San Diego Day 3

"Animals are such agreeable friends -- they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." -- George Eliot

Today was a glorious day. I did one thing I haven't done since I was in 8th grade -- visit the amazing San Diego Zoo. I also did something I have never done -- go to a major league baseball game at Petco Padres Stadium. Both adventures were so much fun!

The San Diego Zoo is huge. The first thing I did was get on the double-decker bus that travels around throughout the zoo, giving passengers an overview of where different animals and the best way to get to them. The driver of my shuttle, Kate, was the most joyful exuberant person. She made the whole experience even more enjoyable. She obviously loves her job and the animals. I did not see all the animals at the zoo. I was there for 5.5 hours and saw everything I could possibly see, in addition to having a 4-D movie experience and riding the Skyfari Animal Tram. I have combed through my pictures and videos with the intention of posting here only the ones I thought would bring the most enjoyment. I may still have overdone it. Sorry, not sorry! 

The Padres game was a blast! I went with the friends I am staying with and their small group. It was even more fun to be with a big group. The last MLB game I was at was a Braves game about 20 years ago. Things have changed since then! The Padres stadium is like a mall with a baseball field in the center. I had no idea it would be like that. I tried hard not to walk around like someone straight out of Beverly Hillbillies, but it was hard. I was pretty overwhelmed. The game was made more fun by the fact that the Padres won. 

This was the big ending to my big adventure. On Tuesday I fly back east and return to Greensboro on Wednesday. I have had a fabulous time this past two weeks, but now it is time to return to the real world and those three big words, "back to school." My favorite part of going home is the gifts; I can't wait to to give out all the "trip gifts!" I'll be home soon...

San Diego Day 2

"Gonna take a sentimental journey; gonna set my heart at ease. Gonna take a sentimental journey to renew old memories." -- Les Brown for Doris Day

Today was my "sentimental journey" day. Forty-one years ago my family lived in San Diego for nine months. It was supposed to be longer, but the Navy changed that. This trip is the first time I have returned since I was almost 14. Today I had the opportunity to locate my school, our house (which we only lived in about seven months), an area that we used to romp around in, and one of our favorite restaurants. After an uplifting church service with my friends, I set my GPS and headed down Memory Lane. 

Today was definitely bittersweet because so many of the places I saw I wanted to share with my sister. She would have loved this opportunity I've had to return to a place we once lived, something that is not always easy to do when you're a military brat. I have a very special picture of the two of us, when she was 8 and I was 13. We are lying in the middle of a field of dry grass and just relaxing. I remember those trips to the "big field" where my sister, brother, and I would run until we collapsed exhausted in the grass. My mom was able to capture that in a photo, a photo which sits on my coffee table. I walked that same field today, alone, except for my memories. It was something I really wanted to do for both of us. 

There were some lighter parts to the day also. I got to eat at Jack in the Box. It was very near my school and our house. We always thought that was the coolest place to eat because we had never had one in a place we lived before. It was fun to eat there and humorous to see the sign on the counter. (pictured below) It was a day for signs, I guess. There were two signs posted near the trails where I walked. Back when we lived here, there were no developed trails; it was just a former military installation which had been left vacant. Those signs also pictured below give greater explanation. 

At the end of the day I was gifted with another gorgeous sunset which I attempted to capture for all of you. I know that some of the following pictures, like my school and a random house, won't stir the same feelings in you that they stir in me. I still had to post them for my own memories. But as you view them, imagine being able to return to someplace from your distant past and imagine the feelings of awe, poignancy, and nostalgia that you might feel. That was me today.

 This has to be the biggest yucca plant I have ever seen!

Tomorrow is my last full day in California. I'm not telling yet what tomorrow will bring...

San Diego Day 1

"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few." -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Today was definitely more relaxing than yesterday. I woke up early and drove to Silver Strand Beach. In my online research I read that Silver Strand was the best beach in San Diego for collecting unbroken shells of various kinds. I did not necessarily find that to be true, but I did get some pretty shells. I will post a picture of the shells when I get home and get them all cleaned up. I am really proud of a couple of them!

After walking on the beach four hours (7.2 miles), I went to Old Town San Diego. What a neat place! Heads up, there are several parking areas, and some of them are even free. Of course the free ones were full by the time I got there at 12:00. I gave up pretty quickly and chose a lot that was $12 for 2 - 4 hours. After I parked and paid and started walking around, I found some other lots that were a little cheaper than that. Be more patient than I am in selecting your parking area. Old Town is full of restaurants, mostly Mexican. I ate at Old Town Mexican Cafe. It was extremely crowded with a 30 minute wait, so I ate at the bar. I got Steak Azteca, and it was very good. I have never had it before, never even seen it on a menu before. Following lunch I walked around Old Town for about an hour; I could have given it much more time. There are tons of souvenir shops selling Hispanic type objects and several specialty type shops. I really enjoyed a candle and soap store that I found. There is also a museum of several buildings including a school, several houses, a mission, and a fort. It is a great place to spend several hours, and I may return.

This afternoon for the first time in my California travels, I met up with friends. A friend from high school and his wife live here in San Diego. I have not seen him since high school and have never met his wife, but they very graciously asked me to stay with them while I'm here. I have really been looking forward to my visit. We spent the remainder of the day getting (re)acquainted, catching up on our families, and sharing some spiritual insights. I so enjoyed the afternoon. They have a lovely home with mountains nearby and overlooking a small valley. We went out to eat and then returned to see a gorgeous sunset tinging the lingering clouds with pink. Lovely!!!

Tomorrow I will attend church with them and then go out on my own. I plan to find the school I went to for eighth grade eons ago and find a good place to walk some trails. Then I hope to float in their beautiful pool, read, and just enjoy the peace of their home.

A gelato place we went to. I loved how they "dressed up" the gelato!

Below are sunset pictures from their back patio. GORGEOUS!!!