San Diego, CA
Well, I didn’t really go to Spain, but it felt like I did. I had a busy day yesterday trying to take in as much as I could before I leave the San Diego area Tuesday.
I started my day in Balboa Park near downtown San Diego. I’d been there once already, as it’s home to the San Diego Zoo, but today I wanted to focus on the museum area. Several of the buildings built for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915-16 have been preserved or recreated and turned into a plethora of museums, performing arts centres, and art studios. There are 28 buildings and museums organized around a pedestrian corridor called El Prado. The architecture for the most part is Spanish-Renaissance style, there are multiple fountains (which Vera will remember with affection from Spain) and with names like Prado and Alcazar it’s not surprising that it has a Spanish feel to it.
I wandered around the grounds, the gardens and in and out of some of the buildings, did some window shopping in the Spanish Village Arts Centre, grabbed a great chicken quesadilla for lunch and took way too many pictures. It was 3 hours later before I realized it.
Next I headed to the San Diego Mission, or Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala and another visit with Father Juniper Serra. This was the first of the missions Father Serra founded in 1769 and the first of the 21 California missions. The mission was burned to the ground by Indian attacks in 1775 but was rebuilt with more reinforced defences by 1790. In 1821 whenMexico gained independence the Mission was handed over to the Mexicans, but after the US/Mexican war it was transferred to the Americans and the US Cavalry used the mission for some years having to repair decaying buildings in order for it to be used. In 1862 the mission was turned back to the church by President Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately much of the mission was not open yesterday because of a wedding in the church but I did tour the grounds and the museum.
It was a beautiful afternoon, so I headed towards one of the coastal areas I hadn’t seen yet and read about, Sunset Cliffs Natural Area. It was hopping with surfers and people walking, running and just enjoying the warm afternoon. And fortunately it was on the way to Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma.
You’ll recall that I was not able to get in to Cabrillo NM last Thursday because it was closed for Thanksgiving, but instead I stopped at the Rosecrans National Cemetery. Today it was open and crawling with people. There is a fabulous view from the monument, and displays about an interesting part of the area history, both military use and the Point Loma Lighthouse.
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed north from Mexico in 1542 and landed at this spot. Point Loma, San Diego because of the great natural harbour. He died shortly thereafter without finding the route to Asia and the Spice Islands or gold which he set out to do.
The lighthouse was put into use from 1855 (using a Fresnel lens I learned about in Oregon) and was extinguished for the final time in 1891, and the light keeper moved down the hill to a newer light station. There is also an area developed to allow people to spend time wandering the tidal pools down at the ocean’s edge but I arrived too late in the day to participate in that.
Then it was back “home” to get snuggled in before the heat of the day turned in to a cool, cool night.
P.S. Just an aside about one of my most favourite things about my trip. Where ever I go, I end up chatting with people; in lines at tourist spots, in restaurants, at the campground, at gas stations. Often the conversation gets around to my travels. Am I alone, how long am I away, where am I going, do I like my little trailer, where are they from, has it always been home, etc.? They are always interesting conversations which I cherish.
Last week a lovely lady stopped over to my campsite to say hi because she noticed my plates were from Ontario. Although she has been a long time resident of San Diego area, she was born in southern Ontario. She and I chatted for some time before her grandson came to politely let her know it was dinner time and so she re-joined her visiting family. We talked about how she’d ended up in San Diego, my trip, her job and what she was doing in retirement, what I should do in San Diego while I was here, and my travel blog among other things. It was a delightful conversation which I thoroughly enjoyed. She stopped in before she left to go to her nearby home that evening to tell me about a couple of things I ought to try and see while in the area, and also to ask if she could read my blog as she was interested in my travels. Her family left the campground last Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving at home and the woman from San Diego, (Marilyn is her name I have since discovered) headed to their home to spend that special time with them.
Today, just before coming out to write my blog, Marilyn dropped by my campground to let me know that she hadn’t received my blog and would I mind trying again, and to drop off a book of all the national parks in the U.S. for me. How nice is that! She made my day! That’s one example of the nicest kinds of things that have happened on my journey.
Lois' Adventures 