Jacaranda

This is a Jacaranda Tree. The word Jacaranda brings up images in my mind of Star Wars (Chewbacca, Jabba or Watto). If you're not familiar with this beautiful tree that blooms in late spring, do yourself a favor and do an image search of this tree. There are great pics online. Here's a link to the Jacaranda Tree if you care to take a look now but please come back to finish this article.

This is a pic of just one of many Jacaranda Trees in my neighborhood

The first time I saw a Jacaranda Tree was on Maui, Hawaii. I was on my way back down from watching the sunrise at the top of Mount Haleakala and there it was. If I didn't see it with my own eyes I would have guessed that someone was pulling my leg, photoshopping some sink flower arrangement into a countryside pic. It was breathtaking then and I still feel the same way about them now. 

It was in the mid-70's when I saw my first blooming Jacaranda Tree. The next time would be about 30 years later in San Diego. I don't know how these beautiful trees hid themselves out of my view all these years but they did. "Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas. It has been planted widely in Asia, especially in Nepal. It is also quite common in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. It has been introduced to most tropical and subtropical regions. The genus name is also used as the common name." 

Here are more pics from Pinterest of the Jacaranda Tree. 

The Jacaranda Tree blooms in late Spring in San Diego but you will be amazed, the first Winter you spend in San Diego, at just how many flowers brighten the landscape in and around San Diego in the Winter. When I first moved here people would tell me just how different San Diego was than areas just North of here and I found it difficult to believe, but it's true. The climate in San Diego is unique. 

I was in San Diego for a couple years before I saw my first Jacaranda Tree. I'm not sure if I just wasn't paying attention or perhaps I just didn't drive through those neighborhood where they donned their beautiful blooms. Never-the-less, I did eventually find them or they found me and every year that I am in San Diego is a new adventure, where I find new sights to satisfy my visual senses. You will too, when you RetireInSanDiego.

Visit Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery this Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, May 30th, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery will be visited by loved ones from around the world. Fort Rosecrans is located on Memorial Drive, Point Loma, San Diego. You drive through the Cemetery on the way to Cabrillo National Monument.

During WWII my Father served in the Philippines, my Mother served as a nurse in Washington State and Aunt Sylvia worked in a mailroom here in San Diego. Sylvia was one of many responsible for distribution of mail to the Pacific Fleet. She is 96 now and lives in Idaho. Dementia is a challenge at her age and she doesn't talk much anymore about her days in San Diego, but I remember hearing her reminisce about those days. Back when my age was in the single digits I recall her telling me how important and sensitive the mail was and that no one knew where the sailors were, on which ship, because it was a matter or national security. It all seemed very scary to me even though WWII had been over with for more than a decade. 

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website provides a wealth of information about Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and those interned there from 1846 to today. I'm including a link here for your convenience. http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftrosecrans.asp

Road Trip

For those of you who follow this blog, you have noticed that there is a slight gap in the posts this past week. The reason? A well deserved road trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

When you RetireInSanDiego you don't stay here devoid of all outside adventures. Of Course not! There are so many spectacular, wondrous places to see in this great, vast country of ours. It's just that, living in the greatest climate on earth (no exaggeration here) you get to choose when to go on those memorable road trips. San Diego will be here when you get back. I have been to all the above mentioned National Parks in years past and most of the time it has been when, well, when everyone else was there; generally during the summer months. But personally, the fringe times are better for me. They are less crowded times and in many ways there are more options.

First stop, the Grand Canyon: It was beautiful and there were not nearly the crowds you run into during the summer months. Okay, it did snow one morning but it didn't stick and the white accents were beautiful.

The Grand Canyon from near Hermit's Rest

It always takes me a while to get out of Grand Canyon N. P. because there is so much to see. I want to stop at every turn-out and hike as many trials as I can. The Grand Canyon Watchtower at Desert View, is always good for an hour or three. The views are spectacular as is the Watchtower. There have been many improvements over the years. If you haven't been there, put it on your list of places to see and while away a few hours.

The Grand Canyon Watchtower at Desert View, the East Entrance

Next stop Bryce N. P. I've never been to Bryce this time of year. If I was in a hiking mood I would have been disappointed because it was pretty muddy, but on this particular road trip, Bryce was a beautiful  place to enjoy part of a day before continuing on toward Yellowstone.

Bryce Canyon from Inspiration Point

And then of course, Yellowstone. I vow to spend a prolonged period of time in Yellowstone in the next couple of years. I have to. Reading about it only whets my appetite to learn more and a few short days never gets me past taking pics of the geysers, elk and bison.

This is the Lion Geyser. By complete accident we also saw the Beehive Geyser erupt. It was truly spectacular.  

We learned from a young lady who waited on us at the Old Faithful Inn one morning for breakfast, and who worked the previous winter season at the Snow Lodge near the Inn, that they open the Inn, deep in the winter months, for a special showing of the 1980's movie "The Shining" for all the staff to see who decided to brave the winter season at Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Inn

No matter how fabulous the place, time away is important and San Diego is no exception. We had a great time, albeit too short, but we will be back. Perhaps your next road trip will be to this corner of the world, when you decide to RetireInSanDiego. See you then.

Save the Kiss

We're continuing south along the Embarcadero past the Cruise Ship port and ferry terminal and past the Midway. (We will come back to the Midway when we have a little more time).

Next, look to your right. The first time I saw the "Save the Kiss" statue I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This pic is one that I took several years ago and I would guess that you couldn't find this park so "people free" these days. "Save the Kiss" is a waterfront statue of the iconic photo taken of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square as they celebrated the end of World War II in 1945. I know that you are familiar with the pic. There's also a book titled "The Kissing Sailor" about the people in the pic.

Save the Kiss

The statue stands 25 feet high and is visited by 10's of thousands of people each year from all over the world.  This is just one more place to put on your list of things to see when you RetireInSanDiego.