4th of July Weekend

This is dog beach. Quite the experience! It was fun but one of those things you only need to experience once in life. Niko, of course, was in dog heaven. When let off the leash he went charging into the water and got hit with a big wave. I think he thought that was fun, and he went running in circles on the beach as if to celebrate. His first gulp of salt water seemed a shock to him though! I was reminded of 'Marley and Me' the book. Our experiences with our dogs on the beach were identical! And yes, Niko ended it with puking right in front of a poor unsuspecting woman. He was so sick after hours of playing that he just laid on the beach with this glazed over look. Ahh... a moment of peace for me!  The other dog is a friend Niko made. His name is Bus. Very fitting!

We went to the San Diego zoo. I have always wanted to go, and it was fun. Really hot! We took the double decker bus tour and the ariel tram which allowed us to see a lot of the animals we wouldn't have had time for on foot.  The gorilla foot is the best picture I could get of my little buddies. Oh well- I have pics of the real thing in Africa!

Nothing like being in Mexico on the 4th of July to make you proud to be an American! Here we are in Tiajuana. It was fun- we survived without any permanent damage. Unless you count the fact that I let the perfect purse slip through my fingers. I thought I would shop around and make sure I got the best purse at the best price.  Naturally, it was gone when I went back. :(




One of the highlights of our trips was taking a small ferry boat to the island of Coronado. It was just so relaxing and beautiful.  We had something to eat, shopped a little, and took the ferry back!

The San Diego Temple. Gorgeous!

Hell Hole of the West

While Julia was here we also went to the Yuma Territorial Prison. I can't express in words how hot it was there! I thought if the prisoners didn't die from other causes, surley they would die of heat exhaustion. The prison was cool to see, but truly a miserable place. 

This is inside the dark cell. It is a cell used for punishment. Prisoners were put in a five foot tall cage inside a cave.  It was said to be cleaned only every 3 to 4 months. Imagine the stench! No where to pee but where you are standing. There were as many as 14 prisoners in the cell at a time.

Miserably hot, and tied down!

Julia and I.  We think the prisoners must have sat around like this all day!

One of the nicer cell blocks. Others have several beds packed in, and lack much sunlight. The downfall of this one is the ring cemented in the floor.  I guess these are the prisoners chained in their cells. 

Let it be official: I am not the only one that thinks Yuma is a Hell Hole!

(Ok, Yuma isn't THAT bad!)

This picture makes the prison look like a paradise!  This is the main watch tower.

A true ball and chain

A model replica of the Dark Cell.  Can you imagine?

Emily is almost dead from heat stroke here. After she disappeared, we found her inside fanning herself and guzzling water!  She thought she really had been to hell and back!

We Miss You

I wanted to post Joni's cute nephews that she is missing so much.

Oh....and they are missing her too.

Julia Comes to Visit!

I was so excited to have my good friend Julia come and visit last weekend.  We were the most unholy of mission companions at one time, and still have tons of fun together.  We are smiling in this picture, but actually on the verge of fainting from heat stroke!

Here's Julia, Emily, and I catching some rays and cooling off in the pool at my apartment. Who knew 3 women could fit on 2 noodles?

I am attempting to navigate the streets of Mexico here. We were all a little shook up to discover we were going the wrong way in a one-way. We entered in Mexicali, and drove around for way too long looking for the excitement.  Although we had our hearts set on some good mexican food, a local assured us the Chinese food was where it's at.  There were Chinese restaurants all over the place, so what could we do but go and eat there?

Ok, so I admit that my Spanish is failing me.  Julia has done a great job of keeping up on hers.  It was a running joke in Mexico that I was needing Julia to translate for me.  So, in order to redeem myself I was determined to find out some directions from our waitress (yes, a Chinese waitress).  As I am going off in my flawless Spanish, she stops me mid-sentence and says "Sorry, I speak very little English."  Remember that I'm speaking Spanish?  I stared at her a second, and then burst out laughing so hard I couldn't even get my composure.  She just looked at me and walked off. I couldn't stop laughing for about an hour.  Just the confirmation that I needed that my Spanish truly is leaving me! In this picture are Julia, Emily, me, Jen, and Diana. We didn't get directions, but at least the food was good!

Getting out of the country was a challenge. It took us about an hour.  The temperature climbed to 125 degrees and we were roasting.  Em bought a hat that covers both of us!