Sights and sounds of San Diego

Two weeks have passed and we have been living large. Cruising between the mansions in Rancho Santa Fe and the oceanfront in La Jolla we have really enjoyed ourselves! Here are some photos from the beach in Del Mar, La Jolla, the lighthouse in Point Loma, and the WWII aircraft carrier Midway.

Tomorrow morning we are off to Las Vegas, thus the beginning of our ten day roadtrip.

A few hours in Mexico

We went across the border to eat at this Brazilian meat restaurant. Tijuana is exciting but it felt less alive than last time I (Toni) visited. The crowds were replaced by police officers and there was more tension on the streets. Without making bold statements about the socioeconomical in Mexico, one thing is certain: the contrast to wealthy San Diego is immense.

Friends and family

Sushi and hookah in downtown San Diego

Me, Ewelina, and Joey Fatone from N'Sync

Persian family and friends coming together for a barbeque

Disneyland

Samoa

Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) is a little country in the Pacific, just east of the date line, south of the equator. We spent a week on the main island of Upolu. Not much to do there but relax and enjoy the sun. The local guide Toupo tought us everything from opening the coconut and cacao fruit, to making fire and catching crabs.

Stopover from Hell

Hi everyone. Just a quick note to let you all know that we are alive and well. We are about to embark on our longest journey yet; a nightmare of zigzags and stopovers to reach Los Angeles. To illustrate:

- 4 hour flight from Apia, Samoa to Auckland, NZ

- 15 hour stopover in Auckland to board our next flight to LA

- 12 hour flight to LA

- 3 hour drive from LA to San Diego

Valium, anyone?

Last days in New Zealand

Lake Rotoiti

Lake Rotoroa

One frosty morning on our way to Nelson Lakes

Looking for the entrance to the 100+ year old mine

Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

We are making our way towards Christchurch where we will drop off our car - our home for the last 36 days - and hop on our long awaited flight to Samoa, passing the date line and traveling back 24 hours on the way. The last few days we have been driving along the west coast. One day we camped in Lyall, an old relic from the gold rush. After that we headed to Nelson Lakes National Park. Some of you might recognise the photo with the jetty and the lake; a photographers' favourite spot.

We also take this opportunity to tell everyone that we will be in an Internet free zone the coming eight to ten days while in Samoa. Next time you will here from us we will be in either Los Angeles or San Diego.

Have a good week and see you soon!

The Glaciers

The Franz Josef Glacier

The terminal point at the Fox Glacier

Glaciers from a distance

Our campground for the night - Gillespie Beach

Haast Pass, on our way to the glaciers

Coming live and direct from the glaciers on the west coast. This morning we took a walk to the terminal point (=where the ice begins) of the Fox Glacier; a few moments ago we tried to do the same thing at the Franz Josef Glacier but there has been some rain so the flooding was too violent. We had to enjoy the view from a distance and you guys have to enjoy the view from your computer screens.

Cinema Paradiso

Choose your seat - the couch, lazy boy, old airline seat, or the car!

I (Toni) am now 28 years old and we celebrated my birthday on the road. We stayed for a couple of nights in the cosy city of Wanaka where they have the Cinema Paradiso: a worn down little independent cinema where you can enjoy food and drinks while watching the movie. We had pizza and beer which was great considering we left all delicious barbequed food and wine behind us in Australia!