On vacation w the fam

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.  

~Robert Orben

 

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I'll be missing for about a week. I'm on vacation :) wooo whoo! We came to Hawaii, Wakiki (Honolulu), to be exact :) If you're a follower on twitter, I'll most likely be posting daily pictures, so go check it out! http://www.twitter.com/g a m e z d 5 (all together)
You can all travel with me and my family from the comfort of your armchair :)haha!

For my reading material I brought Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, Ruby Red and Clockwork Angel. I don't expect to read all 3 in a week, but I like to have some selection.

Ireland Travel Blog

P.S I Love Ireland!

Last November, I was fortunate enough to visit my good friend John Smith (seriously, that’s his REAL name) in his native land, Ireland. Here you will find a summary of my Ireland adventures, some travel/destination tips, along with some of my own suggestions that I wish someone would have told me before my voyage! :) If you have any questions you'd like to ask, please don't hesitate- email me; lovelygetaway@gmail.com

P.S- Please keep in mind that my trip was in November. All the prices you see here are in Euro, converted to US$. The exchange rate changes almost daily so make sure and check up on it before your trip! I usually use the XE Currency Converter online website, its easy & fast :)

John's neighborhood

Look what I found posted on John's fridge :) haha!

Ireland was beautiful! Not to mention very very green and cold! Upon my arrival at the DUB airport, John picked me up and we headed straight for home, eh his home, in Dundalk, County Louth (which is about an hour away from Dublin). I was exhausted from my previous travels so it was very nice to come home to an actual house, and not a hotel. After getting my good dose of 8 hours of sleep, we decided on taking the city bus back to Dublin to check out some tourist and historical sites.

Dublin

Downtown Dublin, late November/early December

The city bus dropped us off in downtown Dublin, we walked down to the center of Dublin and saw the main O'Connell Bridge and the Spire; the Spire is huge! It was made for the new millennium (although it was built in 2003) and costs 3 million euros to clean it a year. Its 120 meters tall and is the biggest sculpture in the world. To be honest, it wasn't really that exciting and it didn't fit in with the buildings around it. But to the people of Dublin, it’s sort of their own personal landmark.

After looking around for a bit, we easily spotted one of those double deck tourist buses and we hopped on. I must say, this is a MUST for every Dublin tourist. It's the easiest, most convinent way to travel around the city! The tour started off at the Dublin Castle grounds, where we were told about the almost successful rebellion. On the tour we passed Johnathan Swift's (author of the "Modest Proposal") childhood house on our way to Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in the year 1030. Christ Church Cathedral has the 2nd largest crypt in the world and it is where Strongbow is buried. We also saw where U2 was discovered by Mr. Guinness and the hotel across the street that Bono owns (woo whoo! I LOVE U2!)

Along the river, we saw the Ha'Penny Bridge. In the older days, people were required to pay a 1 cent fine for crossing the bridge. Soon they built more bridges close to the Ha'Penny Bridge and everyone avoided it so they wouldn't have to pay the fine. If the city were to still charge a penny for crossing the bridge, it would take care of Ireland's debt within a week. Crazy, huh? Along the tour we also went through Trinity College, where in 1904, it became the first college in Ireland to allow women to study. Apparently, there is an old law that says anyone could shoot a bow and arrow at a Catholic inside the college grounds and not be arrested. Trinity College never removed the law, so it’s still in place! Later we went to see the outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Jameson Distillery. Finally our tour ended at the Guinness brewery house and we had to visit this famous place :)

Guiness Brewary House

Welcome to the Guinness Brewery House!

As a first time traveler to Ireland, everyone (well most people) told me that I had to visit the Guinness Storehouse tour. Well let me tell you this, I did visit and it was a great site and very informative, but I must admit, I was a bit disappointed. The tour cost 15 Euros, which works out to about $25 US dollars, and all you do is walk about looking at videos and reading about the history of Guinness. I am sure I could go to there website or Wikipedia and read all of the same things online. But at the same time, it was very interesting having everything come to life before your very eyes.

There are seven floors of an old and renovated brewery and basically a trip through what the process involved in making Guinness. I found this interesting and did learn stuff that I didn’t know such as where Guinness was first brewed back in the day. I will say that the smell in the place is just fantastic the aroma was relaxing. There are quite a few very good displays throughout the building and a lot of history for anyone who cares for the nostalgic side :)haha! And to top it off, especially for the distant traveler and Guinness drinker, you get to pour your own pint of “de black stuff” and try to get the shamrock design in the foam. We headed up to the Gravity Bar (on the top floor, it has a nice view of the city) for a view and some peace/quiet. Cant comment on any food prices, we didn’t eat. All in all I did enjoy my visit, it was a good piece of History- but I wouldn't recommend it.

Another famous place I got to visit was Temple Bar. Temple Bar is a very popular area, especially at night. We wanted to grab a drink at one of the pubs, and maybe sit down to watch a Fútbol (soccer) game, but the place was packed. Also, what I didn't know about Ireland before was that Ireland is extremely expensive! My one cider was seven euros ($10). So instead we just hung out towards the back for a bit, listened to an Irish band playing in the pub, then left. Afterwards we hopped back on the city bus back home to Dundalk. At this time, we were literally starving so we decided on getting some Chinese food to-go. I don’t know why, but Chinese food in Ireland is DELICIOUS! It really is addicting, you must try it if you ever visit. John and his family took very good care of me...feeding me...and I'm slowly porking me up, but I've been walking and talking my calories off. I love my metabolism :) haha!

Dundalk <3

The next morning we had plans to go into Belfast, which is in Northern Ireland. If you’re wondering what kind of weather I got, well it was pissing rain some nights and others the sun came out, but it was cold. Everyone made fun of me for being cold...but it was freaking freezing! So instead of heading up North, we decided to take a day to relax and visit some of John’s family. I met the millions of John’s cousins that make up Dundalk, I exaggerate not! He’s probably related to half the city population.... his family is wicked awesome and his little four year old nephew, also named John, is adorable (he'll be quite the ladies’ man when he grows up). Louise (John’s sister) was kind enough to invite us over for dinner and cook a delicious meal. I swear, in Ireland its Thanksgiving everyday; mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, corn… the list goes on! When people ask me, “What’s a typical Irish dish?” I usually respond, “Whatever you have for Thanksgiving dinner, only they have it daily.”

While in Dandalk I did get to visit “The Eight Wonder of the World”, Magic Hill. We visited at night and I must say it is very intriguing yet, creepy. You park at the bottom of the hill, put your car in neutral and turn it off completely. Your car will literally move up the hill, by itself. John and his cousin, Hami, tried explaining the dynamics about how this happens, but I was too busy screaming, “Holy Jesus! We’re moving! Ahhh! We’re actually climbing the Magic Hill”, so I didn’t pay much attention to what they were saying. Yes, I was a bit too excited, and just so you know I was totally messing about it being the 8^th wonder… haha :)

The Irish Sea & Corcomroe Abbey

Doesn't it look peaceful?

The next morning, we drove out to some see some Irish countryside and let me tell you, it was gorgeous! It was exactly how I pictured Ireland as. We traveled to see Corcomroe Abbey in Ballyvaughan. We took tons of pictures there, because the abbey was so pretty! It dated back to the early 12th century. We then drove into the Burren. This hilly area was once completely under water and is now covered in limestone rock. This is also the area where the first Stone Age people settled. Many fossils, wildlife, plants and of course, sheep are found here. In the Barren there is a 5,000 year old tomb called Poulnabrone dolmen. We had a quick lunch in Kilfenora and passed through the village of Lisdoonvarna. Every year the city holds Europe's largest singles festival and up to 60,000 people come to the festival.

Sadly, like any trip, my Ireland adventures came to an end. John dropped me off at the airport for my flight back to Roma. There I would meet up with a friend to continue with our traveling. Talk about exhausting, huh? But let me tell you, it was well worth it! Overall though, I think Ireland was a success! I hope you like the pictures.

Me and my favorite Irish man; John Smith

Greetings from Mexico!

Hey!

In honor of the 3 day weekend, (well at least for me, I've heard many people don't get it off) we came to visit some fam bam down south in Mexico :)

God allows, I'll be back in the US tomorrow morning.... I finished Hex Hall (by Rachel Hawkins) during this trip; HILARIOUS! Review to come soon! Enjoy!

Greetings from Egypt!

Hello friends :) just wanted to stop by and wish everyone a happy early thanksgiving. Unfortunately I'll be over-seas but I wish you all the best :) have a great time w/your loved ones and I'll post again soon when I get back to the states. I have tons of adventures to share w/you all, not to mention hundreds of pictures :) haha! Have a great holiday!

Peace&love, D

PERU Travel Blog

Welcome to the Lost Incan Empire!

During my senior year in college, being a Spanish Major, the school department was offering a trip down to South America; Peru. In the beginning, I was a bit hesitant about making the commitment to travel to Peru, the reason being; I was lacking sufficient funds to afford this trip. That was when I started investigating and soon discovered that the International Department at CSUSB offered a $1000 scholarship if you agreed to write a research paper (topic of your choice) once you returned from your trip abroad. I couldn't say no to that :) Here you will find a short summary of places I visited on our trip, travel tips, along with some of my own suggestions that I wish someone would have told me before my voyage! *Please note that the currency in Peru is in Soles (3 soles= $1 US)

Lima, Peru

Our trip itinerary consisted of the visitation of 2 cities; Lima & Cusco. First on our stop was Lima. At first site and on the first day there, to me, Lima seemed like every other industrial city; museums, shopping centers, public parks, and taxis EVERYWHERE you looked, etc. We checked into the Hotel & Casino Boulevard, which has no casino, but was a very safe and clean hotel. It wasn't until we visited Pachacamac, that I got to see the real side to Peruvian culture.

Pachacamac

Pachacamac is Lima's major archeological site. I was completely awed as I was entering the site in its ruined state- I can only imagine what the peoples of the era must have thought and felt as they entered this enormous religious center dedicated to Pachacamac, “He Who Animates the World.” Despite several centuries of archaeological work little is known about this complex and the daily activities that went on here. When traveling this sanctuary, our tour guide (which we picked up at the entrance; bargained a really good price) informed us that hundreds of years ago the natives of Pachacamac surrendered cult to the sun and to the Earth. As creepy as it sounds, while one walks around the old temples, one can feel the magic attraction to this sacred place. It is believed that this place was inhabited since the year 200 up to 1533. Pachacamac really is an amazing piece of archeology. My congratulations to the Peruvian people for preserving and continuing to work on this magnificent site. I don't think it is a part of the UNESCO heritage site- but it should be.

Huaca Pucllana

Next on our itinerary was the Huaca Pucllana, which is another well known archeological site in Lima. What surprised me about this site was that its literally located right-smack in the center of the Miraflores district. The communities around it seem to be immune to the natural beauty of this place. When we asked a local what he thought of HP, he simply stated it was a big sand bowl that needed to be taken down to build more houses. Geezz... talk about being un-appreciative. The price for Admission: 5 soles (about $1.50). There are guided tours in English or Spanish & the tours run at specific times no matter how many visitors, so you may luck out with a semi private or private tour. Like the pyramids in Pachacamac, the structures and temples in Huaca Pucllana were also dedicated to the sun god. Although Huaca Pucllana is ancient, it’s a relatively new attraction. Grounds opened for tours in 1984 and excavation is ongoing. If you climb to the top, you can take in a panoramic view of downtown Lima and a bird’s eye view of just how intricate the ruins are. Huaca Pucllana once stretched nearly eight square miles. Currently, it is less than two and a half. Towards the back part of the site (and near the end of the tour) you will be able to walkthrough a small zoo area containing wild ducks, llamas and cuy (guinea pigs) as well as samples of native plant life and crops. There’s also a small flora and fauna park on the grounds, and a gift shop with a small selection of native crafts. During our visit, we were fortunate enough to see the official Peruvian Dog, 'el perro chino'. It is estimated that it will take another 15 to 20 years to finish excavations and restorations to the site.

Cusco, Peru

After our adventures in Lima, we took a domestic flight out to Cusco. We where told we'd be staying downtown for a couple of days before continuing our trip down to Machu Picchu. We checked into Hotel Ruinas. Personally, Cusco was my FAVORITE city! It’s such a beautiful, small town- it reminded me of why I’ve always wanted to live in a small populated city. The architecture in Cusco is beautiful. I visited all the Catholic temples and paid my respect to the saints. Although the town is small and very accessible by foot, our group decided to pitch in and rent a motorcycle. It turned out to be my most memorable adventure in Cusco. That damn motorcycle got us in so much trouble! While driving down the streets in Cusco, which in reality are more like corridors because they're so small, one of the side mirrors falls off. Just like that, no warning, it just falls. 

We didn’t hit or bump into anything, it just fell. So there we are scared shitless because the motorcycle dealer is holding our friend Jonathan's passport (we rented it under his name), and we're thinking we're going to have to abandon Jonathan in Peru, because we signed a paper stating that if anything happened to this bike, we'd pay $11,000 US. It was the funniest, and at the same time most worried, afternoon I spent in Peru. We ended up going to a local convenient store and bought super glue. Yes, super glue... hahaha! There we are outside the hotel gluing the mirror back on and praying to God it'd stick. Fortunately for us, and Jonathan, the mirror did stick quiet nice and we were able to return the bike w/out anyone noticing. Even though upon returning the bike, the mirror was the FIRST thing the lender inspected. It was almost as though he was expecting the mirror to have fallen off (possible scam?). As soon as he saw it was intact, he returned Jonathan's passport and he & I BOOKED it back to our hotel w/out looking back. Seriously, we RAN!

Machu Picchu, Peru

 So my trip to MP started out like every other tourist- w/a 3 hour train ride from Cuzco, to Machu Picchu town. Yep, you heard right... MP isn't located in Cusco but in the outskirts of Peru in a Pueblo (town) called Machu Picchu. With that begin said, bring some entertainment! I was going MAD on that damn train ride! I know 3 hours may not seem like a lot, but when you’re stuck in a moving tin can w/nothing to do but look out your window... you start to loose patience! Seriously, the train cargo didn't even have a bathroom, so make sure to go before or hold it in! During my trip I had my BF's Tetris game. His high score was 22000, by the end of the train ride my score was 85000.

Upon arriving to MP town, we gathered our belongings and checked into our hotel. We stayed at the Machu Picchu Inn. Now, this is far from being a 5 star hotel, but it met our needs quite nicely. All we were looking for was a safe & clean place to stay; we got that & more at the MP Inn. If you’re not picky, this place is perfect; located right in the center of town, literally across the street from the bus station and a few blocks south of the famous "Thermal Springs" (which we did get to visit, but we're not so great).

The next day we took our 30 minuet bus ride up the mountain to MP, "The Lost city of the Incas". If I have ever been sight struck, it was when I had my first glance at Machu Picchu... Wow. Just wow. Our tour began w/the history of MP when Francisco Pizarro and the Spaniards arrived in Peru in the 1530s looking for gold and treasure the Incas destroyed much of the Inca Trail which lead to MP in order to protect it from being destroyed. It worked! MP remained hidden high in the Andes for nearly 400 years until American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins in 1911, most of which was overrun by the jungle. After some quick stops, explanations and mandatory photo-ops, we were allowed to go off on our own. Of course I continued taking hundreds of pictures, literally, and just walked around and did some exploring of my own. I think what makes MP so amazing to look at is the location more than anything; right smack in the middle of the Andes Mountains at approx 8000 ft above sea level. 

Also, all the myths that surround the city, like how they managed to cut and fit the stones so perfectly together, let alone move them up the mountain, remains a mystery to this day adding to MP's mythical aura. When dusk was approaching, we went ahead and took the last bus ride down the mountain. SCARRIEST bus ride ever! On the way up the mountain, I guess I was so eager or excited to finally get to MP that I didn't pay much attention to the bus ride. But on the way down I was praying! The bus loops back and forth the curvy roads of the mountain, it didn’t help that we were going down hill on an already vertical road. The bus was so close to the edge (which dropped down hundreds of feet to the river valley below) that I seriously let out a scared shout, more than once... on one of those occasions, the bus driver simply looked back at me- threw his head back w/a laugh and said "ha, tourists!"

Peruvian Food: Totally RANDOM, but nothing compares to Peru's Chinese food!! Oh my frekin' gosh... it’s THE BEST! Our group was literally addicted to a restaurant called the Xin Xin out in Lima. My favorite dish; the Wong Tong Frito. Just saying the name out loud makes my stomach growl. DELICIOUS! During our stay in Lima, we also tried the national Peruvian plate; Ceviche- but we had it marinated w/Limes and NOT butter! It tasted WAY better that way too! During our stay in Cusco, my friend Susan and I decided we want to give Peruvian pizza a try... I’m not going to lie, it was far from great. The crust was super thin and in my opinion there was way too much cheese and not enough tomato sauce. It filled me up quick but it didn’t satisfy my hunger. For our last night out in Cusco, our tour guide decided to take us out to a fancy restaurant for dinner and a show. The food itself was typical; rice, chicken, soup- but we were given the opportunity to try cuy (guinea pigs). Now, I know what you’re thinking "ew gross", so don’t hate me for saying I actually had some. After my trip to Australia, I was literally kicking my own ass for not trying kangaroo when I had a chance. So I thought to myself, this is a formal Peruvian plate, I have to try it. I promised myself to get involved w/the culture as much as I could; so I went for it. It tasted ok, it’s very similar to chicken, but chewy. If you’re ever given the opportunity to try cuy (or anything new for that matter) you should go for it. That way you can't say you missed out!

Coca Tea: I usually don’t talk about drinks, but I have to mention the famous Mate de Coca (Coca Tea). As you may have guessed, this herbal tea is made up of.... *drum roll..... leaves of the Coca Plant. Yes, you read right, Coca plant- as in the same plant that’s mixed w/other nasty chemicals to create Cocaine. The actual amount of cocaine found in the plants is a VERY small percentage; .4%, if I remember correctly. So don't be afraid to try it. We where given some as soon as we arrived in Cusco. Due to the altitude of the city, may of our group members (including myself) felt a bit light headed, but after having a relaxing cup of mate de coca, we were all doing fine. I drank about 3 of those bad boys and I slept like a baby. I was up early the next day and ready for my Cusco adventures :)

Extra-time??? 

To be honest, this is was my first trip in which I thought, "Holy Jesus, I think I did everything I had planned to do & more!" My Peru trip was so much fun & educational; I don't think I would have had time to do anything else! Our tour guide did try and convinces us to go "sky sailing" but I, for once, was way too tired the day they offered it & plus it was kind of expensive... so I said no thanks. Now that I look back, I think it would have been nice to fly the Peruvian skies... One day I'll go back! If you’re planning a trip to Peru, all I can say is keep an open mind and take lots of pictures! Don't be afraid to go out at night. Peru is just like any other country... it’s as safe as you make it. Set limits for yourself, (I’m sure you don’t want to be walking around Polvos Azules at 1am, even though I’m pretty sure its open) but also have fun! Well my friends, I hope this blog was helpful in some way, & if you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 Peace&Love, D

MEXICO DF Travel Blog

Aztec Empire & Southern Mexico

During my stay in Guanajuato MX. I decided to travel all around the southern part of the country! (best decision EVER). Every week after class Friday afternoon I'd hop on a taxi to the local bus top (central camionera) and choose a random, yet interesting, destination from there :) Here you will find a short summary of places I visited on my weekend travels, travel tips, along with some of my own suggestions that I wish someone would have told me before my voyage!

Teotihuacan

During my studies in Guanajuato, I met this AMAZING girl name Ana. Although we had barely met, we became great friends right away, we even ended up being roomies :) Well it turned out that Ana actually had some family in DF and since I had never been, I decided to tag along for a weekend. Upon arriving, her family treated us with such hospitality, I dont think i'll ever thank them enough. On our first day, her family took us on a tour of Teotihuacan, which is also known as "the birth place of the Gods". This place is AMAZING! Teotihuacan is a large archaeological site located about 40 km north of Mexico City. It was built more than 1,000 years and has a total of three pyramids. The city reached its peak around 500 AD when it was the center of a powerful culture that dominated Mesoamerica. Teotihuacan was abandoned around the year 800 AD however the causes of the fall are not known.

When you climb to the top of the Sun pyramid, which feels like a stairway to heaven because of how long it is, you will be amazed by the view! You can literally see all of the southern valley. The Sun pyramid is the 3rd largest in the world. It was really amazing to see a city that was built especially for "the gods" and where all original names are still honored and cared for. I also hiked up the Moon pyramid, or la piramide de la Luna, located at the end of the aveneue of the dead. I tuned into a couple of tour guides and picked up some info about their math and calendrics, which is represented in their art and construction of the buildings and altars. The temple of Quetzalcatl was my favorite with its engravings of Tlatoc, the rain god.

When your getting ready to leave the site, make sure and take a look around the vendors spot. You can find lots of awesome souvenirs for really cheap! But make sure you look around and COMPARE PRICES! I bought this really really cute black stoned, heart necklace for $60 pesos (appx $5 US) which I thought was a super bargain, only to be disappointed a few vendors down when I saw the same necklace for $15 pesos :\

MEXICO DF

Capital City.

After our Teotihuacan adventures, the next day we got up bright and early to head into the heart of Mexico DF. For breakfast Ana's parents made us "Platanos Machos"... OMGosh! Delicious! I'm craving some right now! You’re honestly going to have to google this, because I have no idea how they were made. All I know is that they tasted amazing with some hot coffee.

To save time, we decided to take a cab down to the Subway and from them make our way to downtown DF. Ok, the subway... if your ever in Mexico don't miss the chance to take a ride on the awesome underground metro. Before my trip to DF I had heard so many horror stories of people being mugged, kidnapped and so many other things. Once I was there, everything changed; people over exaggerate! You just have to learn and fit in. If you walk in there, waving around your pocketbook or wearing the most expense heels you can buy, expect people to be giving you odd looks. Just feel comfortable walking around and know where you’re going. There is SO many people down there, and everyone is in a hurry to catch a sub; I doubt anyone will try and mug you, unless your waving around bills.   

After taking the Metro (subway) to downtown, we made it to our first stop; the National Museum of Anthropology. If you're ever in town and feel in the mood for some interesting tours of the History of Mexico, this is a MUST VISIT! This museum is filled w/rich history, culture and the best part is that students get in for $10 pesos. Once inside the museum, I visited lots of sections, but my two favorites were the Olmecs and Aztecs. For years I had seen and studied the Aztec Calendar thinking it was just another confusing piece-puzzle to Aztec history. Upon visiting this place, I was in for a HUGE surprise! The Aztec stone calendar is actually a 12ft x 4ft stone that was found when excavating el Zocalo. For some reason, even after months of studying it and having the picture shoved in my face, I never knew that stone itself was that big! I had always seen the miniature version in the textbooks. This calendar is actually what many current day calendars are based off of. Its incredible to see how far advanced the Aztec community really was :) 

After our long visit and walk around the museum we headed towards the Zócalo. El Zócalo is the main plaza, or square, in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. It has been a gathering place for Mexicans since Aztec times. It is the main site for big Mexican ceremonies, the swearing in of viceroys, royal proclamations, military parades, Independence ceremonies and modern religious events- such as the festivals of Holy Week and Corpus Christi. Set up all around the town square are vendors, performers, tour buses, artists and of course food stands. It's a great place to visit to just get a feel of what a typical day in Mexico feels like. We actually booked a tour on those double decker red buses. It was a lot of fun and very informative! After the tour we headed back towards the subway to catch a ride back to Ana's house, but not before stopping at Plaza Mariachi, were we enjoyed some lovely serenading and our corn on the cob.
 

Extra-time??? Unfortunately, due to class, I only had a short weekend to travel around the capitol of Mexico. Although I do feel I was lucky enough to visit many places, more time would have been nice. Sunday night Ana and I had to rush back to the “Central Camionera” (central bus station) to catch our 5-hour bus trip back to Guanajuato. If your planning a visit, you should most definitely check out the places i listed above! Well my friends, I hope this blog was helpful in some way, & if you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask :)

Peace&Love, D

GUANAJUATO Travel Blog

University of Guanajuato Summer Course

Guanajuato, MX

Right after I got back from WYD 2008 Australia (Literally a week later) I had tickets to a direct flight departing from Tijuana to Leon Bajio, Guanajuato MX. I actually stayed out there all summer for a Summer Course at the University of Guanajuato! Here you will find a short summary of places I visited on my stay, travel tips, along with some of my own suggestions that I wish someone would have told me before my voyage!

Airline: I decided to fly out of TJ because of the price difference, LAX was a lot more expensive. I flew Volaris (relatively cheap prices and great service). After being dropped off and crossing the border by foot, I took a taxi to the airport. The fee was US $15... which, in my opinion, was a bit overpriced considering the fact that the airport is like 10 mins away by car from the border. But regardless, I wasn't about to start a fight with the taxi man... especially after the horror stories I heard about TJ!

Youth Hostel:

Upon arriving at the city I chose to stay at El Hostalito Guanajuato. I've heard that they've recently moved, but when i stayed there they were located at Sangre de Cristo #9. This place is perfect if your not too picky and can survive having to share a kitchen. In reality what you pay for is your personal bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen, living room, study room are all shared with the other guests. I was here a whole summer and not once did I have a problem with someone else eating my food. Just simply put a tape lable on it with your name and you'll be fine. Since the majority of the people that stay here are backpackers, they dont tend to stay very long. The price is unbeatable. I paid $2000 pesos (US $200) a month.

City Sites: 

Guanajuato itself is a beautiful town filled with history and diversity. It is well known for its wealth of fine colonial era Spanish architecture; El Teatro Juarez is a great example! If you have time make sure and attend an obra (performance). They often times have comedy acts or famous era plays. Make sure and check the schedule to see when they have a play in a language you feel comfortable with. If you go during the Cervantino Festival, well let me just say you are in for a treat! People from all over the world come for the Cervantino, but since I wasn't lucky enough to stay out till October, I didn't have a chance to experience it :( I really wanted to see the Russian Ballet.

San Miguel de Allende & Queretaro: 

Set right at the center of the Guanajuato plaza is a booking spot where you can reserve day trips, weekend excursions, for a very reasonable price (you can actually bargain with them). I traveled all over the place! From the thermal springs outside San Miguel de Allende to the colossal statue of Jesus at Cristo Rey and countless colonial towns. I visited San Miguel de Allende and Queretaro the longest. SMA is the cutest little town I've ever been too :) It’s filled with endless "callejones" (alleys) and their vendors. It has a great colonial atmosphere. Queretaro is more of an industrialized city, but recently it was discovered that a pyramid was built underneath the town, the Pyramid of El Pueblito; El Cerrito. I was hoping we'd be able to walk onto it, but after our tour guide shared with us a certain story, I didn't have the guts too anymore. I turns out that before it was excavated, El Cerrito was a commonly known hang out spot for druggies. During this time, the only visible part of the pyramid was the temple on top, thats where people would gather. One night a young boy fell through the temple floor and fell some x-amount of feet. In order to get him out, archeologists and officials started the excavation thus discovering that there was a pyramid beneath the temple. Present day today, the pyramid has tons of more floors to be discovered, but due to lack of funds, excavation has stopped.

Guanajuato Mummy Museum:

In a country where the most anticipated holiday of the year is a celebration the dead, Guanajuato's Mummy Museum is pretty much the main attraction. Visitors from all over come to see the display featuring well over 100 mummies, easily making it one of Guanajuato's most popular - and most peculiar - stops. So why does Guanajuato have so many mummies? HISTORY LESSEON :) In 1865, city officials deemed it necessary to remove some of the bodies from the overcrowded public cemetery, or the "Panteón", in order to make room for more. However, authorities quickly discovered that what they were finding weren't skeletons as they expected, but rather mummified bodies complete with facial expressions. It turns out that the combination of area's dry atmosphere and the mineral content of the soil preserves, naturally mummifies bodies- a process which only takes 5 or 6 years. Today you can check out the scores of mummies, including the first mummy that was discovered, a pregnant mummy, the world's smallest mummy. Some of the mummies are clothed, some are naked, others sport just shoes. There are even some mummies that are believed to have been been buried alive- particularly people who were thought dead during a cholera outbreak and immediately buried for fear of the disease spread.

Guanajuato Food: If the weekend excursions and site seeing don’t fill your shoes, then take advantage of the local restaurants! The most delicious Mexican food I have ever tasted came from "La Fonda" which is comida rapida (fast food but full meal) and only cost me $30 pesos= approx US $3. They have the BEST chicharrones rojos! Omosh :) Delicious! For desert, BE SURE to try Nive de Garrafa. Its pretty much "fine shaved" flavored ice, but it’s the best form of ice cream I have yet to try! They have all sorts of flavors, but my personal fav was Limon. I've been looking for something similar in the states, but have had no such luck :(

Extra Time??: Within the city itself, there is so much to see and do! The Guanajuato Grill (the city's most popular night club) is a good place to get a feel for Guanajuato nightlife, especially Tuesday nights since its "Ladies free drink night". You also have "El Callejon del Beso". If you happen to visit the city with your significant other, this is a site you don’t want to miss! Legend has it, you and your partner share a kiss in this alleyway, you'll bring onto your relationship great fortune. Lastly, if you feel up for a walk, visit la Estuata de Pipila located on the tallest hill overlooking the city! Great history can be found there :) I hope this blog was helpful in some way, & if you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask :)

AUSTRALIA Travel Blog

Welcome to down under!

AUSTRALIA

Along with various members from our church, my sister & I took a trip to "down under" to participate in World Youth Day 2008. We visited Melbourne and Sydney. Here you will find a short summary of places I visited on our trip, travel tips, along with some of my own suggestions that I wish someone would have told me before my voyage!

P.S- Please keep in mind that my trip was in July (our Summer, their Winter) & all the prices you see here are in US $. The exchange rate changes almost daily so make sure and check up on it before your trip! I usually use the XE Currency Converter online website, its easy & fast :)

Melbourne, Australia- 

Home to some great Aussie history! 

I'm a big nerd at heart... I love me some history! Upon arrival & getting settled (our first stop was Melbourne), we took a trip down to Kings Domain to visit the Shrine of Remembrance. The SR started out as a memorial for the men and women from Victoria that served in WWI, but is now a memorial for ALL Australians that have served in any war. If you visit, make sure you get a good picture of the crypt. The SR is made of three levels & all around the inner walls plaques with a piece of Australian History written on them. The SR is free! There's no admission fee but they do have neat little souvenirs shops that you should check out. Once your in, make sure to visit the top floor and step out into the balcony. The view is great!

Australian wild life; 

Zoo's Victoris= Amazing!

During our stay in Melbourne, many of the locals we were in constant contact with suggested we take a trip to Healesville Sanctuary. It was about a 45 min drive from the city itself, & admission fee was approximately $20/person but was well worth it! HS is one of Australia’s most recognized attractions. Once your inside you'll have full view access to more than 200 species of Australian wildlife. The Zoo carries kangaroos, koalas, tasmanian devils, dingoes, birds of prey & much more. Make sure to check on the progress of animals being cared for at the Australian Wildlife Health Center. They also have a huge section on Australian flora and fauna. My favorite part was the koalas. They look so cute up close and personal. Plus, they were out in the open. You could literally reach out & touch them, but I don't know why you'd want to do that... they have some pretty sharp claws!

Sydney Harbor & Manly Wharf

After about a week of being in Melbourne, we took a flight from Melbourne to Sydney. We got to spend another week in Sydney which was really amazing. Our first stop.... (drumroll) the Sydney Opera House, Duh! After we walked around the harbor area a while, we decided to take a Ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf. The Boat Ferry cost about $12/person (roundtrip) and was a relaxing half hour trip filled with Ocean views and meeting new people. Don't forget to have your cameras ready. The ferry passes right next to the Opera house and this is an awesome chance to take some great snapshots! I must have taken hundreds of photos of the Opera house. Once your on the other side of the bay, Manly Wharf has its own public beach that runs along side some of the best restaurants in Sydney. Even though it was chilly outside at the time I was there, that didn't stop us from putting on our bathing suits and getting in! Australia has some of the cleanest beaches I have ever seen! If you don't feel like getting in the water, you can walk around & visit the vendors souvenir shops that are set up along the beach. If you get hungry, they have a wide variety of food from thai, gloria jeans coffee to subway. Plus, the scenery is just AMAZING! Australia really is a BEAUTIFUL country!

Australian Food 

I'm big on the whole culture aspect/history of a country, but i'm even bigger on the food! When interviewing our newly made Australian friends, I aksed "What is the typical Australian dish?"... 90% of the time I got the answer Fish & Chips. Alright, so I decided to give this whole fish & chip thing a try. When I ordered it, I was half expecting to see a whole fish and some sort of tortilla chips... boy I was wrong. They're fish is pretty much deep fried in batter, giving it that soft but yet crunchy bite and they're chips are deep fried potatoes (what we call french fries).When we went out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, some people from our group ordered a plate of kangaroo. I was too chicken to try it, but just know that it is legal & some of my friends said it was really good! Also, one of my favorite places for food was Queen Victoria Market. Its an open-air market were you can really view & live out Australian culture. As you walk down the aisles people offer you samples of their fresh harvested crops and fruits. It's a really neat experience that I'd recommend to anyone that visits Melbourne.
 

Transportation & Hotels

Since this trip was for World Youth Day, we were actually hosted by several families who were kind enough to take us into their homes, so I can't really say much on the hotels in the area. As for transportation- Two words: City Rail (thats what Australians call it. To us its a trains station, or tram). This really is the fastest & cheapest way to travel in Australia both long and short distances. Most Australians travel this way. The track lines are easy to understand and constant. I believe there's a tram every 15 mins. But don't be lazy!... if your destination is close enough to walk, make the effort!! It's always neat to walk the downtown streets of a newly visited town. Also, if your just looking into traveling within a city, I suggest taking the city bus. Super cheap, safe and fun. You meet so many people on the bus, its insane! Australians can tell right away if your a tourist (your non-english accent kind of gives you away) and they are always super willing to help. Australians are very welcoming & hospitable!

Extra Time?

The only bad thing about this trip was the fact that we went as a group. Don't get me wrong- traveling in groups in always fun & way safer, but the thing about this group was that it was WAY to big and not everyone had the same interests. When one half of our group wanted to go out and explore, the other wanted to stay in and rest. It was a slight complication, but one we overcame. Overall, I had a BLAST in Australia ( I even got to drive around! Yes, the steering wheel is on the right hand side). There are hundreds of other things that I wish we would have had time for; like The Australian Museum in Sydney, lots of history on the land overall along with a time-line for the Aboriginals, or Dreamworld (Tiger Island), you actually have the chance to take a photo with a Tiger!... Also, don't be intimidated to check out the night life in Australia! Crazy fun :) Well my friends, like any good trip, sooner or later it must come to an end. I hope this blog was helpful in some way, & if you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask!