Reuben's Routes: Part 3

After 19 flights, 8 countries, over 35 hotels and hostels, countless ferries, buses and even a bike ride over a border, I finally returned to a sunny and warm London: welcome to my 3rd and final blog from my travelling adventure. 

An incredible trip with some amazing moments; the decision to go travelling was one of the best life choices I have made. 

My previous blog finished in Colombia with a special South American ending and the last quarter of my trip was spent travelling in California. 

San Francisco was first up on my West Coast journey and this city was full of technology, modern life and a positive feeling of growth. This was highlighted when I was lucky enough to see the Tesla factory where the infamous Elon Musk seems to be making vital gains in the automotive industry. Although it was a brief visit and I only managed to see the outside workings of the factory, it showed me the positive work he is doing and why Tesla is such a popular choice of car (especially in the US where it seemed as though 1 in 4 cars were brandished with the T logo). 

It was upsetting, however, that during my time in California, wildfires devastated much of the state. But, the positive spirit of the locals and how the way they all pulled together during this awful disaster was just incredible. While driving on the highways, I saw huge signs put up by locals that sung the praises of the emergency services and thanking the heroic efforts of the fire fighters. 

Fortunately, I was still privileged enough to be able to stay in the beautiful Yosemite National Park, which covers over 750,000 acres of the Californian mountains. During my stay, I enjoyed hiking, took part in some fishing and even saw a bear (Luckily, I was in the car at the time!)

I witnessed some incredible sites, not only during my stay at Yosemite, but also on my journey down the West Coast on the famous One Road. The One Road is over 600 miles long and provided some breathtaking views and some incredible stops that fuelled my awe for this incredibly aesthetic state. 

The first stop on from Yosemite was a small yet beautiful town called Carmel (made famous by its once mayor Clint Eastwood). As a golfing enthusiast, the most exciting stop in Carmel was the historic Pebble Beach, home to some of the most spectaculor golf courses in the world. I also drove the famous 17-Mile Drive along the picturesque Californian coastline, which allowed me to marvel at the green courses, Monterey Bay and some interesting wildlife. 

Following a wonderful night in Carmel, the next pit stop on my tour of California was Big Sur, which is a picturesque section of the coast and includes huge waterfalls, the Bixby Bridge and views whilst driving that are impossible to capture in their full beauty through a camera lens. 

Pismo Beach was next and one of my personal highlights as I was able to drive quad bikes on sand dunes right on the Californian beaches. It was a special afternoon and one I will never forget but also scary as I got caught vertical on the 20ft sand dune drops! 

My penultimate stop during my 3 months of travelling was the buzzing and welcoming Los Angeles. LA had always been on my bucket list and it was a great feeling to be able to tick it off. The City of Angels was full of amazing food, drink and adventure but it was made even more memorable by my 2 brothers and cousin meeting me there to finish off the trip.

Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, hiking up to the ‘Hollywood’ sign, Universal Studios and Harry Potter World were all unforgettable. 

The last day of Los Angeles was a momentous day for my family as we received the amazing and surprising news that my brother and his wife are expecting twins in May. A once in a lifetime moment to add to the phenomenal trip I was having. 

The last stop was Las Vegas…anticipated with mixed expectations and the same trainers that had carried me all around the world! With the news of becoming an uncle again at the forefront of my mind, we arrived in Vegas and enjoyed the wonders of what the city had to offer. 

Michael Jackson Cirque was the show of choice and it was fantastic; mind-blowing tricks, amazing music and still shock at how enormous theatres are in a hotel! 

Delicious food, plenty of fun and memories were made over the next few days with my brothers and cousin. Vegas was a magical way to finish 3 months of travelling. 

And just like that, it was all over. 

I had seen some truly astonishing sights, had some wonderful experiences, making the decision to travel the world was hands down the best decision I ever made. 

Now back to the hard work. I am looking to continue my career in the financial markets and am seeking a role that will be the next step for me and my skill set and experience. 

I hope you have enjoyed following Reuben’s Routes and that it has inspired you to go travelling, take in your environment more or merely provided you with your lunch-break entertainment. Thanks for reading!