Back to the US & Mexico

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After four solid months of travelling around Europe, I was beginning to grow very weary of living out of a bag, using shared bathrooms, shared bedrooms, eating out, and constantly being on move, leaving a city just as you start to get a hold of where things are and how to get around. It was for this reason that I headed back to California for a 'holiday from my holiday'. I left Amsterdam and after 37 long hours of travelling including an 11 hour flight, a 12 hour overnight bus, a ferry and and many other buses and trains along the way, I finally arrived in San Diego where I am writing this.
It was really great to get back to some warm weather, see some familiar places but most of all have the chance to catch up with a lot of the friends I had made in my time studying in San Diego. It was also good to get back to Brian's place, move back into my old room, have my own bathroom, and have the chance to sit around watching cable TV, play a little X-Box, and just generally kick back and relax- the things that you don't have the chance to do while travelling.
Most days have been spent taking it easy, chilling around the house, catching up with this blog (which I hope at least a few people are reading), organising some of my upcoming travel, and then nights I usually went out to house parties or friends places to catch up and swap stories of the last 4 months. It was a little disappointing realising that a large proportion of my friends here had either gone home, graduated, or gone on exchange themselves but there was still plenty of people to see.
I also had a chance to say hi to my car again. It's been sitting on the lot with a 'for sale' sign on for the last 4 months but hasn't sold yet. I was only daring enough to drive it for one day because I'm in deep shit if I get caught driving without insurance, but was great to see her again and have a drive.
The first weekend here, we arranged a three day trip to Mexico, this time heading further south than I had previously gone to a place called Ensenada. We got dropped at the border and caught the 2 hour bus down to Ensenada where we checked into a dingy little motel. I went with Dave, an Australian mate who came to San Diego the same time I did, along with his two roommates Mike (a local) and Olan (a South African). It was a pretty standard trip south of the border (this was probably my 7th time in Mexico this year). The days were spent wandering around, eating mexican food and going to the beach (which we found to be pretty bad) and then nights were a bit more fun.
The first night, we went to a few little bars for some cheap drinks and food then headed to a club, but Mike forgot his ID so couldn't get in and we ended up in a strip club. The second night was more successful, getting in a couple hours of pool, finding a very authentic mexican watering hole with a cool Mariachi band, having a good feed on local food, and heading out to three different clubs for a bit of a salsa and meeting some interesting locals.
This brings me up to date for the first time since I left San Diego in June. After San Diego, I head to LA to stay with my cousin for about 4 days and then hop on a plane back to Europe. Then I spend a week in Sweden before flying out of Germany to start the Asian leg of the trip.
It may be a while 'til my next entry but hope you have enjoyed reading these things. If you've been reading and haven't made a comment yet, go on so I know whos checking it out. All the best to all my friends and can't wait to see everyone again, wherever in the world that may be.

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Photos

Mexican border
This is the first thing you seen when you cross from Mexico into California- an American flag next to a McDonalds flag

The Pharmacy
Notice the picture of the man next to Viagra

Live music
You literally can't sit down for a few tacos without a Mariachi band trying to sing to you

Papas & Beer
Excellent chain of Mexican clubs where you can find all the drunk American college kids and listen to all the Reggaton you can handle

Olan, the South African
A little toy for surfers to practice when there aren't any waves. Two of the boys were hangin out for a surf but there wasn't any

Random sign
Cigarette brand that doesn't pay their marketing people very much. Don't really get the appeal

Boys and their bucket
A bucket of 10 coronas for $10. Can't complain about that.

Oh my!
The monkey touched me in my special place.

Trouble with the law
Nah, just jokes. Dave (Aussie) getting a pat down to get into the club

Disappointing beach
All rocks, no waves and very cold

Some strip club
Someone forgot their ID the first night so we couldn't go into any clubs. This was the only place that would let us in

Mariachi band
Just hangin out with the band

Yee-haw!
Me and Olan, we borrowed the hats off some Mexicans

Tequilla
Dave with the worst tequilla money can buy

Mexican motel
In the parking lot of our scungy Mexican motel.

My beautiful car
It was still here waiting for me when I got back. Only problem was that I couldn't legally drive it without insurance and didn't want to risk any trouble.

Comments

[sickboy pockets]

dman looks smooth in a cowboy hat
the good times keep on rolling... seems like you have had an excellent time recently d man, i look forward to seeing you in vietnam. cheers tommy

[Christopher Payne Esq. VII]

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Hey darcy i hadnt checked my email until very recently and there were about 10 million travel blog updates. I think you have out done us all, best trip ever. That car is beautiful man, shame you cant drive it. Anyway, back to reading. I am have only read up to the Greece blog! Fark