The 12.05pm Amtrak to San Diego

Gentle San Diego
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The original plan was to stay another night at the 'Banana Bungalow' and go see a TV recording such as Arsenio Hall or Jay Leno. They usually have free tickets at Universal studios but I checked yesterday and they have closed early for Thanksgiving. Besides my maximum five nights at the Bungalow are up and Andy Atkinson has asked me if I want to go down to San Diego with him.

That was going to be my next stop anyway but I have a little friend in Andy and we have really bonded over the good time we have had the last two days. So we both took the minibus down to the Amtrak station (we stopped at the Greyhound, Lawks! I am pleased I switched to the train - that place looked terrifying in the daylight) and bought tickets for the 12.05 to San Diego.

It almost encapsulates America in one city. I can think of no other country on earth that would create a Los Angeles.

I have had a good time in Los Angeles. I think alot of it is down to choosing a good place to stay with the free trips to beach, theme parks etc I have been able to see much more of the city then had I stayed in other hostels. We relaxed on the train and for a three hour train ride it took 1/12 hours to clear Los Angeles. Its quite a flat city with concrete buildings broken only by palm trees But it is a city that you must visit once in your lifetime. What catches your breathe about this city is the extreme juxposition of wealth and poverty. Compare lauded Rodeo Drive and Beverley Hills with 'Skid Row' but at the same time has created a dreamworld of SFX and pyrotechnics - almost denying its reality. It almost encapsulates America in one city. I can think of no other country on earth that would create a Los Angeles.

Andy Atkinson chucked in a good job with ICI to go traveling and flies back from Vancouver on the 19th. While he was in San Francisco he was robbed of his passport so he doesn't know how he stands visawise. He was thinking of popping over to Tijuana to see how he stands visawise but after telling my experience in Texas of being trapped the wrong side of the border I cautioned against it. He doesn't have to stay in a hostel either - a family befriended him while he was having hysterics at the British consulate in San Francisco and he can stay at their house in Hillcrest if he wants too.

The journey down to San Diego is very pleasant. The ocean is on one side with beach houses standing on cliffs overlooking the sparkling Pacific. We rolled into San Diegos Santa Fe depot about 3.00pm. I had to change up some money so Andy watched the backpacks as I found a bank. I immediately liked San Diego -its a clean, warm city. Surrounded by brilliant blue skies its modern but has an easygoing air.

We headed one block north on A Street and caught the streetcar/trolley to 'Jims at the Beach' hostel. Andy used the phone to ring the family and was soon off to meet them at Horton Plaza. I was to meet him at the entrance to the San Diego zoo tomorrow at 11.00am.

So I settled down into another friendly hostel. After cooking I sat down with the other guests to watch the show which made America great - 'Married with Children' with Al Bundy.