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. 

San Francisco to San Simeon

We started our drive down highway 1 yesterday, drove 320 km. 

The view is amazing, rocky cliffs, big waves and of course the hillside. 

We had late lunch in Carmel-by-the-sea a high end small town that has a lot of art gallery's and design shopping. Probably most known for that Clint Eastwood was mayor here. If you're interested you can buy a house here for only 31.000.000$ 

We took in at a nice hotel in San Simeon and got a room with a ocean view. Today we are going to start with looking at a coloni of elephant seals that live on the beach and take a look at Hearst castle before we continue our journey. 

Napa valley

We drove up to Napa yesterday. The rain was pouring down so the drive took a little bit longer than expected. 

We visited two vineyards castello di amorosa ( the castle of love) where we took the grand tour down to the cellars and had a taste directly from the barrel, and merryvale. Very nice wines at both places. 

We ended our evening in the castro area in San Francisco for dinner and a drink. This is the gay community of SF and here Harvey Milk started the pride festival in 1974. It began as a Sunday afternoon block party and has grown into a global celebration for pride. 

Today we leave SF and head down the coast on highway 1. 

Celebrating

One year ago Arnstein went down on one knee and asked me to marry him. 

After a sunny day of sightseeing, fisherman's warf, farmers market, the height's, crissy field with a perfect view over the Golden Gate Bridge. We are planning an evening of walking around in Chinatown and Italian dinner in north beach. 

Arrived in San Francisco

After 24 hours of traveling we have settled in at our San Francisco hotel. After a trip to Walgreen and a liquor store we are having a midnight snack at the hotel.