Spring

Spring is here, at least according to the meteorologist. The tulips are starting to peek out.  Today I took away little weed just so we can enjoy them. 

Welcome home

Our bag and all the new clothes are here 

Home at last

We came home yesterday after what we think about 30 hours of traveling. We both loved the relaxed atmosphere in Tulum and the food, clean flavors and very fresh ingredients.  

The travel stress started in Tulum with hoping our rental car who had a scary sounding gearbox would take us all the way to the airport. It continued in Cancun where the car rental guy was 30 min late to pick up the car, I had stood in line to check in and it was almos our turn when Arnstein cought up with me. Next stress was in Houston, first we had to go through immigration (like everybody else) the line was horrible. After immigration we had to pick up our luggage to check it in to our connecting flight (and put away all tequila and hot sauses we bought in duty free in Cancun) and are "happy" to find out that only one of two bags is there. Since we don't have time to argue we grab our bag and head for the line to customs, it's so long and doesn't move very fast. After what seemed like forever and our mood was getting bad, we were sure we'd missed our flight we saw a line that moved a little faster. So there we went and finally got through customs and when the guy at the baggage check sad we had time we realized we had 30 min until our flight would leave so we got our hopes up and ran up the stairs to be greeted with next long line through security. Not many people were willing to let us pass them in line since they were also missing their flight. We finally got through and just made a run for our gate hoping our plane was still there. It was and we were one of the last people on board. Next problem we had gotten seats 20 rows apart and didn't want to end our honeymoon like that. The stewardess said she would help (of course the plane was full) but we fixed it ourselves and the guy who was supposed to sit next to Arnstein took my seat. The stewardess was happy to see that we got seats together since we were on honeymoon so in the morning she woke us up with champagne, red roses, chocolate and amaretto biscuits and granulated us on behalf of the staff onboard and Lufthansa, so sweat and surprising. After that sweat surprise the rest of the trip home was almost smooth sailing. In Copenhagen we got only one bag and to our surprise it was the one we thought was missing in Houston, the one we checked in there didn't make it home with us. Very tired we dosed off infront of melodifestivalen (we wanted to wait until at least nine o'clock so we could sleep the whole night) we woke up at 12 today when the phone rang. Ending with a little mix of photos from Tulum. 

Tulum

We started the day with a visit to old maya ruins here in Tulum that were a center for trade since it combined land and sea. 

Then we drove to the Grand cenote, a natural pit, or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. There we snorkeled and admired the nature, swimming with the same kind of turtles we have at home and lots of small fishes. One of the best experiences of the trip. 

Cancun

The sun is wonderful. We took it easy yesterdaymorning by the pool and ocean. Just few hours of sun and we look like lobsters (yes we had sunscreen on). After lunch we took a walk and found this small wonderful restaurant and got the best burritos. The waiter offered us beer and when we said yes he answered one moment and we saw him running off to the store to buy some. 

The hotel here in Cancun offers it's guests champagne and canapés at the sunset floor. So between 16:30-17:30 guest can go up there and enjoy the sunset with a glass of champagne. 

Today we are driving down the coast (in our ford fiesta rental car) to Tulum, there are some old Mayan ruins and cenotes. 

Cancun

Warm, high humidity, good margaritas that taste even better in the pool, room with ocean view and a jacuzzi. Life is good

San Diego-Santa Monica 225 km

Left San Diego yesterday, after little  shopping in Fashion Valley, (the biggest shopping center I've ever been to only 200 stores to choose from). We drove up the coast pass some beautiful small villages to Laguna beach. From Laguna beach we drove to Irvine and had a great afternoon/evening with Babak and his family. We got introduced to Persian food and wow it was so tasty and delicious. 

After some repackaging and few hours of sleep we are sitting at LAX waiting for our flight to Cancun. 

San Diego

Another beautiful and relaxed city. After breakfast we drove up to La Jolla beach a place were people can enjoy the marine life. Seals are lying everywhere, on cliffs, the beach and in the water. Seabirds like pelicans glide in the air above you. 

After La Jolla we drove downtown to the marina and the historical gaslight district. My favorite part if town (after La Jolla of course) is old town. It's Mexican and colors and music is dominating. We came here for dinner and had the best margarita and delicious food. Now I'm even more exited about Mexico. 

Santa Monica-San Diego 220 km

We started our day with a stroll on Santa Monica pier before we drove up to Beverly Hills and Hollywood. We took a short walk on Hollywoods walk of fame, took a quick lunch at hooters and glimpsed at the Hollywoodsign. 

Then we met with an old friend of Arnstein, Babak in Irvine and he took us to a local microbrewery, Arnstein had a beer tasting and we had great time. 

After some light shopping where we might have happened to buy ourself new iPhones we drove off to San Diego. 

Solvang-Santa Monica 217 km

We continue our drive down highway 1. After an Americanstyle Danish breakfast and a walk around Solvang we drove off. Solvang lies in the Santa Inez valley, know for the film location for sideways and as in the movie it's winetasting everywhere we go. 

Malibu was just crazy, big houses all over didn't matter if it was on the beach or up on the hill. 

After checking in at a hotel in Santa Monica we drove up to the Getty center for some culture. 

Now we are back at the hotel after a nice sushi dinner. 

Tomorrow we'll take a walk on Santa Monica's pier before we head off for Beverly Hills, L.A and finally San Diego. 

San Simeon-Solvang 210 km

After a great day with a lot of impression we took in at Hamlet inn in Solvang a small Danish town in California. 

We started our day looking over a colony of elephant seals, that really made my day just looking at these big creatures laying, sleeping, screaming and fighting on the beach. 

After that we took a tour of the grand rooms of Hearst castle. William Randolph Hearst made his castle (inspired from Europe) on the enchanted hill overlooking the San Simeon bay. In its hayday in the 30's mr. Hearst entertained the celebrities in USA. The castle is a museum today and we walked the same grounds as Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin and many more did before us.

Now we are in Solvang for the night, the urge for real beer took us here. We had dinner at Solvang brewing company, they brew 12 kinds of beer. Arnstein had the danske pale ale and I had the blonde and blue eyed lager.