10 days since departure...

Phewwwww!!!!!!

its been 10 days since departure.. it feels like 10 years...

Aside from missing my family and really wanting to run away as fast as I could from the mosquitos in Elota, Sinaloa and the heat of Mazatlan I really like it here.

In Mazatlan we hiked up "El Faro" (The Lighthouse) in the scorching noon heat and humidity.. I was trying not to be a princess about it ...BUT it was kind of hard.

the view up there was amazing and at the end of the hike I felt PROUD. Proud of myself for going up the hill in the heat and not complaining and proud of Hector for making me do it.

It's interesting how the neighborhoods are divided and named after a famous landmark or store.. The neighborhood we stayed at in Mazatlan is called "La Ley Vieja"- "La Ley" is actually a Wal-Mart-like store and to get to Hector's grandma's house we just had to say: "take us to the "Old La Ley" and they knew exactly where!

We walked the "Malecon" (Boardwalk) at night and saw people working out and sweating because they were literally in a beachside sauna... eek

After three days of "city" we went to the outskirts in a town called Elota.. "El Rancho" .. where life is laid back and people live day by day surrounded by nature and animals that greet the sun everyday as it peaks in the sky :)

so, that basically means we were up at 4 am everyday bc the roosters were crowing!

We ate food cooked under firewood .. yummy! and the last day we ate ceviche made with fresh shrimp from the river :)

. Lucky for us.. we have great stomachs.

now .. we are Guadalajara.. a big city and we are staying at a pretty little "posada" with vaulted ceilings in the historic district...

We made it!- Day 3

We left L.A Thursday and all of a sudden its Saturday!!

Colonet (our first stop) was awesome: Small town and Hector's aunt wasn't home, so we went to a beach house about 6 miles from Colonet- San Antonio Del Mar. No electricity and water but the sky at night was beautiful!!!!

It was nice to be away from all the tourists (no offense) lol

We were the only people within (I'm guessing) a 10 mile distance along the coast... it was so silent and it was timeless.

We met 2 of Hector's family members who were great guides and very kind (: -

They gave us a ride into town where we bought some drinks and snacks.

For "dinner" we had leftover black bean sandwiches my mom made for the road, we took a walk in the beautiful sand dunes and looked @ the beautiful landscape before dark. Then we had a bonfire- the special guests were the moon and the stars!

Day 2:

I slept OK- It was chilly and my sleeping bag was not at all cozy. But I slept well on the 20 hour bus ride to La Paz.

On Day 2 (Friday) we finally were able to catch a bus to La Paz and we hitched our first ride!! :)-- BUT i hurt my tailbone real bad :/

Anywhoo... here are some pics and vids

FIRST STOP- SUNRISE

In less than 48 hours I will be departing :)

My parents are great and will be dropping us off @ our first destination: Colonet, Baja California, MExico.

I hear it is traditional Baja town: fish, surfing and quiet ( in no particular order)

Can't wait!!

lets work together

“If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time. But if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Lilla Watson Aboriginal Activist

I always had an issue or an uncomfortable feeling when people tell me I am "helping" others because after being a part of NUevos Horizontes ( the NGO in GUatemala)-- where I volunteered for 8 weeks last summer, I didn't feel like a "helper". I felt connected to the women and did not see them with eyes of pity. Instead, I was a part of their cause- at least I want/ wanted to be. Lilla Watson really throws it down in this statement, I agree with her!

eek!

10 more days!!! :D