well it is monday night and we just pulled back into los angeles after three enchanted days in mexico. oh i am in love otra vez. our already fun and lovely honeymoon turned into PURE HONEYMOON BLISS.

i have to tell you all about it. forgive me if i ramble. i am still on a high of this wondrous mexican jaunt.

we left saturday morning and had gotten some advice on a possible place to stay from dave and his girlfriend ashley. they told us about this old fashioned hotel called "la fonda" in between rosarito beach and ensenada. after somewhat nervously heading over the border (everyone gives you all these warnings and despite my unflagging optimism, i start to give in to the wariness just a wee wee bit) i was at the wheel, heading out over the littered and rocky hillsides toward the oceanside resorts south of tijuana. it is surprising indeed to enter a foreign country so much different from our own. some areas look like warzones, with burnt black blocks that used to be houses, with piles of trash inside, and a raw sewage smell floating eerily through the air, and cardboard shanties. speaking of building codes and b.s. like that addie, they are nonexistent in mexico.

but once we pulled into la fonda, which is located at kilometer 59, right by a very well known surfing beach, it felt like we were in a humble but beautiful little mediterranean villa. inside la fonda, the receptionist told us in sweetly accented english, that the hotel was full due to a couple of weddings this weekend, but she called her friend who has rooms for rent just a block down, and we spoke on the phone to a man who said he would meet us out front of the stone wall.

this was joel, a round little mexican man, our most gracious and adorable host. he and his american wife cathy own and operate this gorgeous condo? i don't know exactly what you'd call it, but our room was called the "garden apartment" and we were in love with it from the get go. it was immaculately clean, with wonderful original artwork on the walls, which were painted earthy tones, and mexican hand painted tiles in the bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen with brand new appliances, and the most inviting and cozy bed with down duvet and pillows and the softest (i wonder how many thread count, mom?) sheets i've ever felt. it was pure luxury. joel and cathy proceeded to be the kindest hosts ever. they showed us their house, which was right behind ours, gave us the tour of all their impeccably tasteful art and statues and mexican stained glass and metalwork pieces, and we met their four adorable and clean and sweet female rescue dogs. (people in mexico throw away baby female dogs to get eaten by crows or whatever)

i cannot WAIT to show you all pictures of our beautiful honeymoon dream escape. we spent the rest of saturday and all day sunday and part of today on the beach, with a great mix of mexican and american tourists and locals, and shopping in ensenada and buying a couple very special honeymoon souvenirs. best of all, both nights we were there we would walk over to this beautifully landscaped restaurant called "la palapa de jose" to watch this amazing flamenco guitarist named miguel de hoyos. oh he was sweet and a true master. we bought one of his cds. the minute you hear it you feel this romantic loving golden joy sweep through your heart. you have to picture skinny but sweet horses tied up on the beach, pelicans soaring overhead, dolphins leaping through the waves, whitewashed staircases leading straight down to the beach, vendors with beguiling smiles offering silver jewelry, straw hats, and serapes, and kids setting off fireworks after the sun sets. oh lordy we enjoyed ourselves so!

we would have stayed one more night but we are kinda running out of money and must get back to work! and so with no further ado, we shall be home tomorrow all sandy and tired and happy!

can't wait to see you all - i love you!