Yesterday Antonio, Nick and I got up at 6am in order to drive to Valle de Bravo. Valle de Bravo is to paragliders, what Hawaii is to surfers!

After a 3 hour drive we finally got there. It was easy to see why most people born here, stay here. Valle de Bravo ist beautiful! After getting settled and having some lunch, the three of us headed to Profly, a paragliding organisation. We met Raul and Danny who were going to be our pilots. 10 minutes later we were on our way up to the 'take-off' platform (by car of course!). Everyime I thought we had reached the top Raul would make a sharp turn and we continue driving further and further up. When we reached the top the view was AMAZING. You could see the entire valley surrounding by the lake. Raul and Danny quickly explained take-off and landing to Nick and I and within no time it was time to fly!! 

Take-off to me was very weird, it all happened to fast I didn't even realise we were already in the air. The view up in the air was even more impressive! Sadly my pilot Danny, didn't speak good English so we couldn't really chat. The more annoying thing was that Danny and I were done 20 minutes ahead of Nick, even though he only took-off 5 minutes after me. But it was ok because down at the landing zone, which is TINY by the way, Danny bought me a beer and introduced me to the others. The amount of Americans and Canadians there was unreal. I hit it off with David (an American who moved to Valle in November) and another Mexican Pilot who I discovered is one of the 100 best paragliding pilots in the world...next to being a chef haha. He was extremly friendly and due to the fact that he lived in America for a while his English was perfect. We chatted about all sorts and watched the other paragliders land. After Nick and Antonio landed, he made me promise to come back to Valle, and then we left. 

When we got to the car I was absolutely knackered and determined to sleep in cars (not really something I am good at..). About an hour into driving and I was dozing off in the back seat when suddenly Antonio makes a sharp turn and I hit my head against the window. Slightly confused I aksed what was going on, Nick told me that there was a tire lying in the middle of the road and despite Antonios best efforts to swerve around it we had hit it. Antonio quickly pulled over to the side of the road because there was smoke coming from the car. Bearing in mind that Antonio only bought his car 2 weeks ago, seeing the front left side hanging down wasn't great. Nick and I split up in search for a piece of rope or anything that would keep the bumper from scraping the road. After 20 minutes we combined everything we could find and Antonio was able to fix the bumper. 

Not the perfect ending to such a great day, but it was a great day nevertheless! 

Love A      

The last couple of days have been amazing to say the least!

First of all, thursday we went to the Mountain Nevado de Tulco. The aim was climbing to the top – 4700m. Bearing in mind that the starting point was already 4100m I wasn’t expecting much of a climb. I couldn’t have been more wrong. besides us being on the go for 4 hours, I was also suffering due to altitude sickness. I was dizy, disorientated and even sick. No pain, no gain!

The view was amazing and even though we only made it to 4500m (there was too much snow and ice) we were able to see both lakes (photogallery!!)

It was a good thing that we were tired and went to bed early thursday night because the next morning we got up early to drive to Acapulco. Acapulco is a 4 hour drive and the nearest beach resort to México City. When we got there it was unreal. We had gone from 4500m and 0°C to 0m and 30°C. In addition our hotel was literally on the beach!

The first day we didn’t do much besides explore our hotel and surrounding shops. The next two days we spent all day at the beach. The beach was very nice and quite clean but there were A LOT of people running round and selling stuff, jewelery, henna tatoos, food, drinks, souvenirs and even hammocks (?!). My favourite people were the ones selling massages! And after a lot of contemplating I couldn’t resist. I mean 30 minute full body massage for 10€, who could resist?

Besides treating myself to a massage I also bought myself a traditional Mexican mask, which Nick and had some fun with.

Sunday night we made our way back home. Today Nick and I walked to Coyoacan (City of the coyotes) to go to the fruit market. We bought 9 different Mexican fruits (3 of each). At home we cut them open and tried them. It was cool to see how different they looked on the inside compared to the outside! There is a photo of them in the photogallery. On the photo mentioned there are only 8 fruits displayed. That it because when we asked Antonio and Maria about the ninth fruit they said they didn’t know it and thought it was off, because it was so shriveled up. Lateron we did decided to cut it open anyway. Funnily enough it turned out to be completely fine AND my favourite of all of them, it was very sour which I like haha.

Love A       

Today Antonio, Nick and I visited the museum of Dolores Olmedo. Dolores Olmedo was a Mexican businesswoman, philantropist and musician. She was quite popular in Mexico and was also good friends with Diego Rivera. After her death her Hacienda (Estate) was opened up to the public. Including the art collection of Olmeda and paintings of Diego Rivera, a specifif and important kind of dog is also a part of the museum. Xoloitzcuintles, the Mexican Hairless dogs, are considered sacred by the Aztecs. The funny thing was that we thought they were just statues but then one after another they started to move! They are known for being 'statue-like'. Even though they are coal black and look like rats I love them! They are so ugly that they are cute...if that makes any sense!! 

As well as the dogs there were many peacocks just running around. They are very domesticated and don't care how close you get. After the museum Antonio took us to a place called Xochimilco. In Xochimilco there are many little creeks and rivers which you can visit via gondelas. The gondelas are painted in bright colours and each has its own name (oh and of course they come with their own supply of beer). Ours was called Beyonce haha! 

On the river there are many other gondelas selling souvenirs and there are even Mariachis waiting for someone to pay money for them to play, which we did. They connected their gondela with ours and played a couple of songs for us. It was really cool! Once they were done they disconnected the two gondelas and we 'sailed' on to see the Isla de las Munecas, the puppetisland. Some artist decided to hang puppets all over an island and call it art...I call it a mental problem (photogallery).  

Love A

Today Antonio took me to his old University, UNAM (Universidad Nacional Auntónoma de México). 

I must say at first I thought Antonio was kidding when he said 'It is the best school in the world', but it really is! First of all the price: the price per semester at UNAM is unbelievable...20 CENTS!! I couldn't believe my ears. Here I am in one of the biggest schools of South America and it only costs 20 cents. UNAM is so big that it has its own busses from building to building called the 'Pumabus' (their football team is called 'The Pumas' hence the name for the busses) and its own subway. They specialize in Sciences but teach other stuff as well: chemistry, biology, medicine, orthondontist, economy studies, psychology, philosophy, foreign languages, etc. 

The atmosphere is great, wherever you look there are people playing football and volleyball and just having fun...just too bad I don't speak any Spanish and am not interested in science haha! Plus apparently it is very difficult to be accepted, every year 60,000 people apply but only 20,000 are accepted. 

Love A    

FINALLY, I am in Mexico! I flew in friday night and have already been upto quite a lot. I am living with a family called the Arroyo's. Antonio the father used to work with my dad and Paulina his daughter is a friend of mine. Nick Paulina's friend from Cologne is staying with us, too. 

Saturday we got up at 9 and drove to a basar/market for different kinds of artists. I was hoping to find a photographer called Enrique Segarra Lopez, who took photos in the 40s/50s and are quite good. Sadly he wasn't there, but I got to see a bunch of other stuff. There was a man whose birds could tell your fortune. Apparently and I am a strong and dominant person but with a weak point! In addition there were woman selling hand-made tortilla, which lookes amazing. And there were even mexican musicians called Trio Huasteco performing. 

After the basar we went to see the pyramids. It was amazing to see how well preserved they are. We climbed both pyramids, The Moon and The Sun. The Pyramid of The Sun is especially cool because it is massive and it is believed that once you reach the top and touch the stone with your finger you 'charge' religious energy. Lateron we went to a restaurant called 'La Gruta', which is literally a restaurant in a cave! It was the weirdest things I have ever seen but also really impressive. Of course the food was good, too. At 11 Nick, Paulina and went to a bar. I had the weirdest cocktail made with a bottle of beer, tequila, contreau and chili juices. 

The next day Nick, Paulina and I headed into Mexico City and went on a 'Turibus'. We got to see quite a bit and learn quite a bit about the city. The city was originally built on a lake and because of that it is sinking. An example is that they have a pendulum hanging in their cathedrale in order to measure how much the floor has sunk. We also went to the National Palace and saw a famous painting by Diego Rivera. The city was packed and sadly there were many beggars around, but nevertheless it is one of the most impressive cities I have ever seen. Another interesting thing was that there were schoolchildren everywhere with their mothers interviewing tourists. It was their homework to go and interview tourists. I must have stood out so much, I got interviewed twice! 

(I have posted all of my photos in the new Mexico Photogallery, check them out! :))

Love A    

Marge and I drove to St. Petersburg yesterday. St. Petersburg is only 30 minutes away from where the Bennetts live. It is right by the Bay and a really nice city.   

Whilst being there Marge and I visited the Chihuly Glass Museum. Dale Chihuly is a glass sculptor and quite well known in the US. His ideas and different sculptures are really cool because they are not your average pieces (photogallery!!!). I especially loved the chandeliers that he makes! 

Love A 

So it has been quite a while since I posted anything. I guess I have been rather busy! 

leading upto christmas and new years eve was pretty much all party, party. There was a Christmas Eve party at Marianne's, a Christmas Day Party at our house, a Boxing Day party at Mary's, a Wedding party for Marge and Ben's friends and of course a New Years Eve party. You think I would have mastered some of the American drinking games by now. Nope. 

Nevertheless I had a really good time! 

And of course there was Christmas Day and my birthday. Christmas day was lovely. Marge and Ben had bought me a stocking and put some really cute presents inside. The best surprise was a paket from my parents and my best friend Laura!!  I got my favourite tea, German cookies, a cute cupcake ornament, some chocolate and a bunch of other things. 

My birthday was also very nice, Sydney had bought me a button that said 'Free drinks for the birthday girl'. I wore it all day, proud as punch haha. When we went out for dinner later that night, my wish came true and the barmen and waitresses sang happy birthday to me!

Today Ben and I went out with the kayaks (photogallery) which and of course Wes the dog came with us. He NEVER leaves Ben's side, not even if Ben goes on the jetski.    

Oh yeah and b the way HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Love A

I've only been in Florida for about a week and a half now but it seems like a lot longer! 

I am staying with the Bennetts: Marge, Ben, Jake and Syd (and Wes, their dog) . Marge and Ben are both from England so they do enjoy a good party and only two days after I got here they had an 'ugly christmas jumper' Party. It was the funniest thing ever, Men with reindeer boobs and others dressed as elves (photogallery)....and I was worried my little jumper wasn't going to be ugly enough!!   

They certainly have been keeping me busy haha. Especially with christmas coming up Marge and I have been driving from one mall to the other like mad! (We have also been visiting the gym religiously, we wont let the christmas puddings and sweets get to us!) As well as going to the gym I've been taking Wes out for his walk with Ben. The cool thing about the route that Ben does, is that there is loads of wildlife. On my first day I got to see one of the most venomous snakes of Florda, the Grey Diamondback Rattlesnake! 

In addititon to all that Syd sings in a choir and they had a performance last night, wich I got to see. I have to admit, they were really good! After her performance Syd and I went to Busch Gardens, a huge rollercoaster park in Tampa. We went to the Christmas Town Special, that means the park is only open from 6pm to 11pm and it is all lit up. It was really pretty with all of the lights, but the best part was that all of the rides were open and they were even more fun in the dark!    

Today Ben and are going canoeing. The Bennetts own party of a lake, which is connected to a swamp and other lakes. The only part I am not looking forward to is that in order to get to the swamp we have to go underneath a bridge that is full of spiders....yay.      

Last thursday Bob had his retirement party. I had the pleasure of meeting a few people who worked with my dad. One of them, Paul Lang, had visited my family and I in Germany with his wife and kids. So Paul set up a meeting for his daughter and I which was very nice. Then I got to go back and visit my old home. I was so exited! I even met up with my childhood best friend, Maggie and her brother Stan who was very close to Andrew back then. We talked about old times and looked at old photos. I must say I was a cute child haha! It was so great seeing Maggie and Stan and my old home.

I met up with Pat again and we went to the Andy Warhol Museum. It was really interesting and I especially liked the cloud room. It was a room filled with silver looking plastic cloud, which are filled with helium so they float around like normal clouds do.     

In addition to all this Lori took me to Sarris a famour Candy store here in Pitt. It was AMAZING. I’ve never seen so much candy in one room! 

Once again it has been a while since I have posted something but the last couple of days have been very busy. 

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving so Lori and I had a lot of preparing to do (of which Lori did the most, oops!). The Altrudos had a full house. Jen came home from DC, Karen (Lori's sister) came with her husband Jim and so did Lori's parents. Then Bob picked up his mother and we were complete. We started the big feast at 2pm and still were sat at the table by 5pm. With a 15 pound turkey and other yummy foods, we were all pretty occupied. Oh yeah and don't let me forget the 3 pies for desert! Feeling so stuffed we could hardly move, we played boardgames and chatted till 10 at night!

The next day was BLACK FRIDAY. Better known as my ASBOLUTE FAVOURITE holiday! Lori, Jen and I got up around 4am and went to meet Karen and Jim to go black friday shopping. We got to the mall a 6am and there were already people there. We shopped till 9.30, by which point we were all knackered and in desperate need of a power nap! Lori and I slept till 4pm, got up and went out for ROUND 2. In the end I bought 2 pairs of shoes, 3 Sweatshirts and a bag.   

The next evening I met with Jim and Eileen Baehr. Jim worked with my Dad when we lived in Pitt, so I have known them for ages. They took me out to a lovely restaurant, where I tried their 'Award-winning Burger' (the name does it justice). After that they took me on a little tour of Pittsburgh Downtown at night. Jim argued that the steep streets in San Fransisco are nothing compared to the streets in Pitt. At first I wasn't too sure, but he was right! We drove up hills I wouldn't even dare walk up. 

I had a really lovely evening with them! 

On sunday Bob drove Jen back to DC and I tagged along. We left at 5am and therefore got to DC before noon. Bob and Jen took me to the Old Town which is beautiful. Later that day I met up with Kelly, who is an old neighbour from Pitt. We went to the Zoolights, which were very impressive, and later out for dinner. We had a lot of fun and it was just really nice to have a catch-up.