I cannot help everyone. I think this issue here was even bigger than at Venice beach, at least regarding the begging.

Just like in the other cities, I did a lot of walking. I wanted to do as much as possible on foot, and it is definitely possible in this city. I was told by many people that Philadelphia is a cool city, and it sure was! I had no idea that Philadelphia was the first capital city of the USA and that it had so much history! The only downside was that I could never be Center City before 5-6 PM, and many attractions, such as the Liberty Bell were already closed by then. Luckily, I could still see it through the window. To me, it was just an experience in it self to walk around this city. Again, the architecture here is completely different than in other parts of USA. The buildings (except for the skyscrapers) are very European like, and reminded me a bit of those in England or the Netherlands. There were some really cute hidden side streets that I randomly entered and I loved how cute these were. There were also some beautiful parks throughout the city.

Rooftop Bars

I was a little disappointed about the rooftop bars in Philadelphia. I went to a couple of rooftop bars, and they all had no (or very limited) view! apparently, that is the case in the whole Philadelphia because of safety reasons: you either cannot sit too close to the “edge” or there are tall walls covering the view. That was kind of disappointing, but the bars were fun regardless. Maybe it will be better once the W opens! Regardless of the lack of view, I specifically enjoyed both rooftop bars. For example, the Attico Rooftop bar had an amazing happy hour! You have to stand up to see the view, but when you do, the view is amazing. The other rooftop bar I enjoyed was the Stratus Rooftop bar at the Hotel Monaco. I saw no view, but I really liked how classy this place is, and the bartenders were extremely friendly and gave me lots of recommendations about the city.

  • Attico
  • Attico
  • Attico
  • Attico
  • Stratus


South Street

I read online that the South Street is the place to go in Philadelphia, so this was the first place I headed to after having my drink at the rooftop bar. It did, however, not make the best impression on me. There were some bars and restaurants, but they looked all empty and the shops were already closed. Maybe it would be different if I would go there during the weekend or at night. Later, I found out that South Street is a very long street, so I might have missed the best part of it! I will definitely have to give this street another chance if I come back to Philadelphia.


Live music at Warm Daddy’s

After the course on the second day, I went back home, changed and went to a place called Warm Daddy’s. One of the long term-renters staying at my Airbnb recommended me this place and told me they have great food and good quality live music. This was one of the highlights of my trip! They served amazing soul food, and the singer was amazing! Sometimes I really wonder why such great artists are not already world famous! I met so many amazing people here and I really had the time of my life. If I ever come back to Philadelphia, this will definitely be the place I will be going back to! The food and drinks were surprisingly pretty cheap; I actually think the wine was the cheapest wine that I have had on my entire trip! And still, I did not even pay a penny for it, my bill was covered by the new friends that I made! This had already happened many times on this trip. There really are so many hospitable and friendly people in the USA!


Midtown Village

On the third (and last) day, I first went to the Midtown Village. I actually liked this neighbourhood better than many of the other ones that I had visited. It was full of people. I can imagine that this is a more expensive area though, and it looks quite upscale. There were tons of bars and restaurants in this area with both indoor and outside seating and the whole neighbourhood was very vibrant. I was walking around in circles on the 13th street trying to pick the best bar/restaurant. In the end I ended up going to El Vez, because they do not do reservations, so I would not have to stand in line! That is how crowded it was everywhere on a Wednesday. I was just in time for Happy Hour, and had a drink and some nachos. El Vez is a fun restaurant with some pretty interesting interior such as a motorcycle on top of the bar. The food was also good but the size of the portion was much bigger than expected! My plan was to go to Chinatown to have a snack and then to check out the Reading Terminal Market, but I enjoyed El Vez and Midtown Village so much, that I stayed there longer than I had planned. Besides, I was too full after the nachos to eat something in Chinatown.


Reading Terminal Market

I quickly walked through Chinatown, which was very close to the Reading Terminal Market, but as already mentioned, I did not eat anything there. I decided to hurry up to the Reading Terminal market, which was closing soon. I think the Reading Terminal Market was indeed worth visiting, especially for foodies like me. It is not only a market which sells food like raw seafood, meats and vegetables but there are also all kinds of streetfood stalls. Like I said, I was too full to eat a proper meal, so I just had a few really nice oysters. Just keep in mind that the food stalls do not sell alcohol. You will need to go to the bar, which is also inside the market and bring the alcohol with you to whichever stall you want to eat at.


Spruce Street Harbour Park

I was advised by an Uber driver to go to Spruce Street Harbour where I could take some beautiful photos of the bridge to New Jersey. I was not sure whether to come here or not, because the only thing I expected was a nice view of the New Jersey bridge. To my surprise, there was so much more here! It was simply beautiful! Basically, there was a boardwalk by the water with lots of attractions. The park was lighten up in many colors; there were hammocks hanging everywhere where people were relaxing, floating restaurant, snackbars, and live music was heard from everywhere. It really is a place worth visiting while in Philadelphia. I am so glad I decided to come here in the end!


Elfreth’s Alley

After the visiting the Spruce Street Harbour Park, I walked to the Elfreth’s Alley. It was not too far away, only like a 10 minutes walk. It is a very short street, but a very beautiful street indeed, which takes you to a different century and a European city. There were also horse carriages taking people around, so it definitely had a special charm.


Philly Cheesesteak

The last thing on my agenda was to eat a Philly Cheesesteak! To be honest, that was the only thing I knew about Philadelphia before coming, so it definitely was a must. I went to a place called Sonny’s cheesesteak, which I read serves the best authentic cheesesteaks in town. It is located in old Philadelphia, another cool area close to the harbour! The Cheesesteak did definitely not disappoint!


Eating the Philly Steak was the end of my Philadelphia adventure. After that, I took an uber back to my Airbnb. Once again, if it was not for the course, Philadelphia would probably not have been on my list. However, I am extremely happy that I came to this city. Again, this city is completely different than all the other cities I visited. The next adventure was now awaiting me: Miami beach! Not only was I looking forward to it because it is Miami, but also because I was going to meet my mom there who was flying in tonight!


#Philadelphia#Pennsylvania#Warmdaddies#Beckinstitute#PhillyCheesesteak#Southstreet#13thstreet#Elvez#ElvezPhiladelphia#Cheesesteak#livemusic#livemusicphiladelphia#rooftopbars#Sprucestreetharbourpark#bridgetonewjersey#elfrethsalley#midtownvillage#readingterminalmarket#airbnb#cbt#cognitivebeahvioraltherapy#downtownphiladelphia

Washington DC

In comparison to the many of the other cities that I visited during this trip, Washington DC was one of the cities that I had heard a lot about (who has not heard of DC!?). However, it is also a city that I never really felt the urge to visit. I always thought it looked extremely boring from the pictures with governmental buildings and nothing else. I was wrong about this city. From the early beginning, from the time I left the subway station, I thought to myself, wow, what a beautiful city! I remember calling my mom several times and to tell her how beautiful all the buildings were. Everything looked so modern and neat, but there were also plenty of historic landmarks.

The reason why I came here in the first place was because my very good friend, Catalina lived here. She was another classmate of mine in the Netherlands and had just moved to DC for a fellowship. I arrived quite early during the day, so I decided to do some sightseeing before meeting her. First, I was a bit worried that I would not be able to store my luggage anywhere close to the main attractions, but I quickly found this very practical website which is kind of like Airbnb (it is called Vertoe), but then for luggage! So I left my luggage in a restaurant that was listed on this website. What a great idea someone had! After leaving my luggage, I could finally go for a long walk around the city.

Most of the main attractions were walking distance from one another. Well, at least to me it was walking distance. But even for those of you who do not like walking; there are free busses taking you around the centre! Otherwise, there are electric scooters for rent, and in comparison to the other cities, It actually felt safe driving the electric scooters here. Everything is so well prepared and thought through, for example the fact that there were separate lanes on which electric scooters can drive. I also felt very safe at all times, even after it got dark.

The White House was closed off from all the sides, so I could not really see it well from the outside. Therefore, I came up with this great idea: to (traditionally) go to the W Hotel and have a drink at the rooftop bar while overlooking the White House! I think I sat there for 2 hours, if not more. I know, some of you would call it waste of time. But I could not stop looking at the beautiful views. Besides I had to charge my phone anyway. No phone = no GPS, No GPS = not knowing where to go next! Yes, I am super addicted to my phone. The rooftop bar was full of people, not only tourists but also locals having lunch. I loved how everyone was so formally dressed here! I could definitely live with that. Despite spending 2 hours at the W, I was able to visit so many places in this one day! Catalina was not ready to meet until around 8pm so I had plenty of time for sightseeing! I did not go inside any museums, but to me, exploring the city from the outside was more than enough! I took a lot of pictures of beautiful, historical buildings. I just wish I remembered what all these buildings are. Later, I took the free bus to District Wharf. I found this area by coincidence, only because the bus stopped there. And I loved it! There were so many cool restaurants and bars here! It is a very cool waterfront neighbourhood. There was even a really nice seafood market at the end of it. I seriously don’t think I have every seen that much seafood before! I was surprised they even had that in DC.

Washington DC is another example of an American city which has a completely different architecture than other cities that I visited! The scenes from House of Cards came back to me! My friend, Catalina, lived in one of those traditional Washington DC houses so it was quite nice that I could get the chance to stay in such a house during my stay.

In the evening, me and Catalina went bar and club hopping. We started with a small dinner somewhere at the Shaw (a nice district with loads of bars and restaurants). Then we had some drinks at El Techo, a Latin bar/nightclub in the same area. In the end, we ended up going to a nightclub called 18th Street Lounge. The 18th Street Lounge is a really cool nightclub with a very special vibe. To better explain it, the whole place makes you feel like you are at somebody’s house, because of the old-fashioned furniture! And at the same time, the nightclub has several different rooms, and in all of these rooms there is different type of music played! So basically, this place have something for everyone. After this day (and night), I definitely received a different view of DC!

The next day, we had some nice breakfast at a restaurant with a beer, to cure the hangover! Once we felt a little better, we went to a street festival: H street festival. I was lucky to be in DC during the time of the year when this festival is organised. In fact, it is supposed to be the biggest street festival in DC. We stayed most of the day at this festival. There was extremely much people on the streets, and there were lots of food stalls, tents with people selling things and some really great live music performers everywhere! After walking through a big part of the street, we decided to find a bar where we could have some drinks and to look at the street from the rooftop. It was quite a challenge because the lines to all the bars were enormous! Somehow we managed to sneak in, and we had a very nice time with beer, nachos and jello shots!

Once we got a bit tired from all the noise and the crowd, we decided to go to Chinatown for dinner. It definitely was not the biggest Chinatown that I have every seen, but the Ramen and the Sushi were quite good. Maybe we should have tried a Chinese restaurant when in Chinatown, but there was nothing wrong with the Japanese one!

After Chinatown, we went for a walk around the Tidal Basin to see all the most famous landmarks during nighttime. All the buildings were lighten up so it all looked extremely beautiful and the whole area was so peaceful. It also felt very safe to walk around there, even though it was dark.

As we already had a very busy and tiresome day, we decided not to go clubbing this night. Instead, we decided to just go for a nice cocktail somewhere at the Wharf. We went to a place called La Vie and really enjoyed our last evening together. I hope it won’t be too long until next time!

The next day, I was on the bus, off to Philadelphia for the CBT course. Now it was time to get back to the serious Anyah. I hated this thought so much, especially after having such an amazing month all around the US with both my old and new friends and all the other great people that I had met. However, in the end, the course was the main reason why I came to the US in the first place!

Detroit: visiting family found through DNA-testing!

DNA Test

Detroit was the 4th city I visited during my USA trip. This is another city that I knew very little about, if not the city that I knew the least about! People kept asking me why I chose Detroit and I was constantly told that there is nothing to do there, and that it has become a ghost town. The reason for this was simple. It turned out that I have family in Detroit and I wanted to visit them! Two years ago I took a DNA test from Ancestry.com. To be honest, I only wanted to find out more about my own origin. I have always been told that I look too “dark” to be fully Polish. Therefore, ever since I was a child, I wanted to find out the reason for this. Because of my huge interest in foreign cultures, I was excited to learn that there finally was a tool that could help me reveal my possible exotic roots. My DNA test results came out rather disappointing; it turned out I was 99 % Eastern European (Polish) and 1 % Finish or Northern Russian! However, there was a good thing about this test too, and that was all the DNA matches! Honestly, I had no expectations about finding any matches at all! DNA testing in Poland is not too common yet: it is quite expensive and Poles living in Poland are often familiar with their extended families. As I was born in Norway, this was not the case for me and I found this whole DNA test thing very exciting. It turned out I had 18 000 matches! Of course, most of them were very distant family members, so I only contacted the 3rd and 4th cousins. I was very surprised to learn how many of them lived in Michigan. In a later post, I will write more about the whole DNA test process. For now, I will try to make the story short. After finding the exact connection with some of my matches, I decided to finally visit them! And I am so happy I decided to do so. I had an amazing time! It was so incredible to finally meet them, and to get to know them!

Arriving in Detroit

On the first day, I was pretty exhausted after the overnight flight from Seattle to Detroit. The flight was at 11 PM, and it took about 4 hours. Luckily, I usually have no problems sleeping on planes! But of course, it is not the best quality of sleep. Because of the 2 hour time difference between Seattle and Detroit, I landed at at 6 AM. The flight was completely full, and I was quite surprised about the low amount of people leaving the airport in Detroit. I assume the rest had a connecting flight to another city. This made me question whether this city really has become a ghost town!

My cousin Jim, picked me up at the airport and I stayed with him and his wife for 4 very lovely days. It was quite a long drive from the airport to Sterling Heights (a small city right outside of Detroit). I was too exhausted to enjoy the views, but what caught my attention was how green and flat it was here. Another thing was the bad quality of the roads! I had already learned that the nature is very different from state to state, something that is not so strange as the United States is of the same size as the whole Europe! As much as Seattle reminded me of Norway, Detroit reminded me of Poland! By this I mainly mean the nature, some of the architecture and the roads! Although the roads in Poland have greatly improved in the past couple of years, here it seems like there has not been any improvement for ages.

We finally reached the house in Sterling Heights where Jim’s wife was already up waiting for us. Upon arrival I was met with a big “Welcome Anyah” sign. How cute is that!? I don’t think I have ever been greeted in such a warm and hospitable way as I was here. The house reminded me of ours in Norway. In the garden, there were plenty of squirrels stealing apples, and it was the first time that I saw a black squirrel! I did not even know those existed. I started the day with a nap. Later that day, we were going to have guests over, so I wanted to be a little rested. The other guests that visited us were 2 other cousins; the brother and sister of Jim and their partners. I found it incredible that they were so excited to meet me, and although this was the first time we met, I felt we had a special connection. As already mentioned, never before have I ever felt this warmly welcomed.

Lexington at Lake Huron

Everyday, my cousins organised trips and activities for us to assure that I would enjoy my stay to the fullest. One of the days, we drove all the way up to Lexington, a tiny, very charming village by Lake Huron. Lake Huron is such a huge lake that it almost looks like the ocean. We were very lucky with the weather and we even had the chance to relax a bit on the beach. Although most of the shops were closed, probably because it was a weekday and the summer had just ended, it was really nice to go for a walk in the very charming centre of Lexington. It is hard to explain the unique atmosphere with words, but let’s say that it no longer felt like being in the USA. The houses were so cute that the whole village resembled a fairytale wonderland. And of course, we had a lunch break at an American diner where I ate the first coney dog of my entire life… It may not look that good on the picture, but believe me, it was!

Downtown Detroit and Belle Isle Park

The next day, we drove to Detroit city. We started by going to the Belle Isle park. The view from there over the Detroit skyline is breathtaking. Again, some of the activities were closed, but luckily the beautiful botanical garden was open. After visiting Belle Isle Park, we drove further into Downtown Detroit. I was positively surprised by this city as it looked pretty neat and modern. Completely not how I had imagined it after hearing all the negative descriptions and the stories about it being ghost town! We also went to the eastern market, which is a pretty cool area, with lots of interesting market like shops and a lot of amazing street art on every corner!

Detroit: A Ghost Town?

Regarding the ghost town part… well, here it comes. After visiting downtown Detroit, we drove to some other areas, because my cousins wanted to show me the neighbourhood in which they grew up, and also my great-grandfather’s sister’s house. To me, it was a very special experience to get the chance to see this. However, it was also very frightening to see what these neighbourhoods and areas had become! This was when I first realised that Detroit (or a part of it) had indeed become a ghost town. We drove through so many neighbourhoods where all the houses were completely empty! Churches, schools, everything was demolished. It was an unbelievable sight, especially since you could really tell that these neighbourhoods used to be very pretty! Why did people move out from these neighbourhoods and why isn’t anyone putting effort in buying the houses to renovate them? Why isn’t anyone willing to give back life to these beautiful neighbourhoods!? It was so sad to see that the wonderful childhood homes of my cousins were completely abandoned! It really was like a horror movie. And believe me, I am not only talking about one neighbourhood; there were so many of them as we were driving!

  • My great-grandfather’s sister’s house!

Hamtramck

After this shocking experience, we drove to Hamtramck. Hamtramck is an international district with lots of foreign shops. Apparently, it used to be a Polish district, but it has now more of an Arabian feel to it. However, there are still some Polish shops present which we obviously had to visit. It was funny to see all the Polish stuff they have. To be honest, I haven’t even seen that much Polish stuff in Poland!

Meeting Alexis in Royal Oak

In the evening, I was picked up by a friend of mine (Alexis) with whom I studied in the Netherlands (and with whom I even went to Rwanda with!). I mean, how coincidental is it that she lives like 20 minutes away from my “new” family? It was so fun to see her again. I promised her I would come visit her (even before I knew I had family living in Michigan), and here I was. We went for some really good tacos at a Mexican Restaurant in Royal Oak. Oh by the way, what a cool and lively city Royal Oak is! You can tell that this is a city were a lot of young people live. It was full of bars and restaurants, and everything was completely full! Even on a weekday! In fact, we could not even find a table anywhere, so we had to eat by the bar. Seeing her was a lot of fun. This was another example of feeling like no time had passed since the last time I saw a friend. Well, it hadn’t passed 8 years like with the other friends I had met during this trip, but still, it for sure did not feel like more than a year had passed since the last time we saw each other in the Netherlands!

The Tom Ford Museum with Bill

On my last day in the Detroit area, I was picked up by another cousin, Bill. Bill’s daughter lives in England and he was initially not going to be home in Detroit during the time of my visit. However, when he heard I was coming to Detroit, he changed his ticket and returned to Detroit a few days earlier just to get the opportunity to meet me for one day! He picked me up in his red convertible and we drove to the Tom Ford museum. Although I am not a “museum person”, I must admit that this museum really is worth a visit! In fact, I think this is the museum that I have enjoyed the most in my entire life! The exhibition consisted of everything from Presidential cars (including the car in which John F Kennedy was shot!); the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was shot; the bus that Rosa Parks was arrested on; the first airplanes to fly around the world; the first McDonald sign; everything is collected here! Do definitely visit this museum if you go to Detroit!

Grosse Pointe

We also wanted to visit the Motown museum, but in the end the time did not allow us to do so. This is because we later that day were going to another cousin for a huge family dinner with even more cousins! But Bill told me some very interesting stories from the Motown time, in fact, he went to school with Diana Ross! Before driving back home to Jim, we drove through Grosse Pointe, which is were Bill lived most of his life (and also where we later were going for that family party to my other cousin). Now that is a beautiful neighbourhood! You can really tell it is very upscale. The houses were breathtaking! I personally have only seen these types of homes on TV. They differ from the homes in, for instance LA, because of the architecture: they all look traditional and are constructed of bricks. Not that I have anything against the LA homes, I’d certainly take both.

Family Dinner

At 6 o’clock, Jim, his wife and I were already on our way back to Grosse Pointe. As already mentioned, one of my other cousin’s lives there (Jim’s sister), and she hosted the dinner party where I in total would meet 21 family members! It is really touching that so many people showed up to meet me. And of course, because of our background, there was loads of Polish food! My cousin ordered catering from a very good Polish restaurant. I must admit, most of the food tasted just like in Poland, except from a few dishes that I was unfamiliar with, such as City Chicken. The pierogi were also a bit different, but regardless of that, everything was delicious!

Everyone was so welcoming, and I am so happy to have become a part of their family and to have them in my life. I can’t wait to meet them again and to also meet the rest of my cousins that were unable to attend. They were all such loving and hospitable people, and I really consider myself so lucky to be related to them! Words can’t explain how sad it was to leave Detroit.

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Seattle: West Seattle and China Town

The next day was another day of walking around. My friend had to go to work again, so my plan was to wander around the city again. I decided, however, to start with a walk around West Seattle and Alki Beach and later take the bus Downtown. Apparently, taking the bus in Seattle is more common for the general public than in the other cities that I visited during my trip. I liked that! In fact, they even had some free busses, for example, around some parts of West Seattle and Downtown!

While walking around West Seattle, I explored a completely different area to Downtown. Another area that I really enjoyed! Not only were there many cool small local shops and restaurants, but also the architecture here was very scenic. I could not stop making snapchat videos of all the cute houses and the beautiful plants and trees surrounding them (you can find these on my Instagram, see the Seattle highlight). This area is indescribable! In one way, the houses and the nature look very much like those in Norway, on the other hand, each of the houses here are much more unique than in Norway! It seems like people are doing everything to make their house look different than those of their neighbours and make sure their own house stands out. They do this with all kinds of decorations and beautiful plants. And it is all so well taken care of! In Norway, however, all the houses that are located in the same neighbourhoods look very similar. Standing out is definitely not a thing. I realised that if I would ever move back to Seattle, this is where I would like to live!

I already knew Alki beach very well, but I always came here by car. This time, I went for a very long walk around West Seattle until I reached Alki beach where I had a Taco and a cocktail at the Chupacabra restaurant overlooking the beach. Alki beach is just how I remembered! Although it was the first time I saw this beach in rainy weather, I still loved it. Watching the beach from the second floor at the restaurant was just magical. And guess what, it was Happy Hour again! I could sit there all day and enjoy the view, but I had more things planned on my schedule. I wanted to make sure to get to Downtown Seattle before it got dark, and explore some more hidden gems of the city.

Chinatown

I wanted to go to Chinatown because I also had some great memories from that part of the town, but I did not actually plan to come here at this moment. However, at one point I had to change busses to get to Downtown. I did not feel like waiting for the second bus, so I decided to walk to Downtown instead. By doing that, I had to pass through Chinatown! In the end, I am happy I did it that way and that I went to Chinatown.

When I got to Chinatown, I was met by a street food festival in the middle of Chinatown. I love street food festivals! Street food festival + Asian food, it just cannot be better! I did not try many things, I was still quite full after the taco, and the lines were quite long. In fact, Street food festivals are not as fun when you are alone, because you cannot share the food experience with anyone and you have to stand in lines everywhere! However, trying a few things was certainly a must! The best thing I tried here was a small lobster. It only costed me like 14 Dollars, which I believe is quite cheap for a lobster of that size, especially on a street food festival which usually sets the prices quite high.

Din Tai Fung

This day passed by very quickly. I promised my friend some Dim Sum, so before heading towards his work, I planned to grab some take away Dim Sum that we could eat later at home. I probably could have gotten some great Dim Sum from Chinatown, but I soon found out that there is Din Tai Fung in Seattle! Apparently, they now have it in a few cities in the USA. I guess the reason why they have it in Seattle is the large Asian population. Din Tai Fung was not in Chinatown, it was actually Downtown, but my final destination was Downtown anyway, because that is where my friend works, and I was driving back home with him after his work. I had not had Din Tai Fung or any other good Dim Sum since I was in Shanghai a couple of years ago, so I was in heaven! Although, there was a huge line to enter the restaurant, I could enter without a reservation. Again, that is the benefit of travelling solo, because there is always that one free spot for one person! I decided to eat a bit at the restaurant and bring the rest as take away. I met some fun people here, which was great, because I could share the Dim Sum experience with someone. It was simply delicious! Expensive, but totally worth the amazing flavour!

The next day, I met my cousin Downtown for brunch. I had never met her before, so it was nice to find out that she lives in Seattle and that she wanted to meet me. I will tell more about how I came to know that she is my cousin in the next post! Later that day, I picked up some Mexican food and brought it with me to my friend’s workplace where I stayed for some hours. I In the evening, after a few unpleasant incidents (such as not getting into the house to pick up my stuff when I should be hurrying to the airport and almost loosing hope of my further trip!) I was on my way to the airport for my next adventure in the next city: Detroit!

#seattle #chinatown #beautiful #westseattle #sushi #happyhour #dimsum#tripadvisor #seatac #airport #streetfood #usa #scandinavia #nature

Seattle: Downtown Seattle

If you have read my previous posts, you may already know that I lived in the Seattle area 8 years ago. That’s why I had to include this city in my USA 2019 trip. I wanted to visit my old friends and bring back some great memories I cherished from the past.

Arriving in Seattle

The views from the airplane during landing were extraordinary. Although, I remembered this city to be very green with a beautiful nature, I did not remember it to be this beautiful. This became even more visible after staying in LA and Reno, which in comparison are very dry cities. Seattle looked so beautiful from the air that I could not stop gazing outside the window. The blue waters, the green trees, the green hills, the wooden houses, the whole scenery was like a painting! And the funniest thing is that it looked a lot like Stavanger, Norway! Maybe I was unconsciously already missing my home town?

From the airport, I took the train to Downtown, which only took about 30 minutes. I did not even remember there was a train going from the airport straight to Downtown, but I liked the idea! It was very easy and convenient.

Hotel Seattle

I stayed the first night in probably the worst hotel that I have ever stayed in. I do not know why hotels and Airbnbs are so expensive in Seattle in comparison to other cities. It was just insane! I found nothing costing less than 100 USD a night. Not even a room. Of course, there were some cheaper options in worse neighbourhoods or neighbourhoods further away, but it was important to me to be somewhere close to Downtown, otherwise I would have spent unnecessary time and money on transportation anyway! So I chose this “wonderful” Hotel Seattle, a very old hotel that probably has not been renovated since it opened for a 10 000 years ago. I had already seen the pictures posted by other hotel guests on TripAdvisor, so I had some idea of what was awaiting me, but I had a tiny hope that not all the rooms would look the same. Unfortunately, in the end, it was even worse than shown on TripAdvisor. The roof was falling apart and I kept the bathroom door open at all time to hide the really disgusting, rusty pipes. Luckily, the sheets looked clean, but I must admit that I even bought sleeping pills to make sure I would fall asleep that night. I know I might sound extremely picky, but it really was bad. I must say, however, that the people working here were extremely nice! From the receptionists to the housekeeping staff, everyone did all they could, and they are really the only thing positive about this hotel.

For obvious reasons, these are the only two photos taken inside the hotel. I wish I had taken more photos to give you a better picture.

Downtown Seattle

As already mentioned, I have friends living in Seattle, so I already had planned to stay at a friend of mine’s the other two nights. However, the first night I decided to stay Downtown Seattle, because I was going to meet another friend for dinner, and I knew I would arrive quite late in the evening. That is the reason why I chose that amazing Hotel Seattle for the first night of my stay. I met my friend Naima shortly after I arrived at the hotel and we had an amazing dinner at Wild Ginger, a very good Asian fusion restaurant. Meeting Naima was so much fun. It is so funny how you can just meet with some people after so many years and it feels like no time has passed! This was one of those cases.

The next day, I walked around Seattle Downtown and tried to enjoy the city as much as I could. This was the first time I saw rain during my USA trip. Well, in the end it is Seattle, the “rainy city”, so it was no surprise. It is still nothing like the rainy Stavanger where I am from, and although it was a rainy day, it was still quite warm. The only downside was that I was expecting sunny and warm weather during my entire trip, so I brought no jacket with me. I only had one sweater.

I made an appointment to meet my friend in the evening after he finished work. He did not finish until after 8 PM, so I had the whole day to explore Seattle Downtown. Although I used to live in the area, I think this is the longest time that I have spent Downtown in one day! I must admit that I really fell in love with this city. I started regretting going back to Norway and not staying in this beautiful city longer. At that time, I was fed up with Washington State and my dream was to move to California. It was California or nothing. So that is how it went: no California so I ended up back in Norway. Now that I think of it, I think I should have given Seattle chance, because it actually has become one of my favorite cities in the USA. If it was not for the rain, it would have definitely been on top of my list! The cleanliness, the luxury restaurants, the crab houses, the nature, the atmosphere, there is just something about Seattle. It also has a Scandinavian feel to it. Although I have always tried to escape Norway, in the end it is still my home country. Therefore, I think that USA with a touch of Scandinavia could work for me.

Pike’s Place Market

One of the main attractions in Seattle is the Pike’s Place Market. I therefore decided to go there first. I walked around a bit and watched the fish throwing. Of course, I had been there many times before when I used to live in Seattle, but it is always nice to be back. From there I also went to one of the waterfront crab houses from where I had some really great memories, and I enjoyed some very delicious oyster shooters! Many people have asked me what there is to do at the Pike’s Place Market. Basically, it is just a seafood market with some souvenir stalls inside the same building and a restaurant or two. In the building next door, you can find all kinds of cheeses, some Asian streetfood and all the usual things you can find on markets. I prefer going to the oceanfront crab-houses and seafood restaurants. These restaurants are very casual and in most of them you will need to order and pick up your food by the counter. That is not really my style, but the atmosphere is very unique. Most importantly, the seafood tastes very fresh!

Rooftop bars

Seattle has many nice rooftop bars. I wanted to try the rooftop bar at the Thomson Hotel, because I had read that it is the best rooftop bar in Seattle, with the best view. It was indeed very nice, and I really liked this place. Just remember to bring your ID or they will not let you upstairs! Unfortunately, it was hard to meet people here, and the prices were quite high. Therefore, I decided to just stay for 1 (very good) glass of red wine and instead find a place that serves Happy Hour at this time of the day.

Happy Hour

I am absolutely not a shopping person. Besides, I could not really afford to do any shopping and neither would anything else fit in my luggage as I only traveled with hand luggage! So what could I do all day in Seattle? Basically, all I did was walking around the streets of Seattle, and stop after a couple of metres for snacks and drinks at different restaurants and bars. This is what I like the most: enjoying something good to eat and drink while people watching! I already discovered Happy Hour when I was in LA. I was not aware of that Happy Hour is a thing in the whole USA, and I wish we had the same concept in Norway too. By saying Happy Hour, I do not mean it as in buy 1 get 1 free, but the completely separate menus during the time of Happy Hour! Apparently, this is when the restaurants and bars are filled up with people.

I was told that meeting people in Seattle would not be as easy as in other parts of the USA. That might have been true to some extend, but I still met plenty of people during the Happy Hours so I am not complaining. People are still so much more open here than in Europe. I specifically enjoyed a restaurant called Heartwood. Heartwood is definitely a must try during the Happy Hour! It was completely full of people and their food and drink menu is excellent! Luckily, I was alone and there was one spot available for me at the bar!

  • Happy Hour Steak Tartare at Heartwood
  • Happy Hour at Heartwood
  • Happy Hour at Heartwood

Safety

Another thing that I like about Seattle is that it feels quite safe. Well, maybe this is not really the case: 10 minutes earlier, one person was shot and another person was beaten up in the exact same place where I walked. I guess it is still better than for instance LA or Philadelphia, at least the crime rate seems to be much lower. Or maybe it just feels that way. Obviously, you should be careful wherever you are, because bad things can happen everywhere and when you the least expect it!

Moving to West Seattle

After my friend finished work, we went for dinner at a Sushi restaurant. More food and drinks! This night I could finally sleep in a better place than the horrifying Hotel Seattle, I thought. My friend had just moved to a new house with a friend of his in West Seattle. What a beautiful area (see my next post)! What I did not know, however, is that he literally had “just moved” to that place, and there were no other furniture than a couch! Although I was very happy and lucky to sleep on the very comfortable and long couch (I am 181 cm tall), I felt really sorry for my friend who sacrificed himself and slept on the floor. Had I only known earlier, then least I could have done would be to buy an air mattress! Regardless, it was so much fun to see my friend again. It was a fun evening!

#seattle #hotelseattle #beautiful #norway #sushi #happyhour #restaurants #tripadvisor #seatac #airport #pikesplacemarket #usa #scandinavia #nature

Reno

Reno. What can I say… When I told people I was going to Reno during my trip around the USA, which would only involve a few selected cities, I was met with curiosity and confusion. Why of all American cities would I choose Reno. I was actually really looking forward to going to Reno. I read a bit online about Reno, and a lot of the things I read were very positive. That is of course not why I chose this city for my trip. The reason why I chose it was because one of my best friends from college has moved to Reno and now lives there with her husband and her three kids. So of course I had to go to Reno to visit her! In fact, I had been promising to visit her for years, so I was really happy that it would finally happen.

When my friend first told me where she had moved to, she described it as a tiny city in Nevada with a very little inhabitants. This made me want to visit her even more, because I wanted to explore a different side of America that is not only about skyscrapers and big cities. It was not until I googled the city that I found out that it actually is a casino city! “How fun, I am going to mini Vegas”, I thought! Although my imagination of the cute “tiny city” had now changed, I actually started looking forward to it even more! In the end, I love Vegas and casino cities in general.

As already mentioned, people I met in LA could really not understand WHY I would bother to go to Reno and they explained to me that there is absolutely nothing there. People in LA say a lot of things, I thought…

After a 12 hour bus ride, I finally arrived at the Silver Legacy Hotel. As the hotels here were not too expensive, I decided to choose a hotel over Airbnb, and I specifically chose a hotel that had a swimming pool. The room I booked was not too beautiful, but I literally asked for an upgrade, and luckily the guy in the reception was so kind that he gave it to me. The room I was assigned was totally renovated. The bed was extremely comfortable and big, and I had a nice view over Reno and it’s nature. Now I was happy. I went to the pool where I relaxed for a bit before meeting my friend. It was extremely hot up there, but the water in the pool was unfortunately freezing so I did not end up swimming too much. However, the pool area was very beautiful so I really enjoyed the time up there (even though I was the only one up there most of the time). The weather here was actually very strange; it was extremely warm during day time, but dropped to a very low temperature during night, so the mornings were freezing!

  • Silver Legacy
  • My room at Silver Legacy
  • My room at Silver Legacy
  • Pool at Silver Legacy
  • View from my room
  • Silver Legacy
  • View from my room
  • Pool at Silver Legacy

I was really happy to meet my friend. Unfortunately, I was too tired to spend too much time with her during my 3 days in Reno. Yes, the jet lag was still there, and the bus ride did not help, regardless of the fact that I slept the whole time. She took me to some nice parks with her children, Circus Circus and a shopping mall. It was great to see her again after so many years and meet her lovely kids.

Regarding Reno as a city. I can’t really say that I liked it. I missed the part of going to Lake Tahoe, as unfortunately my friend could not go there, so I ended up not going there either (I guess I have to come back for it some day!). But regarding Reno itself, it was a bit disappointing. One person told me that Reno is a sadder version of Vegas. I would say it is definitely nothing like Vegas. I imagined downtown Reno to remind of the Las Vegas strip, but here in Reno, there are only like 3 “typical” casino hotels standing together (of course there are some other ones standing further away), and the age group is 60+. Everything here is also very old. Luckily, at least I got that renovated room! So Silver Legacy, thank you for that! I also must admit that the Sushi at El Dorado was absolutely delicious, it is definitely worth a try! Other than that, I did not like Reno too much as a city, although I am happy that my friend took me to other parts of Reno and showed me that it is much more than just the Downtown. For instance, the Midtown district looked like a lot of fun, with loads of cool restaurants. Therefore, if I will ever come back here, I will definitely try to spend more time outside of Downtown.

  • Midtown
  • Midtown
  • El Dorado
  • El Dorado
  • Circus Circus
  • Circus Circus
  • Midtown
  • Circus Circus

Should you go to Reno? Well, it all depends you.. if you can have fun everywhere just like I can and you don’t get bothered by the age group, the general lack of people and the lack of things to do (besides gambling), then go for it! Casinos are always fun, however, I would always choose Vegas (and maybe Macau!) over other casino cities. As much as I was looking forward to gambling in Reno, I did not really have time for it. However, when I got to the airport in Reno, despite having very little time, I decided to try my luck. And guess what! In 10 minutes I ended up winning 70 Dollars! Not a bad ending in Reno at all!

After 3 days in Reno, I was ready for my next adventure: Seattle!

#Reno #Nevada #Flixbus #SilverLegacy #SilverlegacyReno #CircusCircus #CircusCircusReno #ElDorado #ElDoradoReno #LasVegas #Jetlag

Traveling from LA to Reno with Flixbus

I heard many different stories about Flixbus in the USA. I have traveled several times with Flixbus in Europe so it did not even occur to me that Flixbus could be any different in the USA. Therefore, I quickly bought the ticket once it was available online. When I was booking the whole USA trip, I tried to buy everything as cheap as possible, so I found taking the bus from LA to Reno to be a better option than flying. Not only was the ticket cheaper but it would also save me a night in a hotel or Airbnb. I chose the overnight bus which takes 12 hours. However, after reading the reviews on the internet, I became worried, because the reviews were very negative. For example, according to some reviews, the drivers are rude, the busses are dirty and the busses are always delayed or cancelled last minute without notice. I was mostly nervous about the last part. What would I do if the bus would get cancelled last minute? It would have put me in a difficult situation. Not only would the hotel prices be super high, but finding a room last minute could have been hard in general. In addition, I would prefer not to walk around Downtown LA in the middle of the night looking for accommodation. I asked everyone I met about their opinion of Flixbus, but no one had even heard of it. However, they all looked at me with an extremely surprised face when I told them I was going to take the bus in the first place. Suddenly, my mom also started panicking about the whole Flixbus idea, because she had just heard that a girl was never found after entering a Flixbus. She tried really hard to convince me to buy a flight ticket instead, but I did not and in the end I am very happy that I stuck to the plan.

I must honestly say, that the reviews were completely wrong! The Flixbus was extremely punctual, and the busses looked exactly the same as in Europe, if not better! Certainly, the bus was much cleaner. Both drivers were females and they ensured that the busses were very clean. The first driver made it clear what would happen if the men on the bus would “pee standing up” and what the consequences for them would be (LOL!). Maybe that is what some people meant with the drivers being rude? Well, I found it funny and maybe even necessary.

Source: https://global.flixbus.com/bus

Regarding the other passengers, most of them were also foreign travellers. The ride was quite comfortable. I had 2 seats all the way in the front just for myself. I paid a small fee for the front seat, but it was totally worth it. In addition, there was internet on the bus; USB charging ports; and the seats were very comfortable. In fact, I slept the whole 12 hour ride. I only woke up when we stopped in San Francisco and San Jose for a bit just to see a bit of the cities. The best thing of all was that the bus stop in Reno was right in front of my hotel: Silver Legacy. It could not be better! So please, do not be afraid of taking this bus. I know there is some kind of prejudice against taking the bus in many parts of the USA, but for 30 dollars, it was definitely worth it and it felt completely safe!

#Bus #Flixbus #FlixbusUSA #Travel #Traveler #Travelonabudget

Los Angeles: Universal Studios

Universal Studios. One of the most famous attractions in LA. It also was one of the attractions that I enjoyed the most during my stay in LA when I was 13 years old. This time, however, I was unsure whether to go or not. My first thought were to skip it, because I might have grown too old to properly enjoy it, and also because I wanted to better explore the city. One week in LA is definitely not enough time! Therefore, I asked many people whether Universal Studios is worth visiting, hoping to hear that I can safely skip it. But no.. everyone told me it is a must! Therefore, I went on and bought the ticket. I waited until the evening before, and luckily the price was still the same. I had some doubts about going on a Sunday, but I though it would be the best option, as I had to check out from my Airbnb anyway. I had no Airbnb or hotel for the next night, because I was going to sleep on the overnight bus to Reno! Luckily my Airbnb host let me keep my luggage in the apartment for a small fee, because storing luggage at the Universal Studios is apparently not an option. Keep that in mind! You can only store small handbags/backpacks but not hand-luggage size trolley bags like mine.

I planned to leave for Universal Studios as early as 8 am in the morning. That of course did not happen. As I wrote in my previous post, I had some drinks the night before, and I definitely felt the next day. I think I ended up going there more towards 10 am, after I bought all kinds of cures at the 7eleven next door. Yes, that was the 7eleven that everyone warned be about (apparently it is not the safest one). I took an uber to Universal Studios. It was actually further away than I had thought. Once I got to the Universal Studios, I instantly remembered why I enjoyed it so much over there last time, and I felt like a little kid again. It completely did not matter that I was there alone.

The lines to enter the park at this time of the day and week were long, but the whole process of getting inside the park went much faster than I had imagined. It may have taken longer if I would not have bought a ticket in advance. Shortly, I was inside the park, and I was amazed about the park’s inside. Suddenly, all the memories came back and I remembered why I always wanted to come back here!

The Studio Tour

My friends advised me to do the Studio tour first, and it was the best idea ever. I was still pretty hungover and I could not think of riding any rollercoaster at this point. The studio tour was just perfect at this moment; I could relax and it almost felt like I was watching a movie (but then in a live setting). I loved watching all the movie settings and recognising them from the movies. I think this is the best part of the whole Universal Studios experience! The studio tour does also take quite long, so everything was just perfect. In addition, the lines to the studio tour at this time of the day were very short; there was zero waiting time! A couple of hours later, when I passed by, I saw that the waiting time had already become 2 hours!

  • Bates Motel
  • Jurassic Park
  • Knight Rider
  • Jurassic Park
  • Flinstones

Express Ticket: Is it worth it?

After the studio tour, I must admit I was still not feeling extremely well, but I decided to do all the rides. I quickly found out that with the long lines that would NOT be possible. So I went on and updated my ticket to the express ticket. Extremely expensive, but I at this moment I simply did not care. I am not in Universal Studios everyday I thought, and the express ticket is really necessary if you want to ride all the rides! And it is just so much more comfortable, because you don’t have to stand in line (almost) at all! I remember the waiting line for Jurassic Park (the new ride) was like 3 hours! However, with the express ticket it took me 10 mins maximum. It really does make a difference.

The New Jurassic Park Ride

I must admit I did not notice any difference between the old Jurassic Park ride and the new one. Was it the aquariums in the beginning that was the main difference? Of course, I might have forgotten exactly how the old one was, but I clearly remembered there were dinosaurs in the beginning, the final drop and getting extremely wet! There was no difference regarding these parts.

Panda Express

Between the rides I also went to Panda Express. When I am hungover, I need to eat. That was the worst part of the whole Universal Studios experience! The line was extremely long, I lost at least one hour by going there, and then, after I got the food, I had to eat it while standing because there were no seats. Or actually there were lots of seats but people were keeping them for other people who were standing in the one hour long line! It got me a bit upset, because by the time I finished my food people were still only half way in that super long line, so how much harm would it do to if I could “borrow” one empty chair for 5 minutes.

Source: http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/attractions/food/pandaexpress_lower.php

The Harry Potter ride

I saved the Harry Potter ride until the end, because everyone told me that I could get extremely nauseous from it, so I was very afraid of what was awaiting me. The Harry Potter village at Universal Studios was really beautiful. I am not a Harry Potter fan, but I really liked what they made of it. And the castle looked amazing! After waiting a long time, I decided to finally go for the Harry Potter ride. To be honest, I think it was the best ride! Yes, I did become nauseous, but only because I already was nauseous and because there was a technical issue or something: the ride all of the sudden stopped and we were just hanging there in the air with our legs hanging down…yes, people started panicking. Otherwise it would not have been bad at all, and I don’t know what I was so afraid of! Do definitely not skip this ride!

Other rides

All the rides at the Universal Studios are fun and worth riding. It is worth noting that many of the rides are simulators! This includes the following rides: The Simpsons, Transformers, Despicable Me (Minions) and the Kung Fu Panda. One of the rides that I really enjoyed, that was not a simulator was the Revenge of the Mummy. In fact, this was the only high speed rollercoaster ride.

Shows

After riding all the rides, I went to see the WaterWorld show. It is a pretty cool show, so it definitely is worth seeing it, and it is a good idea to see it all the way in the end. Another show that I enjoyed was the Special effects show, which gives you an insight of how special effects are made. Shortly after the WaterWorld show, my stay at the Universal Studios came to an end. I rode all the rides, thanks to the Express ticket. I did, however, not attend all the shows. I could have easily done it, but I wanted to meet my friends for dinner before heading to Reno. Despite feeling horrible and being by myself, I had an amazing time! I was afraid there would be kids only, but that was definitely not the case! Surprisingly, there were many more adults than children! In the end, I am very happy that I decided to go to the Universal Studios. It was a great ending of my stay in LA before heading to Reno!

  • WaterWorld
  • WaterWorld
  • Special Effects Show
  • Special Effects Show
  • Special Effects Show

#UniversalStudios#UniversalStudiosHollywood#HarryPotter#Studio#StudioTour#Pandaexpress

Los Angeles: West Hollywood and Beverly Hills

My fourth and final Airbnb was located in West Hollywood, a vibrant area known for its thriving nightlife and renowned restaurants, considered the best in the entire city. With high expectations, I had specifically chosen this neighborhood for a weekend stay, anticipating an exciting and lively atmosphere. However, the reality proved to be different. Exhausted from the previous days of walking in Venice Beach and battling persistent jet lag, my feet were in considerable pain, making it impossible to fully explore the area on foot or partake in the vibrant nightlife.

Before checking in at my Airbnb, I decided to join an Airbnb experience called the Paparazzi Safari in Beverly Hills. This unique adventure involved accompanying a paparazzi photographer in the pursuit of spotting celebrities. As we ventured through the streets, the paparazzi shared insider knowledge on the area’s best restaurants and hotels, adding an intriguing dimension to the experience. Unfortunately, our timing coincided with New York Fashion Week, resulting in many celebrities being out of town. However, we did manage to catch a glimpse of Usher’s ex-wife, which turned out to be quite an intriguing experience. Watching the paparazzi in action, snapping photos of her, who seemed less than pleased by the attention, was an interesting sight to behold. Despite the limited celebrity sightings, the experience provided valuable insights into the paparazzi culture and added an extra layer of excitement to my time in Los Angeles.

Later that day, my new friends and I headed to The Abbey, a fantastic gay bar that stays open throughout the day and night. We enjoyed drinks and indulged in some delicious nachos until it was time for me to head home and get some much-needed rest (otherwise, I might have fallen into a deep slumber).

The following day, Friday, proved to be quite exhausting. I had already mentioned the pain in my legs, which made movement a challenge. Nevertheless, I had scheduled a Hollywood Sign hike for 8 o’clock in the morning. Fortunately, I was still waking up early at 5 am, so that part wasn’t a problem. The hike itself was suitable for those who enjoy hiking, but given my current fitness level, it was quite strenuous. Walking 7 km uphill with sore legs under the scorching LA heat was no easy feat. Although the views were breathtaking, I doubt I’ll attempt it again. Thankfully, our guide, who happened to be an actor and comedian, kept us entertained along the way, making the hike a bit more enjoyable. The relief I felt upon reaching the top was immeasurable. However, I quickly discovered that descending the hill with my exhausted knees was even more challenging.

Thankfully, I had a treat in store for myself—a day pass at the W Hollywood hotel to relax by the pool. The rooftop pool deck offered splendid views of Hollywood, providing the perfect spot to unwind after the hike. However, visiting on a Friday turned out to be a mistake due to the bustling pool party. Even as someone who loves pool parties, I just wanted to relax in peace and find solace from my exhaustion. It was difficult to find a quiet space amidst the party atmosphere. Nonetheless, I couldn’t resist indulging in some delightful drinks and jello shots, which added a touch of enjoyment to my time by the pool. It is worth mentioning that day passes for pool access are available in many luxury hotels in LA, and they often come at reasonable prices, making it a great option to enjoy a bit of luxury and relaxation.

I would like to share an unusual incident that took place by the pool. While enjoying my time there, I had an intriguing encounter with a girl lounging on the sun lounger next to mine. We struck up a conversation, and as we delved into different topics, she casually mentioned that she worked as a real estate agent, which I later confirmed by checking out her Instagram profile. However, what truly caught me off guard was when she shared that she was actually the ex-girlfriend of a guy I had matched with on Tinder. It was indeed intriguing to uncover this connection, especially since he was the only person I had been texting with on Tinder during my time in LA. Discovering that they were still involved with each other added an unexpected surprise to the situation. However, I want to emphasize that this revelation is not the main focus of the story I am about to share with you. Throughout our conversation, we both enjoyed food and drinks, separately ordering at different times. After a while, she said goodbye and left the pool area, seemingly to settle her bill. However, when it was my turn to pay, the staff informed me that she hadn’t paid for her purchases and had left without settling the bill. The staff asked me repeatedly if I knew her, as if they doubted my explanation. I recounted what she had told me about her connections at the hotel, but the staff revealed that she had lied about having such connections. Thankfully, they believed my side of the story and didn’t hold me accountable for her expenses. It was a strange and unexpected situation, adding an interesting twist to my day by the pool.

After enjoying my time at the pool, I had the idea of taking a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard on my way back to the apartment. However, my perception of the boulevard had changed drastically since my previous visits. It had become my least favorite part of LA. While the Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater were still interesting, the rest of the boulevard was chaotic and crowded, with people constantly approaching and asking for money. I was on high alert, watching my belongings closely. The long walk left me even more exhausted, both physically and mentally. I looked so worn out and exhausted (I looked like a zombie!) that even a homeless lady showed kindness, remarking that we seemed to be in the same situation. I decided to stay indoors for the rest of the day, indulging in my favorite DiGiorno Cheese stuffed crust Pizza and watching two or three Netflix films. It was far from the lively Friday nightlife I had anticipated. On a side note, I couldn’t help but wonder why cheese stuffed crust pizza isn’t as popular abroad.

Saturday turned out to be the most enjoyable day of my trip. Despite feeling tired from all the previous walking, I was glad that I pushed myself to visit Melrose Avenue. Known for its trendy shops, unique boutiques, and vibrant street art, Melrose Avenue had a distinct charm that I couldn’t resist. Funny enough, I ran into the paparazzi from the paparazzi safari I had joined earlier, who was on the hunt for celebrities right where I was walking. Unfortunately, neither of us spotted any famous faces, but I couldn’t complain. After all, I had already experienced my own “Kelly Clarkson moment” at Catch LA the previous Saturday, and that was a memorable highlight in itself.

After my visit to Melrose Avenue, I made my way to Beverly Hills for a scheduled photoshoot. It was a fantastic opportunity to capture some memorable moments. During the photoshoot, I had the pleasure of meeting a group of friendly girls. We hit it off and decided to grab a small lunch and enjoy some Prosecco together on a lovely outdoor patio right in the heart of Beverly Hills. It was a delightful experience, surrounded by the luxurious ambiance of the area. I couldn’t help but feel like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” as I strolled through the streets and indulged in the opulence of Rodeo Drive. Everything exuded luxury, from the high-end stores to the sleek cars and fashionable people. Not a single ugly car was in sight! One highlight was the Louis Vuitton exhibition, which was exquisitely crafted and showcased the brand’s timeless elegance. Later in the evening, based on the recommendation of the girls I met at Catch LA, I headed to Sugarfish for dinner. Being a sushi enthusiast, I couldn’t resist the chance to dine at this renowned sushi spot. The food was so exceptional that I ended up ordering another round after finishing my first serving. It was a culinary delight that perfectly satisfied my sushi cravings. To my surprise, Sugarfish had a non-tipping policy, which is not exactly the norm in the United States

I had planned to visit Delilah in the evening for a drink, as it was reputed to be a fantastic restaurant and club. Its popularity was evident, with even Kylie Jenner having celebrated her birthday there. Given its proximity to my Airbnb, just 100 meters away, it seemed like the perfect choice, especially since I preferred not to walk around after sunset. However, much to my disappointment, I was not allowed entry because the establishment was closed for a private event. Just as I thought my evening would be cut short, a friendly British security guard kindly directed me to the other side of the road, where there was another cool spot called Laurel Hardware. Although I was initially hesitant due to its uninviting exterior, I decided to give it a chance. To my surprise, the interior was a completely different story. It exuded a genuinely cool atmosphere that captivated me. Once again, I had the pleasure of meeting some genuinely friendly people with whom I shared drinks. They insisted on covering the cost of my drinks, and one of the girls, a yoga teacher, even insisted on ensuring my safety by offering to share a taxi with me back to my Airbnb, despite it being only a mere 100 meters away. It was heartwarming to encounter such care and concern. This time, I managed to stay up until a little past midnight, which was considered “late” for me. It was ironic that the one night I was meant to go to bed early was the night I stayed out. The following day, although I had a hangover, I knew it was worth it because of the amazing time I had the night before.

#Hollywood #WestHollywood #TheAbbey #KylieJenner #LayrelHardware #BeverlyHills #Sugarfish #PrettyWoman #MelroseAvenue #MelrosePlace #Luxury #LouisVuitton #Prosecco #Paparazzi #WHollywood #Celebrities #Hiking #HollywoodHills #HollywoodSign #Hollywoodsignhike

Los Angeles: Venice Beach, Marina del Rey and Santa Monica

Leaving the breathtaking Hollywood Hills behind, I was filled with excitement as I set off on my next adventure: Venice Beach! This destination held a special place in my heart since my teenage years, when I fell in love with its vibrant atmosphere and unique charm. While I no longer proclaim it as the best beach in the world, it remains an incredibly cool beach and an area that never fails to captivate.

Cabo Cantina at Washington Boulevard

With a few hours to spare before the check-in time at my next Airbnb, I hopped on a bus from Hollywood to Venice Beach. Not only was it a budget-friendly option, but it also gave me the opportunity to take in the sights along the way. Upon arriving, I stumbled upon a place called Cabo Cantina on Washington Boulevard, and it turned out to be the perfect spot for lunch. Although it’s a chain restaurant, the one at Venice Beach is renowned for its unique location and vibrant atmosphere. As I made my way to the second floor, I was greeted with a delightful outdoor seating area where I could savor a refreshing Corona and indulge in some mouthwatering tacos while soaking in the picturesque view of Venice Beach. A wave of joy washed over me, and in that moment, I fell in love with Venice Beach all over again, deeper than ever before.

My Airbnb at Marina del Rey

My Airbnb, nestled between Marina del Rey and Venice Beach, came with its fair share of skepticism due to the negative reviews it had received. However, the significantly lower price piqued my curiosity, and I decided to give it a chance. Prior to my arrival, I was aware that it was a small apartment with a shared bathroom. Upon stepping inside, I was greeted by an unusual layout. The entrance led to the vanity area, complete with a sink and mirror, while a separate door on the left revealed the toilet and shower. Strangely enough, there was no door to the right, only a thick curtain that separated the vanity area from my bedroom. Despite this unconventional arrangement, my stay turned out to be surprisingly pleasant.

The host, an older sweet lady, was incredibly quiet, to the point where I almost felt sorry for her. It was as if she never used the bathroom at all. Additionally, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt as it appeared that she was sleeping on the couch during my stay. The lady did not speak any English, which initially posed a challenge for communication. However, we managed to find a common language halfway between Russian and Polish since she was from Kazakhstan and spoke Russian. The apartment itself was impeccably clean, and the bed provided an unexpectedly comfortable sleep experience. Since my intention was to spend most of my time exploring the city and using the Airbnb solely for resting, it more than met my needs.

The apartment complex was quite impressive, boasting a beautiful pool that added to its allure. The lush palm trees and vibrant tropical plants that surrounded the complex created a delightful Caribbean resort-like ambiance. Yet, the true highlight of this place was its unbeatable location. Just a four-minute walk from the Airbnb brought me to the stunning shores of Venice Beach. Moreover, the street where the apartment was situated happened to be a hub of the trendiest restaurants and bars in the area, ensuring an exciting and vibrant atmosphere right at my doorstep.

Venice Beach

Venice Beach truly embodies the essence of a cool and vibrant atmosphere, offering a stark contrast to the luxurious image often associated with LA. Here, you won’t find fancy beach clubs but rather a laid-back environment that encourages you to simply grab your towel and find a spot along the long and expansive beach, with the Venice Boulevard as your backdrop. The beach itself is a melting pot of diversity, attracting a wide array of people and offering a fascinating mix of experiences.

As you wander along the boulevard, you’ll be greeted by the towering palm trees, colorful graffiti walls, and an abundance of quaint souvenir shops. The streets are lined with charming bars and delightful takeaway joints, each radiating its own unique and inviting atmosphere. The walls adorned with stunning street art showcase the immense talent and creativity of the artists, making for a truly captivating sight that will leave you in awe. Everywhere you look, you’ll witness people engaging in various activities, from skating and surfing to working out and simply enjoying a leisurely walk while blasting music from their portable CD players. This eclectic combination truly defines the character of Venice Beach.

Oh, and let’s not forget the squirrels. They’re a common sight in the area, adding a touch of charm to the beach experience. For many Norwegians, Venice Beach holds a special place in their hearts due to its appearance in the TV show “Pacific Blue,” which was a summertime favorite for years. I’m fairly certain I know every episode of “Pacific Blue” by heart. As you explore the boulevard, it becomes an exciting trip down memory lane as you recognize familiar locations from the show, making the experience even more special.

During my stay, I dedicated a considerable amount of time to exploring the area on foot. Each morning, I would embark on leisurely walks along the lively Venice Boulevard, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere and capturing the unique sights.

One particular morning, I decided to seize the opportunity for a memorable experience by booking a photoshoot with a talented photographer through an Airbnb experience. The photoshoot took place early in the morning, before the beach became crowded, allowing us to capture stunning shots against the serene backdrop of Venice Beach. The photographer’s skill and the affordability of the experience made it an exceptional addition to my time in Venice Beach.

Marina del Rey to Santa Monica

On one of the days, I embarked on a rather ambitious journey from Marina del Rey to Downtown Santa Monica and back. Little did I realize the distance was quite substantial: 7.5 km or 4.7 miles one way! While many Americans I encountered thought I was a bit crazy for attempting such a long walk, I found immense enjoyment in the experience. Renting an electric scooter did cross my mind for the return trip, but I soon discovered that they are required to navigate the regular roads alongside cars, which seemed a bit daunting. So, I decided to stick with walking, which still proved to be a better option.

Of course, I didn’t walk non-stop. Along the way, I made delightful pit stops to enhance the journey. At the Santa Monica Pier, I indulged in a leisurely brunch while observing the seals trying to snatch fish from the fishermen on the pier. Finding a perfect spot near the pier, I took some time to bask in the sun and relish the refreshing taste of fresh mango. Another highlight was Downtown Santa Monica, where I treated myself to oysters and wine, taking advantage of the beloved happy hour. Unlike the vibrant chaos of Venice Beach, Santa Monica offered a stark contrast with its trendy bars, upscale restaurants, and the pleasant pedestrian street—a rarity in the United States. Reflecting upon my experience, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret for not returning to explore Santa Monica’s vibrant nightlife.

Although I had hoped to experience the vibrant nightlife of Venice Beach, I noticed that many of the restaurants and bars around my apartment closed early, possibly due to the weekday or the post-Labor Day period. Undeterred, I decided to check out High, a rooftop bar known for its stunning view of Venice Beach and the boulevard. However, as a solo traveler, I found the setup less than ideal. The tables were strategically placed, hidden from one another, and there were no bar chairs for casual interaction. It was the first time on my trip that I felt a tinge of loneliness. Perhaps the atmosphere would be livelier on the weekends. I stayed for one drink and then made my way back to Washington Boulevard. With jet lag wreaking havoc on my sleep schedule, going to bed early seemed like a sensible choice. However, before calling it a night, I stumbled upon an incredible sushi spot called Enya Sushi. It turned out to be a gastronomic revelation, offering some of the best sushi I had ever tasted. Although the prices were on the higher side, the exceptional quality made it worth every penny.

It would be remiss of me to conclude this post without acknowledging the incredible people I had the opportunity to spend time with during my stay in Venice Beach. While I ventured out on most of my activities alone, I had the pleasure of meeting some truly amazing individuals along the way. One evening, I crossed paths with a group of lovely girls who had come from Huntington Beach to enjoy a night out. They graciously invited me to join them for drinks, although my jetlag unfortunately cut our time short. I also had the pleasure of reconnecting with my newfound friends from my previous post, whom I met at Chateau Marmont. They not only treated me to a delightful dinner in Marina del Rey but also took me to explore different parts of Los Angeles that I would have otherwise missed. Additionally, I had the chance to meet up with a friend I had connected with through Couchsurfing before my trip. We visited Marina del Rey beach and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Tony P’s, where the portion sizes were larger than I was accustomed to (a common trend in the United States). While I am not a fan of wasting food or relying on doggy bags, I appreciated the restaurant’s inviting atmosphere and the scenic view of the marina with its impressive yachts.

These encounters and shared experiences added a special touch to my time in Venice Beach, reminding me of the wonderful connections and friendships that can be formed during travels.

Enya Sushi
Enya Sushi
High Rooftopbar

Concluding my three-day stay at Venice Beach, I felt a sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the experiences I had during my time in this vibrant coastal destination. From immersing myself in the diverse beach culture to savoring delightful meals and connecting with wonderful individuals, Venice Beach left a lasting impression on my journey. As I said my farewells and returned to Hollywood, I carried with me treasured memories and a deeper appreciation for the distinct charm and lively atmosphere of this captivating place.

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