Comic-Con in San Diego

Well, we just got back from the 2008 International Comic Convention in San Diego. What a blast! The convention was held from July 24-27 in the San Diego Convention Center and it was huge!!! (sold out, I heard later)

And no, we are not the comic geeks you generally find there (all dressed up and so much fun to watch!), but we were there for the Independent Film Festival (IFF).

Batman and the Joker (in the Heath Ledger version) and some other green comic lady. (By the way, the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight" is great. Go see it if you can!)

We arrived on Saturday afternoon, quickly checked into our hotel (the Little Italy Inn, a small Bed & Breakfast, very nice!) and hurried to the Convention. Our B&B was very conveniently located near Downtown and the Convention Center. We decided to walk and were there in 20 minutes!

It was fun strolling along all the booths in the Exhibit Hall and seeing all the stuff for sale, the comic artists drawing (in the Artists' Alley) and all these crazy people dressed up as Superman, Spiderman, Batman, you name it (there are so many comic figures that I don't even know or had never heard of). There was also a gaming section, where the newest of the newest computer games were showed off (which of course, Marcus had to see), and a section where lots of studios had their booth, promoting their upcoming TV series or film releases. It was overwhelming (and a bit too crowded sometimes)

Busy busy busy!

The Exhibit Hall closed at 7:00 PM and we had dinner in the historic Gaslamp Quarter (just across the street from the Convention Center) at Toscana Cafe and Wine Bar.

After dinner, we headed back to be in time for the screening of Forecast, an independent short film Marcus worked on recently. Here's the trailer:



The film screened at the Independent Film Festival held at the Comic Con. Afterwards there was a short Q&A and panel discussion in which Erik Courtney (director), Yoshio (editor), Emeka (actor) and Marcus participated.

Yoshio (editor), Emeka (actor in the movie), Erik (director) and Marcus (composer)

We finished off the night with drinks at the "Beach" of the W Hotel!

The next day, Sunday, we spent another 2 hours at the Convention (there's just too much to see), then around noon and after a good lunch in Little Italy, drove back to Los Angeles.

Great weekend!

Until soon!

Last bit of our trip

An iguana at Punta Sur - we saw soooo many iguana's in Mexico, totally acting like they own the place!

Here I go again, a last effort to finish my review of our trip. It's taking me forever, and we only went away one week!

Day 7 - Thursday July 10, 2008 - Road trip around Isla Mujeres

I feel a little better today, so Marcus and I decide to explore the island a little bit. This is not too exhausting, as Isla is only 8 kilometers long and 150 to 800 meters wide!

We first head south to Punta Sur, the southern tip of the island (and the most eastern point of Mexico, so it is the spot where every morning the first sunrays hit Mexico...) and stroll along the ocean walkway. Again, we are amazed how blue the water is. So beautiful!

We then head north along the west side of the island. We pass by the Turtle Farm (Tortugranja) and Hacienda Mundaca, but don't feel fit enough to visit. Tomorrow!

Finally, we end up in Downtown Isla Mujeres, where we shop a bit for souvenirs and post cards, have a delicious fruit cocktail at Mañana, and come across Ixchel, Maya goddess of the moon and fertility. Here she is:


After this little road trip, we head back to the hotel, pick up Virginie and Manu, and drive to Playa Norte where we have dinner and enjoy a nice sunset.

Day 8 - Friday July 11, 2008 - Tortugranja, Hacienda Mundaca, Playa Garrafon de Castilla

Our last full day on the island, so today we must see the must-sees of the island!

Marcus simply loves animals, so we have to go to the Turtle Farm (Tortugranja)! It's definitely worth a visit!

The place is founded by local fishermen, in an effort to protect the sea turtles. Three species of endangered sea turtle lay eggs in the sand along the western shore of Isla Mujeres. The farm protects the turtles' breeding grounds by placing wire cages around their eggs to protect against predators. After one year of living in the pools of the farm, the turtles are released. Because most turtles in the wild die within their first few months, the practice of guarding them through their first year greatly increases their chances of survival. Moreover, the turtles that leave this protected beach return each year, which means their offspring receive the same protection (info from my Lonely Planet guide)

Marcus feeding the turtles

Tortugranja also has a nice acquarium where you can see other fish and sea creatures.

Mommy turtle protecting baby - how cute!

A sea star surrounded by baby turtles

This lionfish looks beautiful, but is actually a very voracious type of fish!

Close by to the turtle farm is Hacienda Mundaca, our next stop. The hacienda is an estate, built by a 19th century pirate, named Mundaca, who wanted to impress a local woman.

There's even a small zoo in the gardens, we mainly enjoy the spider monkeys! They are so smart! It looks as if they are putting on a circus show especially for us!

When I want to take a picture of Marcus, one of the monkeys jumps towards him and gives him a hand!!! Unbelievable!

Sooo well-behaved!!!

It's so much fun to watch them! By now, it's getting too hot and humid, so we need some refreshment! Back in our B&B, we go get our friends, and then head straight for the beach, Playa Garrafon de Castilla. Do not confuse with Parque Garrafon (next door) where they try to rip you off by charging a $50.00 entrance fee. At the playa, you only pay 40 pesos ($4.00) for the same white beach, translucent aquamarine water and colorful fish!

We have fun laying in the shade, reading, swimming, chatting,... Just enjoying everything. Marcus is snorkeling like never before. There are tons of fish here and even old Maya ruins under the water!!!

Marcus snorkeling at Garrafon de Castilla

A great afternoon!

It's our last night on holiday, so we finish the day with a very nice meal at Casa O's. This restaurant is known for its romantic location and fresh seafood. We can only agree! The food is great and the view amazing, just put on some insect repellent (cool detail: the waiters offer you insect repellent while you wait)

Day 9 - Saturday July 12, 2008 - Back to Los Angeles!

Last breakfast at Villa La Bella

Last day, last breakfast. Then it is off to the car ferry, to Cancun airport and back to Los Angeles. A 1-week holiday, but it seemed much longer, because we did so much! A perfect babymoon (this is what they call in the US the last holiday you take as a couple before the baby arrives)!

Statuette of a Maya woman giving birth

We loved Mexico, so hopefully we will be back again! (even though I was OK to return home this time, so my intestines could go back to functioning normally again...)

Beach and boat on Isla Mujeres

Finally, one last picture, just for fun - find the iguana!!!

Greetings!

Ilse

Isla Mujeres

"Feet dipping" in Isla's turquoise waters

Well, I hope to finish my little travel journal tonight! The last days of our Mexico holiday were all about relaxing on Isla Mujeres, a tiny island just off the Cancun coast.

Day 6 - July 9, 2008 - Travel to and getting to Isla Mujeres

We get up early and have breakfast. The breakfast at Macan Che every morning was fantastic, lots of fruit and a freshly baked omelette with lots of veggies, we loved it!

(picture on the left: me in front of our room, the Catherwood Cottage)

We also loved the tropical gardens, birds and animals in Macan Che!

After checking out, we get ready for a long drive along the toll road 180 back towards Cancun. In fact, the drive turns out not too be that bad: the road is in excellent condition and there's not that much traffic, so we get to Punta Sam (from where the car ferry leaves to Isla Mujeres) in less than four hours.

Iguana buddies at the car ferry port in Punta Sam

We are lucky, there is a ferry leaving just 15 minutes after we get there (and there are only ferries every 2-3 hours!). Around 3 PM we're on the island!!!

The hotel I booked here is a little bed and breakfast on the Carribean coast of the island, Villa La Bella, the place is so colorful and pretty, I feel like I am in a permanent state of fiesta mexicana!

Our room

We are welcomed by Ashley and Curtis, the owners, and Ashley immediately makes us a delicious fruit juice (served in a coconut!) which we of course have to drink by (and in) the pool! What a life!

Even though all of this looks wonderful, I don't feel too well (remember the stomach bug I probably got in Izamal). Add to that the heat and humidity, and the 1-hour ferry ride on the sea which didn't help too much either... so I have to lay down a bit (good thing we got such a comfy bed!!!). I decide to rest for the remainder of the day and hope to be in better shape the next day to fully explore and discover this beautiful island!

* Too tired to finish the rest of this journal. Maybe tomorrow! Good night! *

The cenotes at Cuzama

Ilse in cenote-heaven

Day 5 - Tuesday July 8, 2008 - Trip to Cuzama

It is hard to explain what a cenote is, if you have never seen it... but maybe the pictures will help. Cenotes are naturally formed underground caverns that house pools of
crystal-clear, deep-blue water. They are created by the filtration of water through the limestone surface. This is truly one of the natural wonders of the Yucatan (there are over 3,000 cenotes in this region!!!) The water, fed by underground springs, is always cool and fresh and it is an unforgettable experience to swim in it!

The town of Cuzama is especially known for its large number of cenotes. What makes the trip especially fun is that you can only get to the cenotes on a horse-drawn carriage or "truk". A "truk" is a small cart that is pulled on the old railroad tracks of what once was a henequin hacienda.

Our "truk"

Virginie and I during our "truk"-ride. You can't see it on the picture, but there were tons of butterflies following us during that ride!

We visited 3 beautiful cenotes: Chelentun (laying down rock), Chansinic'che (tree with small ants) and Bolonchoojol (nine drops of water). The entrance to each cenote is a hole in the ground which you can descend by stairs or ladder. Some descents look intimidating, but they are relatively easy.

Getting ready for a swim in Cenote Chelentun...

Once you get into that cool, fresh water... it is just heavenly!

The rock formations inside the caves are fantastic. In one cenote (Chansinic'che), there was a tree growing through the hole, so the roots were hanging in the cave almost reaching the water.

Marcus in Chansinic'che

The tree roots inside and outside the hole

Ilse in Chansinic'che (my favorite cenote!!!)

You could swim under the tree, and then, when the light hit the water at the right moment... An out-of-this-world experience!

Manu and Marcus are in!

The reflection of the sunlight on the water is magical.

What a fun trip this was!

After spending the whole afternoon in the cenotes, we are hungry and have a bite at a restaurant nearby (in Homun), appropiately called "El Cenote"...

We drive back to Izamal, but decide to take back the off-the-beaten-track road along all the small pueblos. It takes us a bit longer, and sometimes we're not sure if were driving in the right direction... but we make it anyway, back into our golden town!

Back in Macan che, we relax a bit by the pool (I sure got enough swimming today!!!), read and chat a bit, and have a nice dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Tomorrow, we're off for the last part of our holiday: Isla Mujeres!

Chichen Itza

Day 4 - Monday July 7, 2008 - Chichen Itza and Izamal

Today, we have a rather long drive ahead of us. We are heading for Izamal which is also known as "the golden city" because all the buildings are yellow! On our way, we will visit Chichen Itza, which is now one of the new seven world wonders.

Our PT Cruiser is doing great and the Mexican roads are in great shape too (except for the unexpected, vicious "topes" or speedbumps!) , so we advance well and get to Chichen Itza around noon. We pass through Valladolid, a cute colonial town with a beautiful tall white cathedral (see picture) overlooking the plaza.

Chichen Itza is one of, if not 'the' most famous of the Yucatan Maya sites and you can tell immediately from the hordes of tourists that are crowding the place. Our guide Gabriel tells us that the site has seen an influx of 30% more tourists since last year's election as a new world wonder. Chichen Itza also seems to have been invaded by locals who have set up booths everywhere trying to sell souvenirs. According to Gabriel, it did not use to be like that, but everyday there are more and more of them, and the government just doesn't know what to do about it. It's a pity, but what can you do? They probably see this as an excellent opportunity to make some more money... Nevertheless, Chichen Itza is an impressive site and we learned a lot!

The serpent at the bottom of El Castillo or The Pyramid of Kukulcan

The first settlement at Chichen Itza was pure Maya. Around the late 10th century, it is believed to have been invaded by the Toltecs, who had migrated from their central highlands north of Mexico City. Toltec culture was fused with that of the Maya, incorporating the cult of Quetzalcoatl (or Kukulcan in Maya). That is why you see images of both Chac-Mool (the Maya rain god) and Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent) throughout the city. Another interesting fact is that the Pyramid is actually the Maya calendar formed in stone (the terraces represent the months; the four stairways have 91 steps each, add the top platform and the total is 365, the number of days in the year; etc). On March 21 and September 21, the morning and afternoon sun casts a shadow and light illusion of the serpent ascending or descending the side of the Pyramid's staircase! Amazing!

The Toltecs were a very warrior-like people. This is a carving at the ball court (Gran Juego de Pelota). It may be that during the Toltec period the losing captain of the ball game, and perhaps his teammates as well, were sacrificed. This carving shows the decapitation by a warrior of another person (warrior is on the left, holding a head - the victim is on the right, without head and blood is splashing everywhere!)

This is me at the Cenote Sagrado, a natural well of 35 m deep. The serpent on the base of the pyramid points in the direction of this sacred well. This is the place where the Mayans prayed to the gods for rain and where people were sacrificed... Brrr...

The temple of jaguars, another important animal in the Mayan culture.

More Mayan carvings

So much to see here, it would take me forever to write it all down. Suffice it to say that we really enjoyed our visit, although I appreciated Coba just as much (it's smaller, well preserved, and much more quiet!)

After spending over three hours at Chichen Itza, we are happy to return to our air-conditioned car, and move on to Izamal. It is such a picturesque city.

All the buildings in Izamal are yellow! The main attraction of the city is its Monastery, built on the remains of an ancient Maya temple (the Spaniards conquered Izamal, destroyed the temple, and built from its stones a Franciscan monastery).

The entrance of the monastery, leading to the Santuario de la Virgen de Izamal or the church of the virgin of Izamal.

Izamal is still very catholic. Pope John Paul II brought a visit to Izamal in 1993 and led a mass here, he has a statue in the atrium court yard and is since then, one of Izamal's claims to fame.

We stay in a beautiful bed and breakfast, Macan Che. The gardens of this place are so lush and beautiful! The restaurant is closed so we have dinner in a local tavern near the main plaza, "El Toro". The food is good, but oh-oh, I think I might have caught my stomach bug (and subsequent diarrhea) right here...

We're actually pointing at Marcus' mosquito bites, not at the food... If only we had known...

Anyway, I won't go into too much detail. We discuss at dinner what we will do the next day and agree to visit the cenotes, one of the natural wonders of the Yucatan. I will write more about that tomorrow, but can tell you already that it was a magical experience! Definitely a highlight!!!

More Mexico news...

Marcus and I on the beach in Tulum

Where was I? Oh yes, Tulum. One of our favourite places, I have to say. Not only because of our awesome cabana, but also because of its spectacular coastline and ancient Maya ruins. We visited the ruins later in the day (around 4 PM) to avoid the masses of tourists, but maybe we should have come a little bit earlier. Around 5:00 the site was closing down, so we had to rush in the end, the guards were even chasing us with their whistle bells!

We returned back to our cabana at Piedra Escondida, and relaxed a little bit (after all, that is what holidays are for!) Virginie and Manu went out for dinner, but Marcus and I decided to stay in, still tired from our traveling the day before. We got a good night's rest and so, of course, I woke up early again the next day...

Day 3 - Sunday July 6, 2008 - Tulum and Coba

... only to experience a beautiful sunrise!!! Getting up early on holidays, especially in dream locations, really pays off!

The beach, the sand, the water, the wind, the waving palm trees, everything so soothing and calming. I loved it!

This was a morning wake-up that I will remember for a long time!

At breakfast, we plan our agenda for the rest of the day. Today, we want to visit Coba, which is not too far away, and supposedly is a very cool Maya settlement to explore. In my Lonely Planet book on the Yucatan it says that "though not as large as some of the more famous ruins, Coba is 'cool' because you feel like you're in an Indiana Jones flick. It's set deep in the jungle and many of the ruins have yet to be excavated." Sounds exciting! Although the "jungle"-likeness of the place does make me dress in long sleaves and long pants. I do not want to get eaten alive by bugs and mosquitoes!!! Afterwards, I am soooo glad that I did, the body damage is minimal, something that is probably not the case for many of the people I saw wearing bikinis while visiting the site!!!

Here are some pics of our exploration of Coba's archaelogical site.

Marcus in Coba (near La Iglesia)

This is me walking towards a structure called Xaibe (special because of its semicircular structure. Its name means "the crossroads", as it marks the juncture of four separate "sacbeob" or Mayan stone-paved pathways)

Nohoch Mul or the Great Pyramid. Marcus climbed it and overlooked the jungle. I wanted to play it safe (too scared to fall) and stayed down.

The view from the top is amazing. Nohoch Mul reaches a height of 42 m and is one of the tallest Maya structures on the Yucatan peninsula.

After two hours or so, we have seen most of the site, we're hot and sweaty and decide it's time to hang out at the playa! We change into our swim gear and head over to Playa Maya, one of Tulum's public beaches, and enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal clear water. The sand of the beach here is so soft and powdery, it is a treat to the feet!

Around 5ish, we head back to our hotel, get cleaned up and Virginie and I enjoy a photo session by Manu. It was kind of windy and this is the result... A very cute picture, I think, and no, Virginie is not pregnant!!!

One of my favourite pics!

We still have some time to go to Tulum Pueblo (the city center of Tulum). This is basically just one street with some local restaurants, cafes and hotels. We have a bite at Don Cafeto. (I have a delicious drink "Chayagra" made with all kinds of fruits and cucumber - strange combination... but very good!) All in all, however, the Avenida Tulum is not that interesting... If you visit Tulum, stay near the beach!

Around 8 PM, Virginie and I walk towards the Mayan Spa at Cabanas Copal. We have each booked a massage. I opted for the prenatal massage and was delighted with what I got. My massage therapist (a guy named Juan-Carlos) really knew his metier! Virginie, on the other hand, was not so lucky... poor girl... but I did get a few good laughs from her story!

Once the massages are done, we meet up with our men again and have a delicious typical Mexican dinner. It's our last night in Tulum. Tomorrow, we move on to Chichen Itza, inland and away from the beach. More on that later!