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I visited New York in
April and September in 1997. As I stayed for only three days, I
didn't see much.
When I travel in a country I have never visited before, I always use
taxis. So I used only taxis in April. In September, I used the subway
in the morning to make sure it was safe enough. As I didn't have any
trouble in the train, I decided to use the subway during the daytime
as well.
Many people say New York is not as dangerous as it used to be. I
wouldn't say it is completely safe, however, it will be OK if you are
alert. Anyway, the subway is cheap and convenient.
During my stay, I visited the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center,
Empire State Building, Rockferror Center, Times Square, and Central
Park. I like New York very much because it's very thrilling. I'm
determined to stay longer and go to Chinatown next time.
Even though Hollywood is not very safe, around the Chinese Theater is quite safe during the daytime because there are a lot of tourists. However, you should be careful of pickpockets. In Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive), I asked a middle-aged woman where the drugstore was. She kindly led me to the drugstore. When I told her I was staying in the Bonaventure Hotel downtown, she said, "Downtown is not very safe. You should stay in Beverly Hills next time." I didn't tell her that I had chosen the hotel because of the cheap price. The area between Little Tokyo and downtown is quite dangerous, but I think downtown is OK if there are many people around you. I heard some places are so dangerous you shouldn't stop your car even if a traffic light is red. Century City is very modern. There is a building which was shot in a movie. The Dive Restaurant produced by Steven Spielberg is located in the shopping center. You can take a taxi in front of the restaurant. I spent a whole day in Century City and ate lunch in the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel which I had seen in the movie "Pretty Woman". Although it was quite expensive, I enjoyed a luxurious atmosphere.
Santa Monica * Marina de Rey I went sightseeing but I was tired after the long flight. As Santa Monica was very safe, I could relax watching the sea and shopping around. Marina de Rey is the largest artificial yacht harbor in the world. Watching seagulls at the harbor is very relaxing.
In order to get to Universal Studio, I recommend you take a taxi or join a tour because it's located in a remote area. Booking a tour in a hotel is less expensive than using a taxi. Also, you can book through travel agencies in Japan although it is more expensive. The most popular attraction in the studio is "Jurassic Park". "Water World" is a great stunt show. It's worth standing in a line to get a seat.
It is huge (bigger than Tokyo Disneyland). Unlike Tokyo Disneyland you don't have to stand in a line for hours. If you want to see all the attractions, you should go early morning. It is recommendable to stay in a hotel in Anaheim or join a tour because Disneyland is far from the center of Los Angeles. I went there in August in 1996 and October in 1998. October was less crowded than August. I don't know which month is the best, but I'm sure it's always less crowded than Tokyo Disneyland.
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The picture projected on the wall of the arcade made me feel that I really was in America. I'm sure this place is worth visiting. |
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In 1996, I stayed in this hotel. It is a
Pyramid-shaped building behind a Sphinx. The center of this
building is designed as a town which has many attractions,
restaurants, and a casino. |
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When I was there in September 1997, they
had less attractions than in 1996 because of refurbishment.
However, I found a place where I was allowed to take a
picture with a one-month-old lion on my way from the hotel
to the theme park. Although I had to pay, I think I was
lucky because my friend who went there in July 1997 had a
bigger one. She told me that it had been about three months
old. I enjoyed some thrilling rides at Grand Adventures. |
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Cinema Ride...is a 3-D theater situated on the same site as the Caesar's Palace Hotel where Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman stayed in the movie "Rain Man". Your seat moves synchronized with the picture on the screen. Since the theater is located in the basement, it may be difficult to find it. However, the ticket office is located in the street which has many shops along it, so you can't miss it. |
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"Big Shot"is a thrilling freefall from the top of the tower. It goes up and down three times, and it is extremely thrilling at night. I have never tried the roller coaster next to the freefall because it stops quite often. |
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It was great!!! To tell the truth, I am a roller-coaster freak. I liked it so much I wanted to ride as many times as I could. If you don't like roller coasters, never try it! |
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Although San Francisco is quite safe during the
daytime, it is dangerous to go out at night. When I went to a fast
food shop around 7 o'clock in the evening, I was sworn at by a man. I
just ignored him because he didn't have a gun.
I stayed in a hotel near Union Square.
When I walked from the hotel to Fisherman's, I had an impression that
it was a quiet residential area . However, in North Beach (Little
Italy), some men are looking for Japanese women to pick up. So if you
are a woman, you shouldn't go there.
I like eating in Chinatown because
everything is tasty. Also, you can find cheap picture postcards
there. Since Chinatown is very close to Union Square, it is quite
accessible on foot.
Even though buses are the best transportation in
San Francisco, I recommend you take a bus when you come back from
Fisherman's because the cablecars are so crowded that you may stand
in a line for over one hour at the station.
There are so many bus routes that it is
difficult to find the right one. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find
my bus and asked someone at the bus stop.
In Fisherman's, I recommend the stalls
rather than the restaurants because they have more selections. Their
seafood is really good!
San Diego is not very dangerous. If you are alert,
you can go out at night.
In San Diego, I stayed in my friend's house and she
showed me around by car. She gave me some information about the
transportation in San Diego: The busses are very convenient covering
both the city and the suburbs. There are over 100 bus routes and the
fare is $1.75. The fare for an express bus varies from $2.00 to 3.00
depending on a destination. No. 992 bus goes to San Diego
International Airport. The airport is very close to the center, which
is very rare in the U.S. The airplanes fly above the residential
area.
I personally recommend the following
places:
Harbor Island: In the TV commercial for "Oh Plus", a
Japanese soccer player Nakata takes a bus from this place. This place
is within a stone's throw of the airport.
Horton Plaza: The stairs of this hotel were also used
for the shooting of this commercial.
Kansas City Barbecue: It is famous for the movie "Top
Gun" featuring Tom Cruise.
Coronado
The picture above is the center. It
was taken from Coronado. Although Coronado looks like an island, it
is connected to the center by land and you can go by car.
The building in the picture below is the Coronado Del Hotel built in 1887. It's an old wooden building which has a rich history. In this hotel, twelve American presidents stayed and many TV dramas and movies such as "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe (1985) were shot.
La Jolla
La Jolla is 11 miles (about 18 km)
north of the center. Go down along Girard Avenue, and you will get to
the beach. In La Jolla Cove, you can see seals.
Disneyland in Orlando is called Magic Kingdom and
it's part of Walt Disney World. Disney World in Orlando is much
bigger than Disneyland in Anaheim. It is so big it takes long time to
walk from the entrance of Walt Disney World to the ticket center and
then you need to take a monorail or ferry to get to Magic
Kingdom.
I think I was lucky because I didn't have to
stand in a line for hours. I waited for only 20 minutes, which was
much better than Disneyland in Los Angeles. I rode Space Mountain
four times and Big Thunder and Splash Mountain many times. I enjoyed
all the attractions and the rides.
As they had the 25th anniversary that year,
Cinderella Castle was displayed like a birthday cake and "Remember
the Magic Parade" had all the Disney characters in it. It was a lot
of fun.
Their special-feature attraction was "T2
(Terminator 2)". Unfortunately, my friend didn't understand the story
because she hadn't seen the movie before. However, she said it was
amusing. I enjoyed it very much as I had seen the movie. Since it is
played in English, it may be difficult for some people.
I was disappointed that they didn't have "Jurassic
Park" which I liked very much in Universal Studios in Los
Angeles.
As I had only three days in Orlando, I focused on the theme parks. I should have stayed for at least five days. I hope to visit Orlando again.
It was exactly the same as what I had seen in the movie "Rain Man". The picture above is of the wind power station in the desert. It looks very nice.
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