Mad Max, San Diego, California, United State

after4ever


Posted Jan 24, 2011, 10:47 pm
My mommy is finally ready to let me go, to let me travel and see the world. I am so excited!

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/413/madmax001.jpg



after4ever


Posted Jan 26, 2011, 1:21 pm
Yeah! Leaving for the States this friday! Saying goodbye to all my dear friends over here..... Edje the Cat, I am going to miss you!

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3647/madmax005.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 9, 2011, 11:44 pm
Hi Mom,

It's me, Mad Max!

I arrived safely in San Diego, California!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo29.jpg

When my envelope was opened, I was greeted by two fellow toyvoyagers, Henry the Adventure Hound and Aku the Lion.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo26.jpg


They both gave me big hugs and welcomed me warmly. 
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo31.jpg

I can't wait to see what adventures await me this weekend!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 13, 2011, 8:21 pm
Hello!  Tonight my host decided to try a new recipe for vegetable soup.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo26-1.jpg

I helped to chop up the vegetables, under supervision of course!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo11.jpg


Time to toss it all in a pot!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo21.jpg


Yum!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo32.jpg


You can find the recipe at: Veggie Soup
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 14, 2011, 7:27 am
Today my host took me up to the city of Escondido to visit the Kit Carson park.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo2.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo4.jpg

While we were there we visited Queen Califia's Magical Circle!  (http://www.queencalifia.org/) This circle is both a mini maze and a playground made of glass.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo46.jpg

Trail up to the circle...


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo6.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo10.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo11-1.jpg

The appearance of the maze walls.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo14.jpg


The Queen herself!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo20.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo28-1.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo29-1.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo35.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo41.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo44.jpg

Hmm... what's inside that gap over there?

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo21-1.jpg


Bad idea! HELP!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo25.jpg


I was shaken by the incident, but luckily we left the area soon after!  I was fine until we saw... another snake, but this time, giant!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo49.jpg


Luckily the sun was blinding him so we escaped unscathed.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo54.jpg


On our way out we visited an orange grove on the park grounds.  Visitors were free to take the fruit if they wanted to.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo59.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 14, 2011, 8:18 am
Today I went to Grape Day Park, also in Escondido.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo85.jpg


A giant grape slide!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo67.jpg


A train one could go inside and explore, but alas it was closed that day.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo65.jpg



http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo74.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo71.jpg


A statue in remembrance of Veterans.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo76.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo79.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo81.jpg



And the neatest thing of the day! We got to see a "Muffler Man"!  Muffler men are 20 foot tall fiberglass figures that used to be very popular in the U.S. in the 60's and 70's.  They would be placed outside of shops to garner attention.  There are only a handfull left in the U.S. now.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo60.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 26, 2011, 6:40 pm
Hi Mom!  It's me, Max!

Today is Valentine's Day and our host decided to make some cookies for a friend.  Unfortunately school has kept her busy so instead of making homemade, we made instant cookies  :rolleyes:


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo83.jpg


Time to roll out the dough... oh wait, we don't have to!  All the cookies are precut with messages already on them, how handy!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo85.jpg


We made two kinds, sugar and chocolate chip cookies with pink and red white chocolate chips!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo88.jpg


After they cooled we all sat around and shared a chocolate chip cookie, it was surprisingly good for being instant!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo89.jpg

Hope you're having a great Valentine's Day!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 12:04 am
Hi Hi! Today my host took me to Balboa Park!  Balboa park is composed of over 14 different museums!  Unfortunately, photography isn't allowed in most of the museums, so we had to take pictures outside.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/map_of_balboa_park.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/20.jpg


Koi fishes who live in the man made pond.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/15.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/8.jpg


Various building styles.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/23.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/92.jpg


An outside auditorium for musical performances.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo96.jpg



Museum of Man - a biological and cultural anthropology museum.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/4.jpg


Ye Olde Globe Theater - a reproduction of the original  :D


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/90.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/96.jpg


The "House of Finland".  During the winter festival, all the houses are open and food from different parts of the world are on sale!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo93.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo1.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/25.jpg


Do you remember this artist from one of our previous adventures?


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo95.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 3:25 am
Hi Mom!  Today we took a road trip to Cabazon to see the giant dinosaurs!  My host hasn't seen these dinos since she was a little girl.


It was very cold that day, as you can see snow is covering the mountain, which is impressive for the desert!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo84.jpg



http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo93-1.jpg


Each dino is 45 feet tall!  A gift shop was located in the brontosaurus and one could climb up to the top of the T-Rex's head!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo85-1.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo92.jpg


These other dinosaurs were much shorter and some were even robotic!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo98.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/12.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/9.jpg


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Eek! Don't eat me!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/5-1.jpg


My host couldn't figure out why there was a knight in armor on a horse amongst the dinosaurs... methinks someone didn't read their history book correctly!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/3.jpg


Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 3:32 am
Hi again! My host took me to the annual Date Festival in Indio, California!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/15-1.jpg


Various vendors selling their wares, also you can see the California state bear flag in the background.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/21.jpg


Stage for the annual festival beauty pageant.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/26.jpg


Artists were creating a gigantic Arabian themed sandcastle!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/29.jpg


What's a festival without food? 


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/23-1.jpg


Next we visited some livestock!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/31.jpg


Gobble! Gobble!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/35.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 4:20 am
Hello!  It's raining here.  I wonder if it is raining at home too?

Today a new toyvoyager arrived in the mail.  Her name is Dorothy.  Dorothy has come from Oregon, which I hear isn't very far away.

Dorothy came on a bad week though!  My host had to take her car to the shop for repairs and its been raining for days!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Dorothy/photo85.jpg


Perhaps the rain will stop by next week....


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Dorothy/photo84.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 6, 2011, 12:34 am
Hi Mom!
Today my host received another toyvoyager from Germany.  His name is Michel.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo5.jpg


Michel brought with him a lovely postcard and a chocolate bar from his previous host in Finland.  He told us stories of his travels while we sat around and relaxed.  We asked if we could sample some of the chocolate if we shared some of our candy.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo6.jpg


Our host pulled out the candy box so that Michel could pick something out!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo7.jpg


After settling in, my host had to do her homework.  Being the helpful bat I am, I decided to help!  Hmm... this is harder than it looks!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/13.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 19, 2011, 5:24 am
Hello!  Today my host took me to one of the colleges she goes to!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo96-1.jpg


There is currently a lot of construction going on of new buildings and parking structures, but the grounds are still very pretty.  Here is one of the dribbling fountains in a study area.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo87.jpg


This is the science building - infront of it is a large field with lights.  At night when the lights are turned on it looks like an airplane landing strip.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo99-1.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo200.jpg

Around the field is a large compass painted on the sidewalk.  It has degrees and directional headings.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo900.jpg


Some different architecture of the buildings.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/899.jpg


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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/679.jpg

Someday this will be a library.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo92-1.jpg



Many students drive to school - they parking in the lot under large solar panels.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/344.jpg


If you don't drive you can park your bike at the fish!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/709.jpg


Look I found a tree to explore!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/235.jpg


Now to take a rest,  it's hard work flying around all day!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo98-1.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 19, 2011, 5:27 am
Hi Mom!  My host had planned on taking me to the beach last week but the day we were going to go there were tsunami warnings for the Pacific Ocean due to a large earthquake across the ocean in Japan.  Maybe another host will get to show me a fun time at the beach!  Well by the time you read this I will already be in the mail to my next host in Canada!  Bye bye!

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