Day 146 - West Hollywood, California, USA to London, England

Well it is finally here. The last day of our epic and fantastic trip. Very mixed emotions this morning as we are excited to see people back home but obviously very sad that this most amazing chapter of our lives is drawing to a close. Not sure what I am going to do in the mornings when I can't just throw on my shorts and flip flops and hit some beach, pool or amazing place. 

However, it ain't over yet! Our flight isn't until 10:30pm so we still have a good day left and time to chill by the pool before we set off. First things first though - The dreaded pack which has got a lot harder considering our numerous purchases in the US. But naturally, after packing our suitcases no less than 56 times in the least five months we are pretty damn good at it now. 

We only get a few hours by the pool today despite our late flight as they do not have a shower available to guests post check out and we don't fancy getting a long flight all sweaty and covered in sun tan lotion. That means we need to be out the room by 1pm so we only have a few hours. 

Sitting at my desk on Tuesday is going to be a right come down when I am so used to sitting in is position...

After getting showered and changed we head out for a drive around LA. After another trip up into the hills to look at the ridiculous mansions we park up at Hollywood Boulevard and have a little walk around there. They have relocated Hard Rock to right next to Graumans Chinese Theatre now. Unfortunately we don't have time for a drink but I can sleep rest assured that 'technically' I have already been to the Hollywood Boulevard one. 

Graumans Chinese Theatre (or I think it may even have another new name now!)

Michael Jackson's hand and footprints (which was secretly a decoy for me to get a picture of the Twlight gangs prints above!)

Still searching for Will Smith to go with my Tommy Lee Jones spot. I know he must be around here somewhere. 

Nice views of the famous and uber cool Roosevelt Hotel. Although location wise the hotels further down on sunset are far better positioned. 

My mate TLJ. 

We remembered the last time we were stood around this star. We were on our honeymoon and had met up with Karl and Gem and it was a few days after Michael Jackson had actually died. We passed his star at about 1am after a night out and ended up joining a small group singing MJ songs. Before we knew it there was a 40 strong crowd of people all singing and dancing. It was a great moment and a very fitting tribute. 

Where the oscars are held...

Nice view of the Hollywood sign through the shopping centre. 

We then head to the Ivy where we have booked a very special last lunch which is now becoming a bit of a tradition when in LA. The place is gorgeous, like an old English cottage with a gorgeous garden and white picket fence. 

Few glasses of champers - don't mind if we do!

The food is absolutely fabulous. I have probably the best ribs I have ever tasted. The meat literally fell off the bone as I picked them up and they were so tender and delicious and Nat's linguini had clams and scallops in the size of tennis balls!

And then to top it off they only go and bring me my perfect dessert - huge slab of chocolate cake with a side of ice cream AND cookies. It did defeat me though. Only managed a mere half of this. 

All too much for Nat once back in the car. 

We then decide to head to the airport as given our experience with LA traffic I don't trust the hour we are told it takes to get there. We leave in plenty of time and as per usual we fly through with no traffic, everything runs like clockwork dropping the car off. The bus even drops us right outside the Virgin check in. Typical when you have plenty of time to kill. Then on top of that we find out the flight is delayed by ab hour and a half. Oh well. We have also grown accustomed to killing time in airports and spend the next 3-4 hours sitting on bar stools in the bar watching the baseball and getting our final few IPAs down our necks. We finally board at around 11:30pm. Next stop home. It feels very strange to be going home and not onto some new place. 

So now as I come to the end of my last post I guess it's time for the sentimental sign off! (Get your hankies at the ready mothers!)

It is very difficult to describe our feelings as we board the plane for home as they are very mixed but as always I will give it a go. 

The first feeling is definitely excitement about seeing everyone and catching up with all our nearest and dearest. And then of course there is great sadness that it has come to an end as we have truly had the time of our lives. I am not over exaggerating by saying that it is truly a life changing experience. What we have experienced will live with us forever and has been, in my view, the final piece in the development of us as people, kind of like our final 'education'. It will definitely shape who we are and our outlook of the world. The next feeling is probably the strongest one for me and that is one of utter content. I think five months has been a great amount of time and I don't think I could have wished for a better trip. The countries we have been to, the places we have seen, the people we have met along the way - it has all been absolutely perfect. Finally we feel extremely privileged and lucky to have had this opportunity and it is testament that the hard work and long slog does pay off and help create these opportunities for us. Overall it has been utterly amazing. I sure am going to miss writing these blogs despite the long long long hours I have put into it. It is so great to have our whole trip documented (in what has probably been too much detail at times!) It has also been great to see and hear that so many people have been following us. I'll definitely continue with it on any future travels. 

I must also add a special mention to my wonderful wife who has been the best travelling companion a guy could wish for. It really is testament to the strength of our marriage and how good we are together, and how we love all of the same things, that we come out of such an intense amount of time together even stronger and having had virtually no arguments (although there have been minor two minute ones usually when she is trying to read a map to direct me whilst I am driving!). I certainly hit the jackpot here. 

So with this I bring the official blogging to an end (wow - even I am feeling a tad emotional about this now!) but as Semisonic once put so wonderfully "Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end". I can also rest well knowing that we return to the most amazing friends and family, jobs we love and also safe in the knowledge that of all the places we have visited in the world, London is still hands down the best place on earth to live! 

PS. For those that are still hankering for more I will write three more summary reports of the trip: "the trip in numbers and facts", "the trip awards ceremony" and "things the guide books don't tell you about travelling" 

Big love xxxx