Hollywood, Mulholland Drive, Orange County_Los Angeles

It's been an amazing couple of days. We explored Hollywood and Mulholland drive before driving down to Orange County to stay with a friend.

We have been treated to a guided tour of the OC including Laguna, Newport, Corona Del Mar and Crystal Cove.

Thanks to Max, Iris and Felipe and of course Gypsy the wonder dog for the hospitality and good times!

LA cityscape with smog layer from top of Mulholland Drive

Amazing hillside home on Mulholland

Fisher and Sons Funeral home from "Six Feet Under", the HBO series

Max, Jason & Felipe getting set for some Orange County MTB

Venice Beach_Rodeo Drive_Santa Monica_Los Angeles

Had a fun packed day with Venice beach to start. Saw Pomeranians playing pianos amongst other craziness! Heard so much about Venice beach over the years it was great to finally witness the spectacle.
 
Great area for running and working out with Muscle beach, a gymnastic sandpit and a skatepark. 


Rodeo Drive in the afternoon followed by Sunset Boulevard.

Arrived back at the motel after dark exhausted. Driving in LA is hard work but a car is essential.

A Bugatti !

Beach cruzer with a pink fur trim and a basket_my worst nightmare!

 

Manhattan Beach_Los Angeles

Great to get into California after so long in Mexico. First thing we noticed are how slick everything is here, the car hire process took 5 minutes! Nice brand new Ford Focus.

Drove to Manhattan Beach for the first day and had a v civilised day and evening walking on the promedade and enjoying great coffee and food.

Manhattan beach is a sureal perfect place with million dollar apartments all along the beach, blue sky every day and smiling people everywhere. Every morning the promenade and beach comes to life with runners, surfers, cyclists and dog walkers.

The people here are so friendly. We have already met 2 different people that we are going to meet later in California for mountain biking and for dinner!

After 5+ months strugling with foreign languages its great to be able to speak to people again.

Return to Mexico City

Monday 16th April,  Last and 50th day in Mexico

Spent our last day running at altitude ( almost killed us ) in the park near the Anthropology museum and mooching around the historic centre stopping for a cerveza and reflecting. We are excited to be moving on. I think our highlights of Mexico have been Mex city and Puerto Escondido.

The people of Mexico have been the friendliest of the whole trip. They are effortlessly relaxed and made us feel safe and welcome at every stop on the way!

Gracias México, hasta luego !

Frida Fresco @ Zocalo finished 6 weeks after I last snapped it!

Sat 14th April

Great to be back in Mexico city! Back in the Zocalo area and booked into the Hotel Rioja!

Fri 13th April

Escaping Cancun today for Mexico city for 4 nights until we fly to LA X.

Over 50 days in Mexico but looking forward to a few last days in Districto Federal.

Cancun_Mexico

11th April

How did we end up here! We have a flight on Friday back to Mexico City,  we couldn't do anymore buses!


There are some great dual carriageways here but we have a good running loop and the hotel is good.


We are really just counting the days to get to California now. We are all Mexicoed out after about 50 days here. It may be some time before I eat another Taco.

 

Valladolid_Mexico

A pitstop in Valladolid on our 42nd day in Mexico.

A memorable pit stop in the only shade we could find between buses

Chichen Itza

Arrived in Chichen Itza for one last dose of Mayan history. The site is amazing early morning before the tour buses arrive!

Mayan Ball court