My Final Days in San Diego

San Diego, six miles from Mexico, a thriving city by the mountains and the ocean, a city filled with people from around the world and yet under the protection of our armed forces. What a city!

If there was a climax to this story, it would have been yesterday when we went to the San Diego Zoo. Now rested after a day absorbing all the animals, we were off to Hotel del Coronado.

With all its history, I had to see this hotel. Wow, is all I can say. It is totally made from wood, inside and out, and it is definitely a showcase of man's ability to create grandeur and serenity in a single stroke.

It opened in 1888, and today it is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It should be -- it is the second largest wooden structure in the United States.
The Crown Room, where we had brunch on Sunday, is a domed wooden structure where not one nail was used. It is held together by pegs and glue. Incredible! Presidents, royalty and celebrities made the hotel their playground through the years. And unknowingly, you have seen it in films such as Some Like it Hot, The Stunt Man, and My Blue Heaven to name a few. This place oozes history.

We walked the grounds, poked our heads into the shops, drank some coffee while watching the ocean's beached area, and decided to have brunch at 11:30 on Sunday, my last day in San Diego.

After the trip to Coronado, we headed to the Gas Lamp District for lunch. This area is downtown and basically comprised of restaurants and bars. We ate at a really cool restaurant named the Wood Grill where we sat inside but there were no windows so it was almost like we were outside. Great concept. The district is great for the conventions that are always booked in this town as it is only a block from the Convention Center. I am sure it comes alive at night with bars not opening until evening.


After lunch, and a short drive through the area, we headed to Old Town. This was a bit of a disappointment for me. It was simply some buildings you could nose around in, where their custodians sold wares for the tourists. There was a sidewalk, and off the sidewalk was the type of sand you find in a desert. We did not stay long.

The next day was Saturday, and we had another full day planned. This time we started by going to a neighborhood named Ocean Beach. What a cool area, especially one for this old hippie! It housed small diners to have breakfast or lunch (we did the breakfast), surfers, antique shops, and simply a laid back attitude. It was so much fun to walk the streets and bring up the memories of long ago.

I had to take a picture of these three walking down the street after surfing. They had the biggest smiles.

Below, you can see some who were riding the waves. The other dots in the water are people who are waiting for the right moment.

A flashback of a van for me -- but really an advertisement for Hodads restaurant.

After our late morning and early afternoon in Ocean Beach, we headed to the the Map and Atlas Museum in LaJolla. This is one place that was on my list, and Mark had never heard of it. I took him someplace where he had never been!

It is a private collection of maps, and the owner wanted to share it with the world. The museum is only opened a couple of days a week, but it was well worth the trip. I was fascinated. The oldest map was about 3,000 years old -- a very small clay tablet.

The owner had a few maps with the cherubs on it blowing wind. I thought this fascinating.

There were maps from before the time that Columbus discovered America, and I thought that interesting, because what he really led to was understanding that our earth is round instead of simply going so far out and falling over (what they thought long ago).

This picture to the left is The San Zeno Astrolabe, a late medieval astronomical calendar that Benedictine monks used daily to organize their devotions.

I have included the information about it (if you can enlarge the type, it is quite informative.)

And it is pictured above how it was placed in one of the rooms that displayed the maps.

An absolutely fascinating museum to visit. I could have stayed all day, but it was getting late and ready to close.



On the way back to the hotel, Mark took me the long way back and we drove along the shoreline.
Ahhh!!!

The last day was our brunch, and we took full advantage of it. We stayed for three hours, talking, drinking mimosas and coffee, and nibbling on crab legs and prime beef. (Plus a bite of this and a bite of that as the tables were long and loaded with all types of food).

It was time for me to pack my bags and say good-bye to San Diego. I will go back. Thank you, Mark, for a great introduction to your town.

Until next week...have a good one...