Inbound from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico – our guests arrive by train, Jul 31, 2017, Ray M

Tuxtla Gutiérrez Ambassadors and their Sacramento Hosts at Sacramento Station

Our Tuxtla guests arrive by train

Inbound from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico, Day 1 of 8, July 31, 2017

By:  Ray M

Our Tuxtla Gutiérrez ambassadors arrived a few minutes early and we were there to give them an  enthusiastic welcome.  It was a 10-hour trip with one train connection from Santa Barbara – to pass the time, the kids played charades (by phone) and their Santa Barbara hosts had packed nice lunches for their trip.  After the greeting, the ambassadors departed with their hosts for some rest, relaxation and good food. And some enjoyed a dip in the pool

The train arrives, 18 min. early

Mavi Disembarking

Adri, Luis & Amin, walking from train platform to station

Jesus - Happy to arrive!

FF Sac says "Welcome to Sacramento!" (PJ, Niefa, Richard, Linda, Jodi, Ken, Rose)

Part of the FF Sac Greeting Team (Joe, Niefa, Rose, Linda & Ken), with Blanca

Greetings  - Linda & Damicela

All together inside the station, with a backdrop of 1926 mural of California history

In Friendship and Peace

Anticipating arrival of our guests from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico - Jul 29, 2017

Coat of Arms for Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico. Tuchtlan is Aztec name for 'Land of Rabbits' (Wikipedia)

Anticipating arrival of our guests

Inbound from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico, Day "-2" of 8, July 29, 2017

By:  Ray M

Our friends are almost here and our week of fun is about to start!  17 ambassadors from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico are finishing up their journey to the FF Santa Barbara club and will be arriving by train July 31. We'll be there to greet them.
This journey is different from others we've had recently - there will be 10 adults and 7 "young adults" aged 12 to 22.  We have some fun things planned for them including rafting the American River.

Background

Here are a few general points from Wikipedia.  Of course we'll learn a lot more from our guests.

"Tuxtla, officially known as Tuxtla Gutiérrez (locally [ˈtukstla ɣuˈtjeres]) is the capital and the largest city of the Mexican southeast state of Chiapas. It is the most developed, most populated and therefore the state's most important municipality. A busy government, commercial and services-oriented city, Tuxtla (as it is commonly known) had one of the fastest growing rates in Mexico in the last 40 years."

"In 2011, the city was the first in Mexico to be certified as a "safe city" by the federal government and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm due to its very low crime rate, crime prevention programs and other factors. According to the Financial Times and FDi magazine, Tuxtla is one of a number of cities worldwide considered to be “cities of the future.” It was evaluated based on its economic potential, human resources, cost-benefit ratio, quality of life, infrastructure and business environment."

During their visit, high temperatures here in the Sacramento area are forecast up to 106F - considerably warmer than Tuxtla (average high for August is 90F, with record high of only 97.7F).

In Friendship and Peace

Seeing San Francisco with Fresh Eyes, USA, California, Day 3 of 10, July 17, 2017 By: Roz Worrall

From L to R:  Roz, Chiara - Germany, Stella - Greece, Russ

Seeing San Francisco with Fresh Eyes 

USA, California, Day 3 of 10, July 17, 2017

By:  Roz Worrall


Today is our first full day with our Lions Club Youth Exchange Students, Chiara (16) from Germany and Stella(18) from Greece.  Familiar sights to us take on an exciting new look as we introduce our youth ambassadors and "daughters" to our beautiful San Francisco, in California.

We started our day with a Ferry Ride from Oakland to the Ferry Building, 

hiked to Powell Street for a cable car ride 

to Lombard Street (the snake twister street), 

and then walked to Ghiradelli Square for a late Sundae Breakfast.

But it's only 11:00 in the morning!

Golden Gate Bridge

After indulging in sugary hyperdrive, we caught a bus to the Golden Gate Bridge, walked all the way across and back but not before seeing a whale feeding and diving just below us.

Stella and Chiara High Five after Walking Across the Bridge

But look at that!

Wow, Super Exciting!  As many times as we have walked over the bridge, this is the first time we have ever seen a whale!  

Pier 39 and China Town

Still full of energy, we returned to Fisherman's Wharf, 

walked down to Pier 39 enjoying the fishing boats and street artists.







































helping our "daughters" to find their first geocache,

see their first sea lions (not too many today), shopping, and having an early dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Filled with burgers and fries, we strolled through China Town,

and looked around the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Finally, we returned to the Ferry Building where we bid goodbye to San Francisco as the sun was setting.

Checking our step meters, we had logged almost 23,000 steps or 9.5 miles.  Our energy from our sundaes and burgers was completely depleted.

 And the old folks still had to drive home!

In Friendship and Peace

Nice trip!  (test comment by Ray)