fahye | America plans

Wow, you lot are good at sending helpful vibes. Genetics exam was fine - screwed up one question, but only minorly. Finished early. Two exams and one seminar presentation to go! As a thank you, have this song that I got from Wisteria yesterday and just uploaded for Meg: Cake - Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps

It probably sounds exactly like you think it sounds. IT'S FANTASTIC. And I love the Mari Wilson version of that song because it's the Coupling theme song. I need more Coupling icons. OH, CALEB :D?

A few people have been asking about my plans for America, so here's the itinerary:

- June 27th - fly Canberra -> Sydney, and then Sydney -> San Francisco
- Stay at la maison de

schiarire!
- June 29th-July 2nd - go to LA with

schiarire &

dopplegl, do all the fun touristy things like Disneyland and Universal Studios
- Meet up with

hobviously at some stage, generally bum around the Bay area
- July 9th - fly SF -> Washington DC, and stay with

strange_selkie,

darthrami &

chaos_pockets (and a metric ton of extra Millifolken, hurrah!)
- Explore DC for a week, perhaps including a day trip to New York
- Hopefully meet up with

crazylittleme at some stage!
- July 14th-16th - MILLICON. OMG. Meet lots of Milliways people, dress up as Lucifer and generally have a ball.
- July 16th - fly DC -> SF -> Sydney -> Canberra (oh, won't THAT be fun)

And here's the important part: WHAT SHOULD I SEE? What's worth doing in San Francisco or DC? What's cheap/free/expensive but absolutely essential? Where are the unique/bargain-huntery shopping areas?

_leareth is coming around tonight to help me put together a list of stuff to see. We're going to make stirfry and watch the BSG mini and huddle together with tea for warmth.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You posted a music link that wasn't the cursed m4a nonsense! *GLOMPS*

OH~ that reminds me to warn you that, uh, fun touristy things like Disneyland and Universal Studios (actually, just those two places) are about 100x less fun without rollercoasters. *eyes*

TRIS. I THINK JULY 8 would be cool! Palace of the Legion of Honor? ORGAN CONCERTITUDE! *looks at TRIIIIIIIIIIS*

I know for a fact that there are fast rides that do NOT turn you upside down at Disneyland, because I wanted to go on them all last time and my Future Problem Solving teammates were all NOOOOO, TOO SCARY and I pouted for a while. But I really don't mind skipping Disneyland if you guys don't want to go - I HAVE been before, and there is always the danger of being assaulted by people in huge irritating costumes.

I assumed there was more to Universal Studios than rides. Um. But again - if you guys are against it, I am not going to force you to spend lots of money on mediocre fun.

Silly Fahye! that is not the problem at all! rather, we were worried that YOU would have nothing to do. (You told Caleb that you don't like roller coasters?)

I don't like the more extreme ones that turn you upside down. They kill my neck. I thought surely there would be things in between, but perhaps not. *peruses U.S. website*

What else is there in LA that we could do?

Uh . . . off the top of my head:

Chinese Theater
Getty Museum

. . .

Window shopping?

Oh, I can window shop for very. very. long. periods of time :) But this can often cause acute boredom in others.

I would say "shopping," but no actual shopping is to be done on Rodeo or I will die!

Before we go to L.A., Sunset Boulevard must be viewed! everything becomes more fun. Mulholland you've all seen.

Palace of the Legion of Honour is always fun! Fahye, what're your preferred geekouts? Personally I can't get enough of the Asian Art Museum, and there's the new de Young although I've only been there for the now-departed Hatshepsut exhibit. Exploratorium? SCIENCE! Speaking of which there's the Lawrence Hall in Berkeley.

Um. And thiiiings!

I totes believe the POTLH should be visited on an organ day!

In re: others: I've been to the de Young, but it's more American art centric and therefore perhaps less recognizable?

PERSONALLY, I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM, WHICH IS TRAVESTOUS.

SCIENCE! Science is always my preferred geekout, but I am very happy to be taken to arty places by people who know things about art.

Re DC: All the Smithsonian Museums in the Mall area are FREE entrance, and they are all within walking distance of each other (except for the new Air & Sapce annex out at the airport). We were just in DC/Virginia for 4 days last month, and there is so much to see. I did a lot of planning through internet research, and it really paid off (for me) to be organzied because we had only 2 days in the city.

Have a great time! :->

PS I almost forgot to say that the Air & Space Museums (both the one on the mall, though I preferred the one at the airport because it has the bigger toys) are amazing. If you like planes or rockets, they're both 'must sees'.

yay DC! If you can, have a drink at sunset on the rooftop terrace at the Hotel Washington. Lovely view of the Mall as the streetlights come on. Don't eat dinner there, too expensive! Instead, walk to Ella's at 9th and F for some of the best wood-fired pizza I've ever had.

For monuments and museums, some faves are: the Spy Museum (alas, not part of the Smithsonian, thus not free), the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial at night, the Sackler/Freer galleries and the National Gallery (west wing). For architecture, walk around the National Gallery's east wing (designed by I.M. Pei, I believe) and the new Museum of the American Indian. Caveat: the American History museum is about to close for renovations, and many exhibits are already shuttered.

Shopping? I don't know that DC is all that renowned for shopping. If you want a mall, Pentagon City (on Metro (http://wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm)'s blue/yellow line) is a manageable size with decent stores. For flea market stuff, check out Eastern Market (Metro: orange line) on Saturday/Sunday. Arrive before 10:30 if you want to avoid the lines for brunch.

Bars/cafes: I'd head to Adams-Morgan (get off at Woodley Park and walk across the Calvert bridge to 18th and Columbia). Tryst is a funky place to hang out with a cappucino; Lauriol Plaza is breezy and hopping and serves up serious swirl margaritas.

For general city info: check out the Washington Post's (http://www.washingtonpost.com/) Arts and Living section for info on food, entertainment and events. And pick up a copy of the Friday paper for the Weekend section.

Lastly, DC can be really sticky and humid in July - bring really lightweight clothing. Hope you have a *great* trip!

I don't know about DC, but in SF, if you get a chance, head to Monterrey for the aquarium. It is totally, totally worth it, and the drive is beautiful. ;)

How far out of SF is it? And are there trains? I will have to consult with the people upon whom I will be relying for transport. But I do like aquariums! My favourite so far is the one in Birmingham, in the UK.

No trains. :) Hour or two's drive.

FAHYE WHY ARE YOU NOT COMING TO SEATTLE?!

*cries*

UM. WELL. BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MORE MONEY? <--default answer

*hurriedly looks up where Seattle is*

Much as I would love to meet a Brynn, I made plans and bought tickets many months ago, based on Millicon and availability of friends on which I could impose :(

Even though your answer is totally reasonable and logical, I am CRYING ANYWAY. Does our love mean NOTHING to you?!

OMG ARE YOU BREAKING UP WITH ME?

;_;

OH I FORGOT TO MENTION. Go to Amoeba in Berkeley. You can get BILLIONS OF CDS for TWO DOLLARS apiece. It is a MIRACLE.

...now THAT is a useful thing to know. Thank you!

*starts scribbling list*

Also Berkeley's pretty fun. :>

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