We’ve been in Palenque (well, El Panchan, up the road really) in the jungle, in a cute litte cabana (not sure how you put the squiggly bit over the n here, but it’s a nya sound, like pina colada – cabanya). Yesterday we got up early and went up to the “ruinas” of ancient Palenque. We took a jolly English-speaking guide with a couple of lovely Aussie girls and spent a good few hours learning all sorts about the ancient Maya people and their city. Apparently there are over a thousand buildings at the site, but over 90% of them…

We were in Mexico City for 3 nights (Wednesday – Saturday). Two nights would have been enough for us (it’s a big, slightly grubby city and we weren’t particularly enamoured with it), but when we went to catch the bus to San Cristobal de las casas on Friday night, they were all full, so we had to wait until Saturday. We did find a nice restaurant in Mexico City, just around the corner from our hotel – we just wandered into what looked like someone’s backyard, because there was an amazing smell wafting out. They have this set-up where you…

We made it across the border last Saturday night (actually, anyone with a couple of $US could have made it over the border – the guy just got on the bus and asked us all to “push the green button”! Probably a bit harder to go back… ;o) We took a bus to Nogales, where we crossed the border, then another to Los Mochis and a third to El Fuerte. We stayed in the most gorgeous authentic hacienda in El Fuerte, which was just so full of character. Here’s a picture, but there are more here too. On Monday we…

On Thursday we left Vegas and went to Lake Mead (the man-made lake created by the Hoover Dam). We thought we’d hire a boat and mess about on the lake for a bit in the sunshine, then stay the night there. Unfortunately, as soon as we got out on the lake, the sun went in. We still had fun though, as it was about 90 degrees. However, on the way back into the Marina (at 35mph), the Gool drove the boat through some shallow water (he’d seen the warning marker on the rocks, but not the small one further out…

Vegas has grown on me a little – largely due to our stay at the Bellagio (thank you Georgie and Charlie!), which is just fabulous. I’ve been making full use of all the toiletries, Ise has had a professional shave at the barbers, we’ve been enjoying cocktails round the pool and some fabulous food, not to mention the view of the fountains from our bedroom window..! Kit’s gone home now, having done very well on the roulette table! Even I managed to win about $75 last night and quit while I was ahead. Last night we had an amazing dinner…

Well they don’t call it Death Valley for nothing! It was 115 degrees F (that’s 46 degrees C) as we drove across and they won’t let you have the air con on for the whole way. We drank 2.5 gallons of water between us on the way across this… We’ve been in Vegas for 2 nights now (actually halfway through the 3rd, it’s 2.30am here!) and I have to say I’m not entirely sure what all the fuss is about… It’s a bit too loud, vulgar and money-grabbing for me. Having said that, I did enjoy the Big Shot ride…

From San Francisco we went up to the giant Redwoods, which were awesome (not in an American accent!) – so tall and dead straight. We drove through a tree – random! It was so peaceful wandering through the forest and the air is incredibly clean – I can almost(!) see why people want to camp up there… After that we went down to Yosemite and spent a day in the park (we wanted to stay overnight, but all the hotels and cabins in the park were fully booked) – maybe we’ll go back in an RV with the kids one…

On Sunday we took a wander round SoMa (South of Market St) and ate some scrummy Moroccan food in Yerba Buena gardens before taking the Streetcar up the “Embarkadero” to Fisherman’s Wharf where we caught the ferry to Alcatraz. We did the audio tour, where you walk around with a headset on and listen to ex-prisoners and guards talking about life on The Rock. We learnt all about the escape attempts and had a demonstration of the “Sounds of the Slammer” – the cell doors opening and shutting, which is really loud and a bit scary (prisoners trying to leave…

We’re staying at the Golden Gate hotel (we rate it 10 out of 10!), which has a resident cat called Pip (she popped into our room this morning through the window to say hello) and a dog called Cookie – both very cute and friendly. The manager/host Hellim recommended a Chinese restaurant (The House of NanKing) to us on our first night and it was packed with locals and the food was delicious (we would have rated it 10 out of 10, but they put sugar in the jasmine tea, so it gets a 9 out of 10 from us)……