California

Well, I started my trip in Los Angeles. I don't like Los Angeles much, but that's where Shanna and Daniel live. We had a nice quiet first night. The next day we all drove to San Diego, where I stayed at my friend Sylvia's. Sylvia and I had a great time and so did Katie, Bob's granddaughter who was also staying at Sylvia's. Sylvia was very generous, letting me borrow her car and helping me with the many things I always need to do when I leave Nicaragua and go to the States.

The first weekend I went with Shanna, Daniel and Daniel's friend Zak to Rosarito, Mexico! We had a blast eating REAL Mexican food, shopping in the market and drinking beers at Papas and Beers bar on the beach. Funny thing...there were no people there! We were the only "foreigners" in the market, at the bar and in the restaurants! I guess the kidnapping and murders that seem to be happening in border towns in Mexico has seriously affected the tourist trade there. But we had great lobster dinners and tasty margaritas before we headed back to the U.S. and had to wait two and a half hours in line to cross the border! We were exhausted, but decided to venture into downtown San Diego to a place called SHOUT, which is a dueling piano bar. I was singing all night!

The next dayl the boys took off for Pacific Beach while Shanna and I did one of our favorite things that we like to do in California...we went shopping!!!! Got some good bargains too! Talia had surprised us and ended up in California. She was up in San Francisco at this time, visiting Azin and Glenda, her two best college friends.

I spent the week in California, taking care of business and doing some fun things in San Diego. Spent some fabulous time with my wonderful friend and neighbor Gloria and her cousin (and my property manager)Kitty. Saw the movie Black Swan with Lyn Hall, who was meeting me later in Sydney since she was coming to the wedding too. During the week, Sylvia invited me to see the Light Parade, the Christmas boat parade that motors through San Diego Harbor during the Holidays. It was spectacular!!! We enjoyed our share of great ethnic food and Sylvia invited me to High Tea at the hotel Del Coronado, a special thing that they do during the December holiday season. The hotel Del is considered one of the 10 best hotels in the world!

Sylvia, Katie and I enjoyed great conversations throughout the whole stay. I wish Katie the best when she returns to China for two years to teach English and experience living in a foreign culture. What a great young woman! Sylvia and I had a big meeting about the book we had started a couple of years ago and we hope to resurrect it!

The following weekend I was very happy to attend my friends' Christmas party. Marc and Lynne Friedmann have had this party for years and years and I usually can't attend because I am not in the U.S at the time. Great food, great people, a wonderful evening all in all.

The next day I headed back up to Los Angeles. Talia was returning from San Francisco and I spent the next two days with Daniel, Shanna and Talia. Talia and I also spent a day shopping. It reminded us of the old days...we used to love shopping together! The kids left for Australia on the 22nd and I was supposed to return to Marc and Lynne's house in Solana Beach (north of San Diego) for the next three days until we all left for Australia. Coincidentally, we were all on the same plane! Unfortunately, Mother Nature interfered with my plans. It rained so hard that they had to shut the train (AMTRAK)down between San Diego and Los Angeles, so I was stuck in Los Angeles in Daniel and Shanna's apartment. I didn't know a soul in that city of 11 million or so, so I watched a lot of movies relaxed. Not a bad thing to do for a change. On Christmas Day, I left for Australia! Click here to see photos of this section.