Old Town San Diego

Old Town is a beloved attraction for many people, tourists and residents alike. I know that I read somewhere once that more people visit Old Town than any other attraction in San Diego. I found that “fact” difficult to believe. After all, the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are just up the street and let’s not forget about SeaWorld. I know, SeaWorld has not had the most flattering press these past few years, maybe longer; nevertheless, the parking lots are never empty except maybe long after closing. On the other hand, you don’t need an expensive ticket to get into Old Town either and there are many museums to visit free of charge. Restaurants are plentiful as are souvenir shops.


From the flagpole in Washington Square, the Colorado House, the Mason Street School, Casa Estudillo with the large courtyard and large adobe style oven, Seeley Stable and let's not forget the jail, one could spend several days exploring this unique treasure and not scratched the surface. There always seems to be something going on. Performers are regularly scheduled and frequently you will find plein air artists, with their easels positioned just so, set up all around the park. Take a peek, talk to the artist, ask a question or two. They will feel appreciated and it doesn’t cost anything.

Christian House

The Old Town Jail

Robinson Roze

 

 

Nearby are a collection of homes referred to as Heritage Park Victorian Village. Most of these buildings were built between 1887 and 1893. They have been beautifully restored and maintained. Two of the homes serve as bed and breakfasts and the Temple Beth Israel, San Diego’s first synagogue, hosts weddings, receptions and bar mitzvahs. The McConaughy House, built in 1887, is now the Coral Tea House, serving guests yearning for tea and crumpets.

Parking near Old Town can be horrendous, especially on weekends. If you don’t need to park near the “front door,” do yourself a favor and park behind Caltrans. The parking lot behind Caltrans is been graciously opened up for tourists and locals alike to park free of charge. Turn West on Sunset Street and you will see the sign. The catch is that free parking is only available after 5 pm on weekday and on weekends. If that happens to be when you are visiting Old Town, take advantage of this gift. It’s only a few blocks away and there is plenty of parking. A security guard even keeps an eye on things for you. There is also a trolley station at the SW corner of Old Town and and many places to catch the trolley around San Diego.






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Another San Diego Sunset

Maybe you are one of "those" people. You know the ones I'm talking about: at ten years old they knew they were born to be a quantum physicist and would stumble across the cure for cancer while discovering the tesseract.  Well, I'm not one of those good folks but I hope both are discovered. When I suggest that you RetireInSanDiego I'm talking about retiring on more of a Clairemont budget than a La Jolla budget. 

I hope you read the dialogue and enjoyed the pics I took at La Jolla Cove. It is such a beautiful place. I lived in Wind-n-Sea, just South of the Cove, for many years and thoroughly enjoyed this park-like area. My reality, however, is and was not La Jolla. I eventually bought a great condo in Clairemont. Fabulous location and I do mean FABULOUS. Ten minutes to the airport; four miles to the ocean through Pacific Beach; a grocery and drug store one mile South, a shopping center two miles North and a Target, Home Depot, Von's and Kohl's a mile and a half East. AND, best of all, Clairemont is a neighborhood I can afford. To top it all off I get to enjoy beautiful sunsets every night. If you get tired of me posting them, please send me a comment like, "Okay, enough with the sunsets already." I will understand. But, you have to see this one. Enjoy! and Happy Wednesday.

La Jolla Cove

 La Jolla Cove is in the heart of La Jolla, the Jewell of this exclusive community. The cove is bordered by La Jolla Point to the West and Goldfish Point to the East. Directly below these two artists are La Jolla Caves. If you do an image search for La Caves you will find hundreds of images. The Caves are accessed through a tunnel that was dug in 1902 - 1903. I have not personally been in the caves but I hear that they are interesting.

I, personally, enjoy the walk North of the caves. I find it peaceful, relaxing and serene.

              

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Hundreds of pelicans make their homes on the sandstone cliffs above The Cove, side-by-side with cormorants. The beaches and caves at the waters edge are frequently filled with seals and sea lions. I'm told that the waters to the north of The Cove at certain times of the year are filled with Leopard Shark. They use this area to raise their young. The person that told me about this happened to be swimming between La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores one day and at just the right, or wrong, moment depending on how you look at it, he looked down to see the ocean floor covered with these beautiful Leopard Shark. Here is a link to a Huffington Post, HuffPost Travel, article that provides a more in-depth look at these shark. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/swimming-with-sharks-la-jolla_n_3562523.html


As you may have noticed, I love the abundance of flowers in 
San Diego. The first year that I lived here I noticed that there is something blooming here all year round. In fact, Strelitzia, commonly called Bird of Paradise, are at their best from late Fall to Spring in San Diego. The narrow leaf species can be found quite literally everywhere around San Diego. My neighbor has a pot of these on her deck. The Giant species, and I do mean GIANT, grow up to 30 feet tall. The first time I saw one of these it was hard to imagine that this gigantic plant was a bird-of-paradise. I've never actually measured one but he blooms are upward of 12 inches in length.


Even the Statice flower, Limonium, grows here like beautiful weeds. Walking near the ocean used to be my focus; the thing I had to do every time I went for a walk. But now I almost prefer the park or those neighborhoods like La Jolla in which to go walking for all of the beautiful landscape and flowers that grow in San Diego year round. 

Have I convinced you yet to RetireInSanDiego?      No? 

Well, stay tuned. 

San Diego Mission

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the twenty-one great California Missions, marks the birthplace of Christianity in the west coast of the United States and is only one of four Basilicas in California. The Mission was founded in 1769 at the Presidio near Old Town and moved to it’s current location (10818 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego, CA) in August 1774.

To say that life was difficult for the founders of San Diego as well as the local American Indians would be an understatement. “From 1769 to 1774, only 116 Indians had been baptized. Father Jayme and the other Franciscan Missionaries had great rapport with the Kumeyaay, baptizing 315 Indians during the summer of 1775. Unfortunately, two of the mission or Diegueno Indians became dissatisfied with the regulations and conditions established by the Spanish authorities, and they incited hundreds of Indians in remote villages to riot. According to Father Francisco Palou's report of the incidence, eight hundred American Indians stormed onto the grounds about midnight on November 4, 1775. They pillaged the mission, burned it to the ground and massacred a blacksmith, a carpenter (mortally wounded), and Father Jayme, who became California's first Catholic Martyr. He is buried next to the altar in the present church. Survivors of the night long attack were one corporal and three Leather Jacket soldiers, one blacksmith, two children who were the son and nephew of the Presidio commandant, and Associate Pastor Father Vicente Fuster.”

There are five bells in the bell tower at the Mission. The lower left bell is the only surviving original bell. The lower right bell was made from the other original bells and is rung twice a day at noon and 6pm and before every mass on Sunday.

To read more about the California Mission Trail, check out El Camino Real de California: A Hiker's Guide to the California Mission Trail: Mission San Diego to Mission Santa Barbara

Shelter Island

Shelter Island is located near the entrance to San Diego Bay. I’m starting my walk this morning at the corner of Anchorage and Talbot. It’s near the entrance to Shelter Island when approaching from Point Loma. I first discovered the beginning part of this walk a couple years after moving to San Diego in 2002. It is a bit, one block, off the beaten path so you can easily walk past the trailhead without noticing this amazing trail. Some weekdays I’ve walked this path and haven’t seen a soul; other times, like today, a Sunday, Valentine's Day, there are quite a few folks out enjoying the sun and this leisurely walk. Weatherbug says it’s 65 degrees out but it feels much warmer.

Not only are there many boaters out today, the paddle boarders are out too. In swimsuits. That is to say, without a wetsuit. Amazing! but then again, that’s why I’m here and you’re reading this blog and probably considering making San Diego your home. Nearing the trailhead a young man drops off a young lady at the shore line. Several boats are tied up to buoys in the bay. It’s a little cheaper than the slips but you do have to shuttle back and forth to shore when you want or need anything. This is a common dropping off spot.

Walking back to the trailhead I continue my walk around the North side of the bay; around several marinas and restaurants. Artists occupy Shoreline Park showing off their talent and lots of folks are out walking, jogging and just hanging out, enjoying the sun and great weather.

Are you a boater? If you are brave enough to cruise down the coast to San Diego and don’t want to pay the high price of a moorage slip, you could always tie up to a buoy. The buoys on the San Diego Bay side of Shelter Island take a fair amount of abuse from the boats coming and going from San Diego but, as I mentioned, there are a few spots on the shore side of the Island that you might be lucky enough to get.

At the Southwest end of Shelter Island a pair of Osprey are nesting. I can see a head popping up out of the nest but I can’t tell if it’s a baby, or parent sitting on eggs. I walked the Island a couple weeks ago and someone I met mentioned that there were eggs in the nest. Apparently they, the parents, haven’t been successful in actually hatching the little ones in the past. I will be back to see if I can spot the youngsters in the next several weeks. Hopefully they will survive this year.

Time to get back to the car and take care of a few chores. I hope you’ve enjoyed this mornings walk. Happy Valentine's Day.

PS: Let me know if there is a specific place, event or San Diego topic you would like to hear about. I take requests.

San Diego Sunsets

Good evening from San Diego. 

This beautiful sunset Wednesday evening was breathtaking, as are all the sunsets in San Diego. If you go searching the internet for "days of sun in San Diego" you will find many different answers because, well, there are many different answers. For example, if you live in Pacific Beach (PB) or La Jolla you may have significantly fewer days of sun than if you live East of San Diego a few mile, say in Santee or La Mesa. That's because of the phenomenon lovingly referred to as May Grey and June Gloom, which sometimes starts in March and lasts well into July. I'm not a meteorologist but the layman's explanation is that, early in the spring the deserts East of San Diego start to heat up. As they do, the rising heat from the desert pulls the cool marine layer into San Diego. If you happen to be close to the ocean, as I mentioned, sometimes from early March to August you could be in a fog while just a few miles inland it's sun all around. 

Moving to San Diego was the best thing I ever did for myself. RetireInSanDiego? You betcha. The number of beautiful sunsets, whether 146 or 263 days a year, or more, will be debated for some time to come. I tend to be a glass half full kind of guy. Even on those overcast days the sun will peak through the clouds at sunset turning the sky into a crimson fiery glow from the horizon as far East as you can see. When you finally decide to join us, you will see and enjoy this first hand for yourself. See you then.

By the way, that thing that looks like a pole around the middle left of the pic is Sea World.

Balboa Park

Today’s journey begins near the Hillcrest Farmers Market. They aren’t quite set up yet so, since Balboa Park is just a short walk south, off we go. Approaching The Park from the north, we first walk past the San Diego Zoo. I found The Zoo inspiring when I first arrived in San Diego in 2002 and I still do. I purchased an annual pass every year for the first decade I lived here. There is always something new going on at The Zoo. I haven’t volunteered at The Zoo - yet, but who knows.

Walking south on the east side of The Zoo is the Miniature (small gauge) Railroad. Every night after all the big and little kids have gone home, the rail cars are parked in their barn for safe keeping. Continuing south we walk through Spanish Village which is the home of over 200 artists. One of my features of Spanish Village are the colorful tiles that carpet the large courtyard which is surrounded by artists studios. When you’re there, buy something! When you do, you're support local artists and their art.

Just to the south of Spanish Village is a huge Ficus Macrophylla that was planted in 1915, prior to the Panama-California International Exposition.

It’s over 100 years old and stands over 80 feet. Many folks find this a great photo opp, including me. Even though it is only February 7th, Spring seems to have sprung in San Diego. White blossomed trees line many of the walks and roads around the park and zoo, all in full bloom. 

If you turn south on Village Place, or rather continue on the walk south from Village Place, you will walk through Zoro Garden. For some reason this is a spot that is overlooked by most. If the frenetic pace of life in the Park becomes a little overwhelming, this is a great spot to take a breather and enjoy the flowers and hummingbirds. Continue walking south and turn right at the end of the building. Continue walking west and you will see a beautiful vista across the Japanese garden. Continue and you will walk through the garden behind the Prado Restaurant. Another favorite, quiet spot to get a break from the crowds, when it’s available. This garden is used frequently for weddings and other events.

Exit the garden to the west. You will be walking into the south end of the Plaza de Panama. Watch out for the colorful dragon which guards the Mingei International Museum. Turn left and walk south toward the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. The Pavilion was constructed in 1914, opened in 1915 and still books events year round.

Are your feet getting sore and tired? Watch for the green trams. They run from Plaza de Panama down to the Air and Space Museum then over to the Old Navy Hospital, now the San Diego Parks Administration building. 


Personally, I think the magnificent grounds on the east side of the Old Hospital are spectacular. There are several fountains and beautiful domed structures that are unique and have been preserved in excellent condition. This is another area that, for some unknown reason, people ignore. I’ve been in the beautiful grounds behind the hospital several times and rarely see anyone.

Well, it’s time to head back to the Hillcrest Farmers Market because I’m getting hungry. Rather than going back through the park, I’m going to walk up Park Blvd. through the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden and Desert Garden.

After a delicious pulled pork sandwich at the farmers market, its time to head for home.

Why don’t you RetireInSanDiego? Maybe I’ll convince you in time to take a closer look. By the way, I wrote most of this blog at a picnic table near the old Navy Hospital. Enjoy the following pics.

Groundhog Day

Happy Tuesday Retirees,

A comment came back to me regarding San Diego and the not-so great things about this place; which by the way are true.

#1. Yes, there is a garbage dump between the 805 and 15 just north of the 52 called the Miramar Landfill. If you are not familiar with San Diego, it's just north of Downtown. From time-to-time it smells; really bad. In my opinion it's a small price to pay, but it is there.

#2. People gravitate to this beautiful city and buildings are being built to house all those folks. As luck (or unluck) would have it, some of those buildings are proposed to be built where they will obstruct the view of more than a few long-time residence. I agree that this is not cool at all, but this type of progress is not confined to San Diego. It happens all over our country and I'm quite certain that it happens all over the world.

#3. It can be quite pricey living in San Diego. For example, according to a cost of living website I visited, if you are living in Anchorage, AK with an income of $50k/yr. you will need to add about $7,118 to your income to maintain the life style you enjoy now. You will need to add a whopping $11,500 if you're moving from Fairbanks. Hey, but let's look on the bright side. If you're moving from New York City you'll have an extra $1,300 bucks to spend at the Del Mar race track, if that's your thing. Is the mild weather worth it? Only you can answer that one.

Saturday is just around the corner and I need your help. What topic or place would you like to hear about? Cowles Mountain? The Embarcadero? The Pacific Beach Boardwalk? How about the suspension bridge on Bankers Hill? Or maybe you'd like to challenge me with something really unique. Send me an email or leave a comment. Your request is my command.

Until Saturday, live on and enjoy life,  Aaron