Discovery #901 – If you visit Discovery Kingdom you'll need more than one pair of undies

Well as it was my vacation, Tony and I went to Discovery Kingdom. A theme park outside San Francisco, in Vallejo. We took the Bart to El Cerrito Norte, and then had to board another 2 buses ... took us what seemed for ever to get there but we arrived at Discovery Kingdom about an hour and a half later ... I was shit scared (sorry for the swear word but if you saw 'Medusa' you would be too) … well now I normally chicken out when it comes to Roller coasters like that one. I get all excited then, I start to bail ... not possible when you go with tony … he had me on nearly every roller coaster. 'Medusa' was the mother I was scared most for it so I tried to procrastinate this one … with every other roller coaster, First we did this 'white water rafting' ride and we waited about an hour in line ... (waste of time to be honest, i did want more thrills) 'Boomerang', 'Kong', Roar and I even managed to squeeze lunch in there too. Then it was time... I couldn't procrastinate anymore, and 'the line's too long' doesn't work with tony. ANYWAY this roller coaster was nuts... I did go on it... peer pressure but BOY did it get your Adrenalin goin'. The first drop was longggggggggg but it was great... I probably could have went on it twice if I wanted to wait in line. It was a fun day, the park itself isn't just rides and roller coasters. It also has animals, kind of like a zoo but they put on animal shows, one in particular I was busting to see was 'Odin's Temple of the Tiger'. It was obviously a tiger show but to see these animals was unreal the size of them, and to see them swimming and eating in the water. The pictures are below ...

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Went to Santa Cruz Beach Board walk... pretty cool place... kinda like Portrush. Arcades, tickets, amusements, rides, roller coasters (an 85 year old roller coaster at that), candy floss, ice cream, funnelcakes (yum) ... Infact its better than Portrush. Took Caltrain from San Francico to San Jose then took an easy ride on the bus. Anyway the pictures pretty much say it all... fun fun fun ... !

Break the rules and you go to prison, break the prison rules and you go to Alcatraz

Last weekend, which was Jo's last day in San Francisco, I thought it was finally time to visit Alcatraz Island. Jo, Dave and myself all went across to the penitentiary prison and of what fun we had. First off, for those who've never heard of Alcatraz is an island, located 1.4 miles from San Francisco. We took a ferry across to the prison. It was cool, you could just walk around the grounds and see things like what the prisoners did when they where bored etc. It was also great to see what you saw in the movies, got you geared up to watch 'em too like 'The Rock' and 'Escape from Alcatraz'. There was an audio tour which guided you through the cell blocks but wow was it intense it was realistic with sound effects and you walked around the cell blocks hearing a range of different stories that went on in that very room ranging from crazy escape attempts to mad prisoners rioting ... it was an unreal tour and I could probably do it again! Anyway enough blabbing on ... here's some pictures ... check out the view of the bay ... and the solitary confinement.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes - How do you measure, measure a year?

Wow...well its been a year at Extranomical...what a year! Where'd the time go? It flew in... It feels like I just arrived here yesterday :( I've grown so much as a person, I wouldn't know where to begin describing. This has been a great experience for me and it's sad that it has come to an end. Anyway my last day of work was on Friday ( July 31st)... And its now VACATION! woohooo! I got a week in San Francisco hanging with the homies that haven't left yet, then a East Coast to Philadelphia ... then I hit the heat in Arizona for Chelsea's Birthday(its gonna be HOT) in Phoenix, then Tucson with some friends from camp (hopefully) then to Las Vegas once more (with Chelsea) then last stop is Miami were the beaches are at :) I'll keep you posted if I manage to have some free time at the airports :)

There is a few things I would like to say before I take off gallivanting around San Francisco. I've left the Vantaggio ... I'm not the only one to be checking out this weekend... all of my Family there have left... and the 'next generation' of students have arrived. We had a party on Friday ... super fun drunk times ... like always ... the party at Vantaggio was off the hook ... great food and great drink and great times. The party started great ... Roly made some GREAT pasta... and then Jo had made her famous Sangria ... the Irish in the Vantaggio ... now 4 of us, decided to start singing (like the Irish do after they've had a few) ... then we're greeted with two guys ... in Uniform ... haha yep the cops. There's a saying somewhere that goes something like 'you know the party is good if the cops show up' so yeah... we were too loud apparently ... anyway they left... and it was all good, the party still continued... everyone got happy VERY happy... some even fell asleep because they were so happy! Those who where still awake decided to go to the Temple Bar (which was only a block away) for a karaoke sing song. I hadn't sang at Karaoke since I've been in San Francisco... I love it :) anyway after that it was time to call it a night ... I had to check out of the Vantaggio and go to Alcatraz (that's a post to follow) the next day...

Just a few words now... sob...

Extranomical Adventures - Thanks guys, I had a great year and met a lot of really great people. It was a pleasure working with everyone there and I will miss you all... I hope that my job in the future involves as many cool people as you guys. Your support throughout the year has been great and the opportunities provided I feel are once in a life time. Thanks a lot to everyone at Extranomical.

Vantaggio Suites - My main home throughout my stay... I made lots of friends there to whom are friends for life... I've already mentioned my goodbyes as all my really close friends have already returned to there home countries... First of all, Jo, thank you so much for being a great friend, you're a great person, I will miss you but I will see you you are a friend for life and I'm coming to Venice to see you soon! (you're coming to Belfast too). I love you Jo! Then the staff at the front desk, Megan, one of my chums... a learned a lot from her and times did get tough through the year ... we helped each other out... thanks Megan! Sen, (works the grave yard at Vantaggio) I would come home from a night out on the piss and have serious drunken conversations(he'd be sober of course) with sen... Funny times!

Dave - My roommate for the year. Being totally honest when I say this, I don't think I would've asked for a better roommate. You where extremely understanding and it was great hanging out and talking with you. We'll hang out one last time before I leave San Francisco. Thanks Dave!

So I've checked out of the Vantaggio. My closest friend, Tony, has provided me with a room for a week. So I got somewhere comfortable to sleep for a week. :)

Like I said the next post will be Alcatraz... but below are the pictures from the parteee!