Pittsburgh to Los Angeles It's 6:40 AM and my alarm is ringing. I get up with surprisingly no effort. Having had only 3 hours of sleep the night before doesn't feel that bad. I get to the airport a bit late, but I still manage to catch my plane. I arrive in LA at around 11:35am West Coast time, Sasha comes to pick me up and I find myself talking to him non-stop about pittsburgh! We talk about old times, what his life is like in LA, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon and other random things. He tells me I should shut up about Pittsburgh and try to enjoy LA a bit more! We have a great day...we go have lunch at a fabulous indian place and then go to the beach. A picture of the Santa Monica Pier We get dinner at this really good mexican place called "Acapulco" and both of us order the Fajita platter. We think of going to a party but then we feel too lazy so we just go to sleep! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Los Angeles to Los Mochis I get dropped off to the airport at 4:30 AM. I already feel as if I am in Mexico...everybody is speaking spanish, including the check in staff. I find out just as I am about to board the plane that we are scheduled to make a stop in Culiacan (about 3 hours closer to the US-Mexican border than Los Mochis). It's strange how nobody tells you these things when you book your tickets. The route from LA to Los Mochis I have to get off the plane at Culiacan and report to immigration. I'm the only person on the plane who isn't mexican or american. It's funny how the immigration ppl don't know how to deal with me. I just smile a lot as they talk to me in spanish. I finally get back onto the plane and I'm in Los Mochis within 25 mins. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- First Day in Los Mochis Antonio comes to pick me up, and he is accompanied by Orestes, who works for EPQN. As we drive to Antonio's house, we drink "Pacifico" brand beer I meet Antonio's mom and go with them to check out where I am going to be living for the next 60 days. When we arrive at Sylvia's house, I don't really get a chance to say hi to the family as am asked to hurriedly approve whether I like the room they are going to give me. Antonio and his mom take me to lunch with them, also giving me a short tour of the city. Later during the day I take my stuff over to Sylvia's house. I unpack, but do not rest. I meet Bebe and she shows me around the house. I pay Sylvia for my rent. I also get to meet all of Bebe's friends!!! They are really friendly and they make me feel very welcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- !!! Mazatlan !!! This trip was the most exciting one day excursion ever!!! I had a total blast with Jose Carlos and Flor right from the time we boarded our coach till we came back! It was so good a trip that I've decided to make a separate page for it on this site..so click on the link and gO to mAzAtLaN !!! Jose Carlos, Flor and I in Mazatlan