Mid-November we received bad news. An surgery of Heike's thyroid was essential. Just before the surgery, we was very nervous and the tears were running. Was it the right decision to make the surgery in Mexico? What if something goes wrong? What if we can not continue our journey? But everything goes as desired and we were able to celebrate Jala's 3rd birthday and shortly after Christmas.

Mexico is a magnificent country for traveling with a breathtaking nature and a rich culture. We climbed on pyramids, we were in the Jungle, on the Caribbean and in Puebla. We also experienced an "authentic" demonstration in Mexico City and Heike has fulfilled an other dream.

Many Mexicans claim that San Miguel is a Mexican Disneyland for foreign (especially American) retirees. Although many facades from the outside do not seem particularly well-groomed, the wonderful courtyards surprise us again and again. The magic of architecture is always discovered in Mexico behind a shabby façade. From September until the end of the year there are countless festivals, fireworks and parades in San Miguel.

On the west coast of Mexico we fall in love with all this charming little towns with colorful houses and narrow streets. But a big city has also its charm. In Guadalajara we feed giraffes during a safari and the our Kids made some experiments with giant soap bubbles in the Children's Museum.

The south of the Baja California is famous for its paradisiacal beaches. We snorkel in the turquoise-blue water, surf until to the moon appears on the sky and enjoy the delicious Mexican food. What in the US was only rarely possible, is commonplace in Mexico: We sleep in the motorhome on the beach!

In the north of Baja California, we enjoy the lonely beaches, the fine Mexican food and the kindness of its people. And we had our first small car breaks down in the middle of the Mexican desert. But fortunately Mexicans have saved us so Noam can do what all surfers around the world dream about: Surfing the longest waves on earth in the Scorpion Bay.