My time in Memphis

Hi friends, I apologise for taking such a long time to update my blog but in all honesty, I didn't really do all that much in Memphis except for the wedding so there wasn't much to write about. It was a lot of going out and about running errands for the wedding, entertaining myself with dvds & the internet & tv on the days Brandi had to work, eating out (way too much and way too much fast food) and just relaxing at home.
One of the great experiences I had there was going to Brandi & Jacob's church. It's really small (probably 50ish people) and is located in downtown Memphis (actually really near Sun Studios which is where Elvis first recorded (I think) for those who didn't know). They have a great outreach to the homeless there, feeding them every Wednesday and clothing them. They are a close knit group but showed such love and warmth towards me that I felt at home immediately!! I hope to visit there again sometime - just a wonderful group of people who love God!! It was such an honour really to get to know them all!!
Just to show what a small world we live in - the matron of honour (Jess) is married to an Aussie (Jarrod). They were both absolutely gorgeous and they felt so bad about the fact that I'd seen so little of Memphis that they took me out Saturday night after the wedding. I was showing them pictures of my family and it turns out that Jarrod went to school with my brother in law in Brisbane - what are the chances?!! I had a ball with them. They took me to Beale Street in downtown which is being cleaned up and is full of lights and souvenir stores and out for dinner, their shout and to an arcarde place where we played games for the rest of the night. Then we headed to Jess's parents place which is close to the airport and I stayed there the night and they took me to the airport at a ridiculous hour of the morning (I got up at 4am). Jess's mum is a saint and got up early & made breakfast for everyone. I can't eat that early in the morning so she wrapped some up for me to eat later & her husband made me a cup of hot tea - such generous people. I've been so amazingly blessed since I've been here!
The wedding - it was so much different than what I was used to and not just because it was an American wedding but it was very unique even for them. The wedding started 20 mins early (much to Brandi's chagrine) - some people turned up 5 minutes late and missed the whole thing - whoops. It was fun getting dressed up and meeting everyone at the rehearsal dinner the night before. I think I'd missed the social contact in the week or so before that and was thriving on it from last Friday onwards. I love people!! I love meeting new people!! You can never have enough friends!! But to continue, all the bridesmaids had a ball together and even though the wedding was early, it was fun and the reception was on the other side of a partitioned wall which we headed to after the photos. Strange for me was that most people had already eaten before we got in there to eat and there wasn't a bridal party table so we just had to find seating wherever we could. Very different to what I was used to but a great experience nonetheless. My time in Memphis was great - I loved catching up with Brandi again and meeting Jacob and their friends and family. Now it's their turn to come visit Australia!!

One day to fit it all in...

Well I did it - at least as well as I could anyway - Praise God!! I woke up, had my half a waffle for breakfast (I couldn't fit much more than that since I had been unwell the day before) and a cup of tea and headed off for my tour to Alcatraz. After getting instructions on where to take the bus and getting there and finding the bus was crazily packed full, I decided to half run, half walk to Pier 33 where I was to meet for my tour. I didn't quite leave enough time and, not surprisingly, got there too late for the tour I had prebooked. Praying as I headed up to the ticket counter, they told me I could wait in the standby line and if the next tour wasn't full, I could join that. Thank God it wasn't and I was headed off on my first SF tourist destination. I couldn't have asked for better weather either - the sun was shining and though the winds were cool I'm sure it was a lot warmer than it normally was at that time of year. Very similar to Melbourne winter weather. Alcatraz is a great place to visit (I love history when I get to experience in person) and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting SF. My next stop was Pier 39 or Fisherman's Wharf - what a colourful place to go!! So many people, shops, things happening. I had a lot of fun walking through it all & picking up a hot dog for lunch - all those funny foods that you hear about on American shows - they're all there - and salt water taffy too. I haven't bought any yet but I will - I've always wondered what they tasted like! I took out my map again and decided that I didn't know how I was going to get to the Golden Gate bridge except to walk so (maybe somewhat foolishly) I decided to do it. I wouldn't change the experience for anything - I got to see so much of the SF architecture and walked through some really rich areas but let me tell you, it was a really long walk!! I didn't quite get to the bridge but I got close - to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. I spoke to a woman walking dogs and asked about walking all the way to the bridge but she suggested I visit the Palace of Fine Arts Exploratorium instead and if I had tried to go the rest of the way, I wouldn't have had time to see some of the other things I had planned for the day. The Exploratorium building and gardens were beautiful (I didn't go in) but it was a great place to take some pretty photos. From there I headed back to the cable car line - again another long walk and up some ridiculously steep hills - I tried to take pictures but they just don't do it justice so you'll all just have to come over here one day and experience it yourselves! When I got to the cable car stop I noticed (praise God) that I happened to be standing at the top of the crookedest street (the one used in all the movies). I had been looking for it everywhere on the map and had resigned myself to not finding it. I didn't get to ride down it (and there was no way I was walking down it only to have to walk back up!) but at least I got to see it and take a couple of photos!! I caught my beautifully decorated cable car - go Christmas - and headed off up the hill towards the bus line I wanted to take to Alamo park - where the famous "Painted Ladies" are. Let me tell you, a bus ride around school ending is interesting!! I made it safely to the park (thanks to some very lovely bus drivers) and took photos of the famous houses from one of my all time favourite shows - Full House. I know, I know, I'm a sad human being but at least I admit it!! I own all 8 seasons on dvd now!! It was great to enjoy the park and view but I was getting hungry and headed back to my hostel. Another surprise along the way was a park in Nob Hill (the more ritzy area of SF) - it was gorgeous and all the trees were lit up with coloured lights and the church was playing Christmas songs with it's bells - absolutely fantastic!! Great way to end my one day of touring SF!! I'm now in Memphis with my friend Brandi after some half empty flights over and no sickness - yay!! I'll update with more when I have time and news. Love to you all!!

In San Francisco

Hey Everyone. I made it to San Francisco safely but not without some hiccups - namely getting quite sick on the flight over from Sydney to LA and only just feeling a little more like myself now. I've slept way too much because of it and now I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight. Sleep was the only way not to feel sick. It's been a bit of a drama but now I'm in the USA and going out to explore the great outdoors tomorrow. I've spent a little bit of time exploring but haven't had a chance to do any of the things on my list yet. I need to try to fit it all in tomorrow - good luck to me! Love to you all...