Mazatlan, Mexico

PACIFIC COAST
After almost a week in and around the Copper Canyon it has been a big change to get down to sea level again on the Pacific coast. We've spent three hot sunny days in Mazatlan doing little but walking around and taking in the sights. Yesterday we walked up to the worlds second highest lighthouse (the tallest is in Gibraltar) to get a 360 degree view of the area. On the walk we were accosted by a number of locusts, butterflies and even a scorpion. Seeing the scorpion was great as Sara picked up the pace considerably in fear of seeing another one. Once at the top we collapsed in a heap and finished the last of our water, before Sara broke the toilet much to the chagrin of the lighthouse keeper.

The Pacific coast at Mazatlan

 Mazatlan cathedral

Mazatlan's lighthouse - operating since 1879

 The view from the lighthouse

This afternoon we catch a bus to Guadalajara - once we get there we will see if we want to stay or move on again straight away. We're trying to get to a place called Patzcuaro in time for the Day of the Dead celebrations on November 1 & 2, but we may end up in Morelia instead. Within a week we should be in Mexico City.

SECURITY
The bus station here in Mazatlan doesn't have quite the rigorous security procedures as other bus stations we've been through. In Chihuahua we were made to walk through a metal detector with our backpacks on. I told the security guard that of course we will set the thing off but he was quite insistent that we both take all our stuff through. We both set the machine off but he waved up on anyways. The 50 other passengers we picked up along the way were not subjected to the same inspection standards since we picked them up in transit.

Creel, Mexico

HURRICANE KENNA
There is a huge hurricane due to hit the Pacific coast of Mexico today so we are forced to rethink our plans since we were due to spend some time on the beach in a town called Mazatlan. We were supposed to catch the Copper Canyon train to Los Mochis today but as soon as we're finished in the Internet Cafe we will head over to the bus station to see if we have some other options. The easiest would be to stay here a little longer as the weather is still wonderful but chilly. Creel is at 2,200m above sea level so the days are cool and the nights are cold.

Yesterday we went into the canyon for a few hours and saw some of the indigenous people and spectacular scenery. I even had a go on the 'balancing rock' which is a huge rock on a bluff that tilts when you move from side to side. My knees almost gave way on me at one stage but it was a very thrilling experience - I hope the photo comes out.

Images from in and around Copper Canyon

Chihuahua, Mexico

AYE CARRUMBA
I was expecting to see hundreds of the little things all over the city, but alas we saw no Chihuahua's in Chihuahua. We only stayed there for a couple of days - this morning we caught the bus to Creel just outside the Copper Canyon - but for those two days we neglected to put our watches back one hour. Both mornings we woke up and thought "what a sleepy town this is, there's no-one about", and each night we were kept awake late by people talking and laughing at all hours (when in fact it was only 10pm).

Chihuahua

We have decided to stay a couple of nights here in Creel and do a tour out to part of the Copper Canyon tomorrow. The Canyon is about four times bigger than the Grand Canyon so seeing all of it will take some time. On Friday we are going to catch the train through the Canyon to the seaside town of Los Mochis and then head further down the coast. For anyone following the itinerary, we are skipping La Paz because we were going to have to rush too much.

SPANGLISH
Sara's Spanish has been very useful so far and it's getting better with each passing day. This morning we asked someone for directions to the bus station and Sara understood the answer completely which is not as easy as it sounds because there was a gas station, a left turn, a right turn and a Chihuahua (which we never saw) involved.

Dallas, Texas

ANNIVERSARY
Today is our first wedding anniversary and we find ourselves back in the city where we were married after completing one lap around the world. It's been five months since we packed up our small apartment in Dallas and drove for two days to Chicago. Tonight we're going to celebrate our first year of marriage with a steak dinner at Saltgrass. After sampling some pretty ordinary food through Asia over the last few months it will be nice to enjoy a Texas sized sirloin.

Thanks to everyone who showed up last night at Gloria's for a few drinks and some food. On Monday we fly to Mexico to start our overland trip to Panama City. I'll keep this site updated with our progress as we go.

Ohakune, New Zealand

MOUNT RUAPEHU
We have been in the central plateau of New Zealand's north island for just over a week now. For the first week we shared a ski lodge with various school friends of mine and their partners (Brent & Lisa, Alaster & Liz, Brendon, Dean & Ariana) but now we are staying on our own in a small chalet on the edge of town. So far we've both skied 5-6 days although a few of those have only been half days. It is typical spring snow conditions right now with firm snow in the morning, softening by lunchtime and quite slushy by the end of the day. With the school holidays now over we're looking forward to another three days of skiing with no queues before catching the train back to Wellington this weekend. So far we have spent all of our time at the Turoa resort on Mt Ruapehu but we may try and get around to Whakapapa, on the other side of the mountain, before we leave here.

Unpacking at the Turoa parking lot

The view from the Turoa parking lot 

  Getting ready for our first run

The Moro race T-bar

Beautiful view heading down - no crowds!

Sara at Turoa

BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
It's hard to believe that only four weeks ago we were lying on a remote island in Malaysia - now it's impossible to venture outside without long underwear on. By the end of next week, we are due to arrive back in Dallas to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. The first year has been a whirlwind experience - we both quit our jobs, flew to Europe, caught the train across Russia and China and backpacked through South East Asia to New Zealand.