#BoldInTheCold : Sightseeing In A Storm

Hello, hello, hello!

Today I have something a little bit different for you guys! I'm sharing with you lovely lot how YOU can win win win a fabulous holiday to Dubai for you and 3 friends from the awesome people at Virgin Holidays!

I myself have traveled with Virgin in the past so know first hand how amazing their service is, so to win a holiday for free would surely be a dream come true for most of you!

All you have to do to be in the chance of winning is Go BOLD IN THE COLD!

Yes, it's that easy! Just take part in something flaut-worthy this Winter, either photograph it or, if you're feeling extra creative, make a short video and then share it!

This can be anything from rocking a bikini in the snow to eating an ice cream on the beach in the rain to even swimming in the sea!

 Anything that can evoke the spirit of a summer holiday this winter can be classed as bolding it in the cold and all you have to do is share it on social media!

You never know you could be jetting off to an incredible summer holiday to Dubai with 3 of your besties before you know it!

As you can see from the photos above I was seriously brave and tackled a blooming horrible storm to do a spot of sightseeing on what should have been a beautiful sunny day in the fabulous city of San Francisco!

Even though I have never seen so much rain in my life there was noway that I was missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity so I 'Bold In The Cold', hopped off the coach we were on and ventured onto the Golden Gate Bridge! 

Not one other person on that coach got off and explored like me and my best friend did, but we didn't care - we weren't going to miss out on this! 

So there we go - an example of bolding it in the cold, doing something summer holiday-esque in blooming chilly weather! 

Now there are so many things you could do to enter - it may have been something you've aleady done, like me, or head on out now and pretend it's August! 

To find out more and/or enter the #boldinthecold comp just click here!

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Kirstie's Travel Diaries #18 : Tram Riding & Fisherman's Wharf

Catch up with #17 here.

Day 18 (17/03/12)

Our last day in San Fran before we headed off on our travels again! Today the sun was actually shining - woohoo, we had hardly seen it since landed here so we were so excited to get out of the hotel and enjoy our last day!

(Not sure why the flags say 2013... because it was 2012!) Something we still hadn't yet done was ride the famous trams so it was on the top of our list of things to do!

Once again we had missed breakfast in the hotel so we got ready and left and joined the queue down the hill for the Powell & Market tram!

The queue was definitely longer than we were expecting - we hadn't really noticed it before... maybe it was because of the weather though - everyone had the same idea as us!

We probably queued for half an hour or so, maybe longer, but it didn't seem that long - I can't remember where we got our tickets weather it was before or once we had boarded the tram but I think it was about $6 or so for a return to Fisherman's Wharf and back!

We luckily got seat on the way there - being a first timer I didn't fancy standing, especially when this thing came so close to other traffic - people were literally high-fiving bus drivers! 

It was so nice to get out of the main square and explore a bit more of the city! 

There were so many things to see whilst on the tram journey down the Fisherman's Wharf and you can seriously see how steep the hills are too - no wonder the queues were so big for this thing!

San Francisco is so beautiful - it's one of the places I want to re-visit most!

 I can't really remember how long it took down to Fisherman's Wharf but it can't have been longer than 30/40 mins! Once there (it was the end of the line) we hopped off and had a little walk around!

There was a Starbucks just by the tram line so we went in there and got a drink and had a sit down! Whilst in there we checked-in for our flight the next day - because we had booked things separately we wanted to make sure we'd be sat together on the flights. (even if it was only an hour and a bit!)

After a little while we decided to head back on the tram - we weren't sure how often they came so and we knew we had to pack so we went and waited for one to take us home!

This time it was busy again and we actually had to stand up and hold on - which thankfully I wasn't as scared about now!

We were stood next to a lovely couple who we ended up chatting to most of the way back! I can't quite remember where they were from ... possibly England now I think about it and they had just been on a cruise and were telling us all about their adventure and we did the same about ours! They were lovely and really helpful as they popped our bags between their feet so we didn't have to hold them and still had a free hand to snap some photos!

Back at Powell & Market we had a couple of hours to spare so we thought - let's go to the cinema again! Haha, we are the coolest right?

This time we decided to see The Lorax - something we both had really wanted to see after "meeting" him at Universal Studios Hollywood. I am such a HUGE Dr. Seuss fan so couldn't wait to see it!

Slight problem after purchasing the tickets though.... we went to get some popcorn and my friend suddenly realised - she's lost her bank card. After going through her bag 3457 times it was official - her card was lost/had been taken. HELP. 

Queue calling England and our parents to help us out! We are 8 hours behind remember so that was a bit of a pain! Thankfully after just a few phone calls home we had sorted it - the card was cancelled and a new one would be sent out to Florida for when we arrived there in a week's time.

Panic over - slightly... my friend was now cardless!

After the drama we had luckily only missed about 10 minutes of movie so sat down and enjoyed the rest of it! ( Bloomin' brilliant movie that I could watch over and over again! )

After the movie we made our way back to the hotel and started packing up our life's once again because tomorrow ..... we were off to Sin City.

NEXT TIME - We fly to Las Vegas!

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Kirstie's Travel Diaries #18 : St. Patrick's Day, Cinema & Cheesecake Factory

Catch up with #17 here.

Day 18 (17/03/12)

After a long, long catch up on sleep and a lazy morning, we are into day 3 of our stay in San Francisco and although the rain had stopped .... it was still cloudy and a bit chilly! 

It was St. Patrick's Day so clearly green was the colour of the day! 

We had missed breakfast in our hotel every morning for some reason or another and today was no different! So we decided to head out and go and find somewhere for a nice mid-morning brunch!

We found  a Denny's - which I was super excited about as I'd always wanted to go there.... it's the little things isn't it haha! Pancakes, bacon, toast, hash browns and more later - we were full for the day and headed back towards town!

It was then that we noticed the parade! Because it was St. Patricks Day there was a parade with floats and things all through the streets - I loved this as it really reminded me of home as we have so many carnivals here! 

Where the weather wasn't great we decided to head down the nearest cinema, which was luckily only a few blocks away, and see 21 Jump Street seeing as we had been outside the premiere just days before we were dying to actually see the movie!

Now something I wasn't prepared for in an American cinema.... no.sweet.popcorn. - WHAT?! They only did salted... totes weird right?!

The movie was of course hilarious and if you haven't seen it yet then you are 1. seriously behind in the times and 2. missing out!

Our day was of course not over here, there is always time for shopping! We headed to all the stores we hadn't yet checked out (spent way too much money) - this including Macy's WHICH had a Cheesecake Factory at the top of it - amazing!

My jaw dropped when I saw everything they sold but with the queue to be seated being an hour long we decided to just get some cheesecake to takeaway each!

This was just round the corner from our hotel so it was time to head back, get in some comfy clothes and eat cheesecake!

 NEXT POST : Tram riding, Fisherman's Wharf and.... yup we head to the cinema again!

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Kirstie's Travel Diaries #17 : Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour with Viator

Catch up with #16 here.

Day 17 (16/03/12)

Man this was an early start, Way too early for two girls who had been to a gig the night before... not the mention the 'couple' of vodka we had downed! But we had a trip planned and it was booked and paid for so we solidered on!
When we added San Francisco into our travel plans we knew we wanted to go to Alcatraz and well the Golden Gate bridge is just an obvious thing to want to see right? 
We had imagined cruising along the bridge in shorts and a t-shirt on bikes taking in the California sites............ well this did not happen! The weather was horrendous so it was blooming well lucky we had booked this city coach tour!
 This was the Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour from Viator if any of you are wondering and at under $50 each it is a total bargain that I would recommend to anyone!

Anyway - we were up early and waiting patiently for our coach to come at pick us up! We were lucky enough that they picked us up from our hotel - which was really great because the weather was not the best. (basically felt like England!)

We were then taken to the main office of the travel company and told which group we were in - either tour then Alcatraz or Alcatraz and then the tour. 
As we were both a little sleepy still I was so glad to find out we were heading on the city tour first! A nice sit down on the coach, feet up and take in the sites!
First stop the Golden Gate Bridge!!

We parked up in a nearby car park and were offered the choice to get out and go for a walk upto the bridge - now some people turned this down because of the weather but there was noway we were missing out on this chance, especially as this was probably the only time were going to be able to get to the bridge!

So out we went, prepared to be wind swept and with an umbrella in hand - and it was hilarious! I hadn't been in that much rain in a long long time - and that says alot for someone who lives in England! We only had 20 minutes or so that I remember but we didn't need alot of time out in that crazy storm!

We were literally soaking after this - everyone on the coach actually laughed at us when we clambered back on, make-up down our faces and drenched clothes!

Needless to say that woke us up! 

We then popped to a local supermarket so we could get some food for the morning ahead! All I remember buying was a creme egg -- I'm sure I bought like a bag full of food though!

We then had the tour around the city which was awesome! We learnt and saw so much - the only downside was the weather - but what can ya do?!

Before we knew it it was nearly time to head to Alcatraz but we were reocmmned a restaurant by the ferry port before we did... it was rubbish don't go there (Butterfly!?)

Poncho's on, we headed to the ferry! I was really looking forward to this, I find things like this so interesting and couldn't wait to go on the tour and hear all the stories that came from this place!

I highly recommend if you ever get the chance to go to San Fransisco to go to Alcatraz! It is one of the most interesting places I've ever been! 

The tour is so well organised, you just get your own headset in your chosen language and it just guides you round the prison - narrated by former inmates and officers! 

So many stories and it really is an eye-opener! 

This trip was a total bargain - under $50 to do and see everything - fantastic!!

NEXT POST : ST. PATRICKS DAY 

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Kirstie's Travel Diaries #16 : San Fran Shopping & The Pretty Reckless Gig

Catch up with #15 here.

Day 16 (15/03/12)

Our first full day in San Francisco and unfortunately the weather was not in our favour (some of these photos were taken on other days, who wants to get their camera out in a down pour?!)
With an exciting evening ahead of us (keep reading) we thought a chilled day out exploring our surroundings and checking out the mounds of shops around us was a fab idea!


The night before we had mainly been looking for food outlets so fashion, beauty and other exciting things hadn't really caught our eye - so today when we actually saw what we were living by we couldn't believe it!
We headed out from our hotel and popped into the H&M which was just a few doors down - I swear H&M is always exactly the same no matter where you are in the world the stock is exactly the same!
Furthur down the hill we found an incredible Forever 21 store - it was literally 3 or 4 stories high - so beautiful!
Then over the road to Westfields! Yup it's not the England that has those, there is one in San Fran too and it is bloomin' well awesome!

This mall had everything and I mean everything! I could have spent days and millions in here - loves it!
As we were strolling round one of the department stores we got into a conversation with some of the workers who told us that BRITNEY had been in there just a few days before - I cannot believe we missed her by just a few hours!!

A place I fell totally in love in Westfield's was - Yoppi! A DIY frozen yogurt place - I am dead serious when I say I was full-on addicted to fro-yo! Some many flavours to choose from and incredible selection of toppings, yum!

The one thing I didn't like about shopping in the mall was the amount of people trying to sell you stuff - ahhh leave me alone! Although a woman sitting my friend down and starting to straighten her hair did make me laugh.... alot.

Daytime coming to an end we decided to head back to our hotel and get ready because - we were off to see The Pretty Reckless!

A couple of months previous when we were back in England, they had announced their tour and the fact they were playing in San Fran the day after we got there was just fate so my friend bought me tickets for my 22nd birthday (what a babe!) and we had been so excited for it ever since!

Now the day was here, so I headed to the off lincense - got some vodka and we headed back to our room to get ready!

 Back at the room we had the genius idea of ordering Dominos to our hotel via their website - and yes it worked and it was amazing! (we were turning into pro hotel regulars!)

Ready - we called a taxi and were on our way to the Bottom Of The Hill club! It wasn't that far away and we were a little nervous as we weren't sure what to expect - but I was so excited it wasn't long before I didn't care where we were and we were in the queue outside chatting away to everyone!

There were a few support acts (who of course we had never heard of) and then it was time for Taylor and her guys to hit the stage! The club was super small - so we had an amazing view - I loved how intimate it was in there!

The were amazing - and my love for them grew even more! I felt so lucky to have seen them live and so close aswell - best birthday present ever!

Now we were exhausted so it was time to call a taxi home (after going outside to spot Taylor strolling upstairs after a smoke of course!) - we had a seriously early morning so it we went back to our hotel, ate the leftover pizza and hit the hay!

NEXT TIME : Tour of San Fran, The Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz! 

Kirstie's Travel Diaries #15 : Flying to San Francisco

Catch up with #14 here.

Day 15 (14/03/12)

Our time in LA was up - there were some major sad faces looking at us in the mirror but only for a split second because it was time to head north up the west coast to the legendary San Francisco!
We'd packed our bags and were up and ready to go bright and early! We wanted to go and say a little goodbye to Hollywood so we popped next door to the Hollywood & Highland centre where we got some super nutritious breakfast of..... Nestle toll house cookies *yum* and walked down to see the walk of fame for the last time!
Our flight wasn't until early afternoon but we knew traffic in LA was pretty horrendous at times so we left ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and get checked in before departing the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles!
And yes we were a bit OTT with our luggage.....and it only got worse as the trip went on!

Of course there was only one person taking us to LAX and that was our fabulous driver Harry (remember him?) and as always he had us in hysterics from the moment he loaded our suitcases into his car!
We talked about "the Kim Kardashian, the bling bling, the rappers" and after alot of giggles, some final LA sight seeing and drive up to a limo to try and check out who was inside we were at LAX and saying our goodbyes! (we definitely should have given him a bigger tip - sorry Harry!)

For a second when we arrived we suddenly had a feeling of dread that we were in the wrong airport - we hadn't seen any signs for LAX and we just felt a bit lost.... that didn't last long though and obviously we were both just being a bit blonde - opps!

Went to check in and my friend's suitcase once again was too heavy so it was time to take things out and ram them into any nook and cranny in our bags that was left! 
Then security... and it was the first time I had ever been in a body scanner thingy-ma-jig! A very strange feeling! 
An airport trip wouldn't be an airport trip without a Macdonalds and a Pinkberry - lunch complete we headed to a shop, picked up Jessica Simpson's issue of Elle and went our gate to start waiting.

Our plane was delayed - which wasn't fun but it was only for an hour or two so it went quite quickly thank god! Before we knew it we were on our 50minute flight up to San Fran and the fact I had my face in Mockingjay for the whole flight made it 'fly' by!
The weather in San Fran was well... pants - which wasn't a fabulous start but we are from England we are used to clouds, wind and rain!

We hailed a taxi to take us to our hotel which was in the general part of town, which ended up being a pretty tight squeeze with all our bags and my suitcase ended up riding shotgun which we found hilarious!

We checked into our hotel which was in a great location - in the middle of the hussle and bussle of the stores and tram line and had a good old sit down! What is it about traveling that makes you so tired?!

Our room was .... well it was blooming well tiny - with our suitcases down on the floor it was hard to move around and after having a whole apartment in LA it felt even smaller! 
But, we didn't care we were having a great time and that's all that matters!

We decided to brave the rain and pop out to find some dinner - and what we did find was Westfields - oh yes this mall was HUGE with every store you could think of in it! I couldn't wait to come back in the day and have a good old fashioned shopping spree!
Subway was our meal of choice - lazy I know, we took it back to the hotel and had an early night ready to explore San Francisco in the morning!

NEXT POST - Hello San Fran & The Pretty Reckless Gig!