San Francisco, USA California

After a couple of days walking up and down the sunny hills of San Francisco we can come to the conclusion, we like SF!
We managed to meet up at the airport, one of us arriving 8 hours before the other, and found our way to the hostel we had booked for a good nights sleep. The following morning we set out to explore the city, happy and excited. We saw all the different neighbourhoods and famous landmarks, from Union Square with the posh shops to Haight Ashbury with all it's vintage stores and winebars, to Fishermans Wharf with the view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, which was unfortunately not that easy to spot because of the constant fog surrounding it. One day we took the bus all the way up to the bridge but all we saw was the cloud. It was almost comical knowing that the huge bridge was there, so close, and yet all we could see was the cars driving on to the bridge and dissapearing in the mist. To JC's great happiness we also found La Maison Blue (the blue house in San Francisco famous from a  french song) and took a ride with the old tramway.
The atmosphere here is very open minded and in every corner you can see organic coffee-places, yoga-studios and artgalleries. People are friendly, drinking wheatgrassjuice and running everywhere; even mothers with their kids in the trolley running as if they where doing the marathon. It's the town of hippies and free spirits, but also the town of weirdos and crazy people. We saw people talking to themselves on the bus, a tiny man with the needles still attached to his hands who appeared to just have escaped from the hospital, a loud group of people walking down the street screaming "FREE HUGS!!" I'm sure we got at least 10 each, thank you. :) During these days we walked and walked and walked but when the sun is warm and the sky is blue it's such a nice way to take in the city! At night we felt the chilly ocean winds and the famous fog coming in, but we kept warm with spicy indian food (yum!) and red wine. Otherwise the food is not that much to brag about, bagels and burgers and freedomfries. Very american. :)
Yesterday we took the ferry to Green Brae and Graziella, a friend of JC's from Tulum, to spend a couple of nights in her beautiful house up on the Californian hills overlooking the bay of San Francisco. We're very glad to be here and it's a nice rest from the citylife. Thank you so much for having us Graziella! We're enjoying bbq's, wine and a magnific view...
Elle n'est pas belle la vie?!

Tulum, Mexico

 Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans, it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Tulúm is also the Yucatan Mayan word for fence, wall or trench, and the walls surrounding the site allowed the Tulum fort to be defended against invasions.
The new little village has been built 4km away from the ruins and that's where I decided to stay for 2 years and a half... Blue water, amazing beach, good weather and nice opportunities, I used to call this place Home and Paradise.

The peninsula of Yucatan is also a gold mine for cave diving thanks to the Cenotes.
A Cenote (from Yucatec Mayan dzonot "well" ) is a deep natural pit, or sinkhole, characteristic of Mexico, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes ground freshwater underneath. Especially associated with the Yucatan Peninsula, and some nearby Caribbean islands, cenotes were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings. (Which makes it even more interesting for Explorers! :)
These Cenotes, which I didn't even know the Existence before arriving in Tulum, became later my daily working location and a very interesting hobby.

Few photos of the Hotel "Don Diego de la Selva" (the Hotel website), where I worked for 10months thanks to Stephane et Charlie, 2 very interesting french people, who helped me, adviced me, and encouraged me for any new project. They are still now good friends and I'm pretty glad of that.

I also met a lot of very good friends in Tulum... and more! Josefin, Richi, Jaime, Ewelina, Gina, Tobby, Jeff, Stephane (my housemate), etc... I had really good times with all of them. BBQs on the paradise beaches, diving together, pool nights drinking Captain Morgan etc... An absolute Dream Life.

Richi, my very best German friend from Mexico. We spent a lot of time together, diving, playing, drinking and having fun... I miss you my friend, looking forward to come back to see you!

I 1st discovered my passion by diving in the Mangrove and different open water Cenotes where I learned and also taught my father and Josefin (helped me a bit for our 1st date...) to dive!
The feeling when you 1st breath underwater, and adapt to this new world is amazing. Different noises, density and laws, you just become a fish among the others. You are free and this is the time for you to stop thinking about everything else that bothers you en earth and just ENJOY what you have around you.

I later also loved Ocean Diving, with all this life and colors everywhere. You realize that you are actually nothing in the big blue.

And then, I started cave diving. I did my cave course with my excellent Swedish teacher Kim Davidsson for the 1st part and then Robbie Schmittner (Richi's Brother) for the 2nd part.
This cave course is the most interesting and intensive course I've ever taken, but then you come out of it with a different conception of diving.
We have now access to a complete different geological world which was not meant to be seen without all this equipment and skills... The Cenotes Cave System.

And now some more photos by one of the best underwater photographer in the World, Anatoly Beloshchin (His Photos), for the Dive Shope Xibalba in Tulum. (Which I Highly recommend if you want to go diving there!)

________________________________________

Back to Tulum for 2weeks of great Holidays with Vince. Went to see my friends, diving, turtles at night on the beach, eating tacos, drinking captain Morgan, 15th of september: Independance day of Mexico, really good fun! Hope you'll keep doing good Vince! Take care and good luck with the Bees! ;)
PS: Most of the photos are taken by Vince, and there is a Collector of "Mexican JC" !! Have fun... "Jajajaja"