Goodbye US, hola Mexico!

Almost 6 months of road tripping around the US are now over. They have been extremely interesting and rewarding. I admit that the US surprised me for the better. Nature, especially, but not only, in national parks has been exquisite and jaw dropping at times. Culture is quite diverse and luckily we've met tons of great people throughout. Well, perhaps not only by sheer luck but by using CouchSurfing and having friends all around. There have been many highlights, some on this blog, some in more private writings and some already forgotten. Here are some tributes to Billy, the Ford Focus that served us well for over 6,000 miles and nearly 3 months around the US.

Billy on a foggy morning

Billy on the way to the grand canyon

But hey, time for a change. Having the life of a traveler is a lot about change. So now it's Mexico. We've landed in Guadalajara yesterday and I'm happy to report that while Mexican-Spanish has quite a variety of words I don't know, I can still communicate pretty well with everyone. I'll probably pick up more of the local slang and phrases as I go.

Future? We'll be in Mexico for about 4 months, then head to the UK for ~10 days and then visit Israel in March. Later options may include Russia and then either eastern Europe and China before enjoying lovely Thailand again. All is open except for the flights already booked :)

Airports and 5-star hotels seem to look the same everywhere

As my blog isn't chronological, I'll probably write about different parts of the US trip later on. Especially the burning man posts are written and will be published soon. Trying to space things out to keep my few friends who actually read my blog well entertained.

Birds and Seals en Route 1

My last scenic road in the US, route 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles didn't disappoint me. Beautiful nature on the coast and more in land. We actually did our most intense hike in the US here in Big Sur towards Sykes Hot Springs. It's 10 miles in each direction (so 20 miles return == 32km) to get to some nice hot springs near a river in the thick of woods. Got some pictures there that I wouldn't share online :) Anyway, enjoy the ultra zoom of my camera here below.

Napa and Wine Tasting

Visiting Napa twice at the end of September and then early October still didn't make me want to go wine tasting as most tourists seem to do there. Don't get me wrong, I do like the taste of a good wine, but wouldn't bother making an effort to get to a specific vineyard and pay more than I'd pay for a bottle for a mare taste. I've just read this interesting article saying wine tasting is junk science and it reminded me of Napa.

One could be a connoisseur of olive oil as well so as there's always room for bs if you got the money.

The wine we bought most in California was called Oak Leaf. We were first introduced to it in Arcata by fellow CouchSurfers. It wasn't too bad and so another day we found it at the store. The price was shocking, $1.87 a bottle for a reasonable wine. When we shared the wine later with other people, they always said they liked it. Guess it shouldn't be that hard to make a good fermented grape juice after all.

The salvation army in Napa collects free food from grocery shops and give it away. A great initiative that slightly lessens the excessive amount of waste created by modern consumption practices and a profit-oriented economy.

Dana near a 1080 pound / 490kg pumpkin. Treat or treat?

Napa was good to us because of the people who hosted us. I enjoyed seeing and experiencing the area from a more local perspective and later learn about different crime rates in different town and how they're a direct result of local government corruption. Oh well, I'm too lazy to really go into it all now.

Some prepare for Halloween over a month in advance... Go Pumpkins!

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

These pictures are from the second night in Los Angeles where I still am. Soon I'm heading to Mexico but there's no reason not to include random pictures from recent experiences. October 11th is when I met a cool girl whom I hosted in Israel over 3 years ago. She lives in LA and suggested the lovely Griffith Observatory. It's up a hill overlooking LA and the infamous HOLYWOOD sign. Really beautiful and interesting exhibits inside.

Apparently you can hike to the sign and try to vandalize it. Too far for me :)

After enjoying the reunion and amazing place I went on to a more touristy and boring place - Holywood Bvd where there are lots of stars on the pavement with names of movie stars. The only joy I imagine one could extract from it would be stepping on the names of hated celebrities. But hey, I get that other people do enjoy that. I went there to meet an even older friend I've met back in Thailand nearly 8 years ago. You know you're getting older when you can meet people you haven't met for many years. To longevity! Now read what's under the pictures and leave a comment if you please.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles at the palm of my hand

Some say NASA is planning to send teddy bears to outer space...

Downtown Los Angeles seen from the Griffith Observatory

Same, but when the camera moves :)

Home is where the heart is, but Israel has a special place in my heart still

Albert Einstein and me

Near the Chinese Cinema, Holywood Bvd, top tourist dull destination

Sumo Wrestling in San Francisco

This was actually on September 21st but who said I gotta keep a chronological order?
The world's sumo champion had a show at Japantown Peace Plaza in San Francisco. It was a show meant for uninformed people like myself, explaining names of different moves and the rules of sumo. But hey, we're all here to see fat guys slap and push each other, right? Check out the videos then...

San Francisco Fetishes and Colors in Stills

Trying to keep posts short, here are a few pictures related to the previous post. Read the captions and let me know what you think.

Street art (aka graffiti) and people art (aka tattoo) is very common around SF

Drugs also seem to be commonplace in SF, at least if you look at some of the street art.

Glide church has holds amazing Sunday services full of happiness and energy

Grace cathedral is very impressive and located atop a hill

inside Grace Cathedral

SF is very hilly and driving around sometimes feels like a fun park roller coaster ride.

I guess the shop owner knew I wasn't gonna come in ;)

Street cable cars are another mode of tourist transportation

Union square, SF

Meanwhile, bad things are happening in Sudan...

Not that it'll stop the Folsom Street Fair from partying and spanking, whipping and batting the butts of those interested.

Public display of fetishes is a good way of getting new members to the club

My guess is that this guy doesn't like to be pet on the head...

Lost dinosaur in the street fair

Pride rainbow burka protest at the Folsom Street Fair

Did I already write drugs are commonplace?

From Church to Fetish - Sunday in San Francisco

San Fran offers a variety of experiences. This Sunday started in an especially cool church that holds an energetic and friendly Sunday service and ended in a fetishes street fair features a lot of public spanking, nudity and men petting their monkeys. This post will have a few videos, the next one with some stills.
So first a part of the church singing to assist with feeling the divine...


A sweet piano solo adds to the atmosphere



A few hours later at the Folsom Street Fair...



The videos above and below are a very mild version of what was happening there. I didn't want to upload sexual content with public nudity to my blog. Some public spankings and whipping have left red bleeding marks on the joyful receivers. Quite a few of the exposed penises outdoor were proudly erected to advertise their owner. Be accepting or be shocked :)

after you've watched the videos, time for some stills but I'll do it in the next post...