Hello everyone!

Thought we'd update you on our travels now beacuse we're flying out to Fiji tomorrow arvo and not sure I'll be able to drag myself away from the beach to go online. STILL not able to put photos up, this time it's because there arrn't any USB hubs on these PC's. You'll have to keep waiting.

We managed to squeeze in a few more things before we left NY....went for a day in Central Park, it was lovely and sunny that day too so was pretty good. It's a big old park to walk around and I think we covered most of it. Our feet were throbbing by the end of the day! We were sat on the boat for the Ellis Island tour the day after, but the fog rolled in so they couldn't sail, which is a bit of a shame, but not to worry too much. And we managed to squeeze in a meal out in Greenwich Village too (and our first, very well deserved, drink) It was really really good and the resturant was really funky so that was a lovelly evening, it was nice to treat ourselves.

Monday we got sorted and headed off to Pen station for our epic train journey. We headed north through New York state first, not really much to see of any note except for some big holiday homes for the wealthy folk. Didn't get much sleep the first night because the dude behind us insisted on singing to himself most of the way. Eventually go to Chicago and then our connection was delayed for four hours! Once we got eventually got going it was well worth it. Some of the views wrere AMAZING. I think our highlights were the Rocky Mountains and Northern California. Winding up through the snowy mountains was pretty cool and easily made up for the lack of sleep or a shower and the whole trip was way better than flying. Met some pretty interesting people too, including a couple from Retford. Never far from home hey?!

Its been sunny the whole time in San Francisco which is a bonus and our hostel is awesome too. We've done everything that a good tourist does really. Walked alomg the water to (and over) the Golden Gate Bridge, rode the cable car up the hills, went to Lumbard Street (the second most twisty street in the world, not sure where the first is?!) and today we went to Alcatraz. That was well worth a visit, pretty cool to walk around a place that used to house Al Capone. As with NY we've worked everywhere, but its beyond hilly here so we're both knackered every night. We'll have legs like Lance Armstrong by the time we get home.

Time is running out on the net so we'll say goodbye. We'll update again after Fiji I think, we'll be thinking of you all in work while we sun ourselves in paradise!

Love to everyone, Mat and Kati