Sunday January 16th

Judy's first full day out of the hospital.  After getting to sleep in her own bed for the first time in over a week, she was feeling much better but still a bit tired from her ordeal.  Since this was our last day in San Diego, and our first opportunity to see any of it, we decided to just get in the car and do our own abbreviated city tour.

While in the hospital, the staff kept telling us of the places we should go see.  The two top suggestions were La Jolla (pronounced la-hoy-a), and the embarcadero.  The San Diego Zoo was out for obvious reasons.

The drive to La Jolla took about 30 minutes and was an easy trip on a Sunday morning through the hilly terrain of Southern California.  When we arrived, we took the marked "Scenic Route" which took us past some million dollar homes with million dollar views of the ocean on one side of the road and the valley on the other.

Turning onto the coast road we came to the beach area.  A narrow, winding road that followed the rocky shore line.  Having spent a lot of my youth "down the Jersey Shore" (Yes! THAT Jersey Shore) I'm more accustomed to the flat, wide sandy beaches of that region.  Our first night in San Diego at Silver Strand State Beach was very much like being on a familiar Jersey beach. 



Seals sunning on the rocks

This section is very different.  The jagged cliff area above the breakers is covered with all manner of flowering plant life.  To get to the beach, you may have to climb down a steep hill side or wind your way down the path.  Then when you get there, beach area is limited.  One bonus, is that you have to share the area with the seals.  The huge creatures sun themselves on the rocks along the shore line.  Their natural camouflage causes them to blend in with their surroundings and they look like the rocks on which they lay.  On the hills on other side of the road you will find miles of condos, hotels, restaurants and bars with an unobstructed view of the Pacific.

Heading back to San Diego, we were in search of the Embarcadero or the marina.  Like many sea ports, it is chock full of sail boats, yachts, dinghy's, tour vessels, cruise ships and the USS Midway.   The Midway was launched in 1945 and served until 1992 in places like Viet Nam and the Persian Gulf.  Now a Naval museum, the Aircraft Carrier stands as a tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Navy. 

The area alongside the Midway is a tree lined park.  With the weather a perfect 70 degrees under blue skies, we got some fish and chips and plunked down on a park bench.  Our dining venue was in front of a giant statue of the famous Sailor kissing the Nurse in Times Square at the end of World War II.  Other than the fact that one of the subjects was a Sailor, I'm not sure why such a statue was erected in San Diego rather than New York. 

After lunch we drove to the Island of Coronado, home to the U.S. Naval Base and the Ultra Posh Hotel del Coronado.  Coronado Island has the look and feel of a community right out of a Fitzgerald novel.  Access to the Island is possible via a high bridge over San Diego Bay which offers spectacular views of the area around the city's water ways.  Driving through Coronado you can expect to see an abundance of military uniforms, joggers, bicyclists and big white floppy sun hats on the ladies.

Returning to base camp in Chula Vista by mid afternoon, we began to make preparations for the following morning.  Tomorrow puts us back on the road to Ventura Beach and an extended stay of about six weeks.