Down the slope.

This is the view onto Lake Tahoe. Absolutely stunning. Both from above and when you're right at the edge of the water. A truly peaceful place.

It's somewhat ironic that we went skiing in the sunny state of California, but the skiing season was still on in Heavenly. We were lucky that it was Friday and the slopes were not busy, so there was plenty of time for skiing. I was a bit apprehensive, because even though I started skiing when I was about six, it was a good few years since I went down the slope.

I really loved the beach: it reminded me of the Island. I'm in this phase that I only like things that resemble the Island - it seems that I've assimilated into the Islander community now. But in any case Lake Tahoe was so beautiful, with crystal clear water, wonderfully yellow sand and calming little waves. It's a shame it wasn't warm enough for a swim. It would have been absolutely amazing.

And I've found a diner which has satisfied my cravings for hash browns and sour cream. The trip was truly complete with this glorious post-skiing meal.

Most pictures were taken by the most precious Mr Magic. :)

The Bay Area.

San Francisco Bay Area spans over the region of San Pablo Bay and San Francisco Bay. It encompasses the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and smaller cities such as Palo Alto, Mountain View and Santa Clara. It is the home to Facebook, Google and Stanford University.

In my Californian explorations, I've made my way to all three and even managed to get to the Computer History Musem. It is truly wonderful, with hundreds of exhibits, but I was a bit overwhelmed by all of it.

Luckily, twice a day there is a guided tour. Alex, a volunteer and computer geek, was so helpful in explaining the main revolutionary points in the history of computing. Highly informative and finally I got it!

Not to mention the amazing store there...

Now, Mountain View is the home of Google, so my trip would not be complete if I didn't make it to the Android Statutes.

Hop over to Menlo Park and you arrive at Facebook headquarters.

Stanford University is also relatively close by and I recommend joining one of the walking tours led by Stanford students. Even though the tour was filled with prospective applicants and was heavy on the topics relating to admission, it was nonetheless really interesting. The campus is huge and full of lovely spots. I only wish I had more time to just explore and sit around reading.

On a just a fun note, there is California's Great America here which is essentially a fun park filled with different rides. An interesting way to spend my first alternative Easter.

That's it for now! Till next time when I tell you about Lake Tahoe and skiing near the border with Nevada.

Discovering San Francisco.

Ehh, another Monday...

Or maybe not, if it involves a trip to San Francisco. I won't bore you today with a lengthy description. Just look at the pictures: it was amazing!

Caltrain station.

Women's Building.

The Castro

Delicious breakfast from The Cove in The Castro.

On the way to the Golden Gate Bridge.

The iconic bridge.

Laffing Sal from Musée Mécanique

The best attraction yet: a bunch of sea lions!

Lunch at Bubba Gump.

Stay tuned for my next U.S. update!

Bracing myself for the first long-haul flight.

I'm well excited and also absolutely petrified by the prospect of boarding my first trans-Atlantic flight. To ease my nerves, I've got myself properly prepare for all possibilities, packing up my bag to the brim. I've read articles about taking long-aul flights, so even before I even boarded the plane, I felt like I've done it a hundred times over already.

First of all, the getting comfy collection. Norwegian does not provide blankets or pillows in Economy (though you can buy it, as I understand), so I've got my own and also packed reindeer comfy socks to keep my little feet warm.

Getting comfy also included getting dressed in a loose top, leggings and ballerinas (lace up boots are a no-no, too much effort to put them on and off). Hair done up to ensure maximum comfort in terms of temperature and I'm all set.

Snacks are by far the most important part of the preparation. 11 hours in the air with access to unspecified type of food does not sound fun, so having a staff of emergency food is absolutely essential. Here's my little collection:

Nut butter shots, cocoa protein bar, cheese crackers, quinoa crisps
 and dried mango

Now, with Mr Magic waiting on the other side of the Pond, I wanted to be at least relatively fresh (wishful thinking), so I've packed a face towel, facial tissues, lip balm, hand sanitising foam, deodorant and hand cream. Not to forget an extra set of clothes to change into just before landing. I'm not entirely convinced how it will work in practice, but let' hope for the best.

The only thing that remains is to have a delicious pre-flight breakfast, mint tea and finish this miserable essay. The countdown begins!