USS Midway, San Diego

The USS Midway is an old aircraft carrier which worked from the 1940's until 1990's but has undergone several renovations. It is now a museum. The ship is massive and can hold about 4500 people along with all the planes etc. It was really interesting and we saw everything from the sleeping quarters and kitchens to the hospital and operating theatre that functioned onboard the ship.

Comfy sleeping quarters for the low ranked officers

Top level with many planes/jets on display

View of San Diego from the harbour

San Diego

After flying to LA we hired a car and drove to San Diego. We spent 3 days there which was a great change from the very "southern'' food etc in Florida where everything is so big and it's a burger for every meal! We found San Diego more multicultural and had some great Asian food there. We did a tour of the city, the zoo, an afternoon in Tijuana Mexico - a dodgy tourist spot, and the USS Midway. Overall it is a really nice city, the landscape is dry and there are lots of gums trees and Moreton Bay Figs.

San Diego Zoo

The main reason to visit San Diego was to go to the zoo - and it was definately worth it. San Diego zoo is fantastic and the only other zoo in the world apart from Melbourne that I have been really impressed with. It is really green and pretty with heaps of trees and large enclosures. The landscape in San Diego was quite similar to Australia.

View of the zoo from a cable car - mostly gum trees!

Kennedy Space Centre

We visited the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral where the NASA space shuttles are launched. The space shuttle Atlantis was on the launch pad (below) and has now been launched into space. It was really interesting to see the real thing, not a museum and we saw the makings of things which will be taken up to the international space centre.

Launch Pad

Astronauts Ben and Downy

Side of the huge building which the shuttles are made and re-furbished ready for another launch.

Disney World - Orlando

Disney World in Orlando was awesome. It is huge and we only went to the Magic Kingdom (there are 5 kingdoms) which is the main one. We spent 11 hours there, at night it finished with an amazing fireworks display over the magic kingdom. Highlights of the day were the giant roasted turkey legs and the space roller coaster in the dark. I loved the parade of characters and the fireworks.

Disney World

The Honeymoon

After Matt & Kay's wedding we were lucky to spend the start of their honeymoon with them!!! This was a really nice house right on the beach in Florida! It was great to spend time with our friends from uni who we hadn't seen for 3 years! The sunsets were amazing and reminded us of home in Australia.

Matt, Jeff, baby Joe, Ben, Downy