The final week of a great trip is always tough. Each day seems to pass quicker than that preceding it, and the list of things to see and do inevitably grows longer as one becomes better acquainted with their surroundings; immersing themselves further into the fabric of a place.

This is how it went for my sister, Katya, and I in the last few days prior to her departure. We packed it all in: Universal Studios, LA downtown (we needed to drive by the Cecil Hotel, currently making crime story worthy news), Malibu, as well as a side trip to San Francisco. We made pit stops at all of Urth Caffe’s locations, scattered over different parts of LA, and managed to catch some spectacular sunsets either from the car, or from a prime vantage points.

Though the trip may have started with tourist spots at the forefront, it finished with talk of a UCLA transfer. I couldn’t have been prouder – Katya had successfully transitioned from wide eyed tourist to enthusiastic traveler. Here are some highlights of the final days in LaLaLand, and beyond.

At The Getty Villa, Malibu

Seated Hermes, Greek God of travel and commerce

Malibu Pier

City lights from the Griffith Observatory

Sunset from the Griffith Observatory

Lombard St, San Francisco – the world’s windiest street

Painted Ladies houses line Alamo Square, San Francisco

Me and my sis making heart shadows

Sea Lions at Pier 39, San Francisco Wharf

Views from Sausalito – joined to San Francisco by the Golden Gate Bridge

Me and my sis – meeting of the minds as we look over the view from Sausalito

Golden Gate Bridge via iphone

Sis taking pics

Panorama via iphone

San Fran’s Filbert Street at night

Francis Ford Coppola’s, Cafe Zeotrope – in San Fran

My sis with The Simpsons, at Universal Studios

Sunset views of LA’s downtown

Tree line from Elysian Park, near Echo Park, LA

Farewell cake made by my husband for my sis – Raspberry baked cheesecake accompanied by prosecco topped with those red berries