San Diego, California, USA: It Never Rains in Southern California

My mom is going to San Diego for a work conference and initially my dad was going to join her but now he has to work. I guess I'll be a good son and go enjoy southern California on his behalf. The sacrifices I make for my family!

Things are about to get more Funner!

Sunward Bound

The only way to fly out of Anchorage seems to be late in the evening, so between six hours of flying, and a four-hour layover/connection in Seattle, I get very little sleep. 

Arriving in San Diego just before 9h, my sleep-deprived self is rejuvenated by how much better the weather is here. We have a rental car, so I’ll be seeing as much of the city as I can. My mom's hotel/conference is located is at Paradise Point in Mission Bay. It has island themed bungalow style rooms with lagoons all around. 

Head out to run some errands and eat at The Habit Burger, where the tempura green beans are amazing. Afterwards, we have the joy of experiencing San Diego traffic (the highways have an interesting system where the merging lanes are regulated by stoplights) so we can meet up with some friends (the Fowler’s) from our time in Germany, who now live here. We have dinner at a Greek restaurant in Chula Vista and catch up while we eat and recall some of our good times together. We're so tired, that once we arrive at the hotel, we go straight to bed at 20h30.

So nice to sit outside where it's warm and sunny

Those tempura green beans tho!

Reunited and it feels so Greek

Dronin' La Jolla

Wake up early and go check out the fitness center for a quick Train with TMax workout. My mom leaves early to go get ready for her conference, but I go up the observation tower at the hotel to get view of Mission Bay. After showering and grabbing breakfast, I drive up to La Jolla (why it’s not “la joya”, I have no idea). There is 2 hour free parking all along the beach, but I park two streets over, without even confirming to see if there are more spots, out of habit from living in Europe. 

In La Jolla, I see the tide pools, Cuvier park, the Children's Pool (where seals lay on the beach, actual children are not allowed to swim there), and the cove (the biggest attraction because of free roaming seals and sea lions). There is wildlife everywhere: crabs, pelicans, seagulls, and squirrels. And peoplelife everywhere too: scuba divers, kayakers, and stand up paddle boarders. Despite signs, people feeding and approaching birds, squirrels, seals and sea lions so the animals are not afraid and will let you get close. Today I don’t have much planned, so I take my time and use my drone quite a bit all around this area.

View from the room, and the first image I get everyday

The tidepools are behind me, and beside me, and under me

All these little sea creatures are hiding in there

Ah, good ol Murica

The views here are just breathtaking

I'm so close! They almost bit the dude that was standing here before me

Are these birds-of-paradise following me?

San Diego Bay Day

Head to Coronado (an isthmus - yeah I know, I had to look it up too) to meet up with Ericka (the eldest Fowler) and her family. I walk around Coronado Tidelands Park, overlooking the San Diego Bay, until they arrive. This park is beautiful and there are paddle boarders, bikers, runners, walkers, dog walkers, children, people doing yoga, and others. It is the cleanest park ever, and even has automatic hand sanitizers around the park. 

Once the family shows up, we head to Ferry's Landing, an outdoor shopping area and port to take the ferry across the bay. Then, we head to Hotel del Coronado, a luxury hotel and beach that doubles as a tourist attraction. Paul (Ericka’s husband) takes the girls (Sadie and Darby) home, while Ericka and I go downtown. 

Entering the city you see so many homeless walking the streets. It's gotta be better to be homeless here than in Alaska. Although, there was recently a Hepatitis A breakout in the homeless community here, and the city is reacting by putting hand washing stations and sanitizers everywhere (explains Tidelands Park from earlier). We park right in front of Pet Co. field to go eat at Lolita's, where we stuff ourselves with the California Burrito. 

From there, we go to the USS Midway and walk along the pier and embarcadero. We have a photo shoot with yours truly, and Ericka photo bombs a few of my selfies, but I don’t mind. We even get to FaceTime with the youngest Fowler, Rebekah (also the only one not living here in San Diego). 

Then, we continue up to Balboa Park (one of the largest urban parks - even bigger than Central Park in NYC). We only see a small portion of it so I’ll have to go back one day. One of the staff tells me that I can’t fly my drone in the park, but we see someone else with a drone, who apparently wasn’t warned (or didn’t heeded any possible warnings). I take Ericka home and have another joyous opportunity to navigate San Diego traffic, before heading to the hotel and taking my mom out to Red Lobster for an endless shrimp evening. 

Tidelands park with a view of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge in the background

Ferry's Landing with the San Diego skyline

Lolita and her California Burritos

I bet the lamps used to run on gas in this area. Just a guess ;-)

Bob Hope is still crackin' us up today

Three iconic things in San Diego in one shot: the USS Midway, the TMax doing a handstand, and "Embracing Peace" 

There can only be one star... of India... nnapolis

This is a really really big boat

The USS San Diego being rememberized by the USS TMax

Handwashing stations to stave off the Hep A outbreak

Balboa Park is so pretty at this angle, especially with the Dr. Seuss Christmas tree

From Old Town to Sunset Cliffs

Wake up and it's raining, but it's still warm! Eat leftover Red Lobster for breakfast. Can you believe the hotel doesn't have microwaves in the room nor the lobby? But a nice, unnamed hotel staff member, took my food in back and heated it up for me - and got a tip out of it. 

Once I finish eating, the rain has subsided, so I head out toward Old Town, but miss my exit and see a sign for "historic site Presidio", so I turn there. There's a scenic drive (which is just driving through a wealthy neighborhood at the top of the hill), and then I stop at Presidio Park. Walk around and see Old Fort Stockton and the Mormon Battalion Memorial. Then, I go down the hill a bit to the Juniper Serra Museum (closed) with an outdoor exhibit where I learn that the first European in San Diego Bay was the Spaniard, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, and that the original locals of the area are called Kumeyaay. 

Down to Old Town, an old west themed part of town, complete with wagons and everything. It mostly consists of free museums and gift shops. Walk around and into a few of the free museums. I feel like I’m on Oregon Trail (classic game). Do some drone flying and get some nice shots. I meet two tour guides who see my drone and ask me some questions and then we get to talking and they leave me with some cool recommendations for things to see in San Diego. 

Go back to hotel to eat and meet up with my mom, whose conference just ended. We go to Ocean Beach Pier and get some more drone shots and see the beautiful coastline, with hundreds of surfers in Pacific trying to hang ten (did I say that right?). Then, right at sunset, we go to Sunset Cliffs. Amazing views abound. Once night falls, we drive around the neighborhood and see some impressive multi-million dollar homes. 

We make our way over to the Fowler's house for a steak dinner, deliciously prepared by Matt (the middle Fowler), while we hang out and catch up. We even FaceTime my dad so he can be in on the action. It is nice to hang out with old friends. 

To all of my old friends, I can’t wait to see you again!

So, are the Mormons going to give me some sort of award for being the first person this awesome here?

Welcome to Old Town. You're only a 15-day horse ride to the nearest anything else

This "Tres Reyes" show has us captivated

Inside Seeley Stable with some interesting info about old west transportation and travel

Clever "La Casa de Estudillo" caption here

The tidepools behind us on the Ocean Beach Pier

At the end of Ocean Beach Pier, taking in the sights

Same shot as above, but from the other direction, checking out the beaches

Enjoying the sunset at Sunset Cliffs the only way I know how

And the sun got to enjoy the view of me on the cliffs. Fair deal

The DJI Spark takes a pretty sweet panoramic picture. Can you find us?

Last Day and Reflections about San Diegan Drivers

After another great hotel workout by Train with TMax, we eat lunch in a park on the beach, watching the sailboats, kayakers, and other aquatic activities, before heading to airport. We are so close to Mexico, so you hear lots of Spanish, but also several other languages, including French and Chinese.

It's nice to start the day with a good workout

The San Diego Driver’s Commandments:
(According to the TMax)

• Thou shalt not be patient.
• Thou shalt personally decide whether to follow the posted speed suggestions.
• Thou shalt perform the California stop - (slowing to at least 5 mph (8 kph) at a stop sign before continuing through the intersection).
• Thou shalt never show thy weakness in the form of a turn signal (aka “blinkers”).
• Thou shalt cross solid white lines at will.
• Thou shalt perform dangerous maneuvers when thou art in a rush.