My Sis and I went to San Diego for a week. It was our first rode trip. We drove to Prescott, AZ and spent the night. The coffee was weak, the room okay, the staff friendly and helpful, the price was right and the town beautiful. I will go back there for ancestry research. Prescott is the town my maternal great-grandmother Nieves Chavez Torres Molina lived in at the time of her death. I was reminded of stories that Grandpa Julian, my aunts, uncles and mom told about visiting G-g Nieves. But that's another story.
We got to see the vast Arizona landscape.
I can see why Grandpa loved it. We meandered across the southern part of AZ and CA before finally arriving in San Diego during rush hour. Thankfully we were entering the city as MANY workers were leaving. Why would anyone get on the freeway at "rush hour" to travel at 20 miles per hour. Crraaawwwlll.
Anyway we arrived at the hotel in one piece and hungry. We couldn't decide where to eat. So we went to a grocery store and picked up some fruit, lasagna, a bottle of Merlot, and chicken and pasta salads. Most of it froze in our tiny hotel fridge.
First Day at Mission Bay Park.
The hotel had a hot breakfast buffet that was so-so. I'm a breakfast eater. My sis is not. Thank God for Google maps. We used the maps to get around and hit the beaches. Also to find restaurants. I was freezing. San Diego was having unusually cloudy rainy, mostly misty days. We didn't get into the ocean this trip.
Day two:
We had planned on taking a whale excursion but the brochure said the whales usually only ran through mid-April. We drove to the zoo and encountered busses of elementary school kids. There must have been close to 200 kids standing in line. We opted out. And ended up at In N Out Burger. Yummy. The Scripture reference on burger bag is Revelation 3:20.
French fry container has Proverbs 24:16. The bottom of the drink cup is John 3:16. Wonderful meal. Then I opted for fish for the rest of the trip.
Hit Pacific Beach Park next:
Day three we ended up at Tuna Harbor Park where a memorial to Bob Hope and the troops is situated.
Had a fantastic meal at The Fish Market
We went unintentionally went to Coronado Island Beach because we saw the bridge over the bay and wanted to drive across. It is beautiful! The beach by the haunted Coronado hotel is clean, cold and has one of the few pay phones in existence.
Day four Char got up early to go Silver Strand Beach on Coronado Island to get shells and sand dollars, We went shopping. Mostly IKEA, but did go to CVS for hair products, my hair was frizzing out, HomeGoods, and Skechers, The clerk at CVS asked where we were from. When we told him we are from Albuquerque he said Breaking Bad! Whatever happened to the International Balloon Fiesta? sat in the jacuzzi and started talking about Grandpa. The common memories we shared speak to the consistency of his behavior. We basically had the same relationship with him. We both also cried a little from missing him.
Day five we went to the zoo. So glad the have tour busses, trolleys and Skyfari or I would have had to rent a scooter. I love flamingos.
Look at the bull elephant waiting to get into "natural area. He's very patient:)
The rhinoceros is tame! he get a brush down, pedicure an squirts of water on one side then on command turns to the othe side. Bet wouldn't be tame if not for his enclosure.
Do you ever wish you could turn back time? Undo stupid mistakes? Keep your mouth shut? I do until I really understand that even though the choices I made were in God's great plan. Sometimes not an easy thing to admit.
Day six! We finally got to meet our cousins. They came to the hotel and we chatted for 2 hours, Then off the the Iron Pig and Ale House for some dinner. The food is wonderful I got a beef brisket sammie with fries. It was so much meat that I took the rest back to the hotel. But bot before we talked some more. Six hours is not enough time to meet "new" family.
And this is me with Alicia Bromley!!!! We are second cousins once removed. Finally! Joe (2nd cousin) & Georgette Joe's wife, (Alicia's parents) as well as Amanda A's daughter. Joe remembers my Grandpa Julian and Tio Tomas. And looking into Joe's eyes is like looking at his grandfather-my Tio Alfonso's eyes. What a great visit, we're hoping to meet some more to share stories.
Day seven was time to go home. We loaded up and headed out. We only stopped for coffee, lottery tickets, potty, gas, and snacks.
And a wonderful time was had by all:)
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My Grandpa Julian had a lot of sayings or stories to make a subtle point about unacceptable behavior.
He said that life is a Ferris Wheel. One minute you're at the top, the next minute you're at the bottom. So don't spit when you're riding high because someone will eventually spit on you. Interesting that he didn't use the word "shit", no?
Ever heard the saying:
"You'll be hung by your tongue"?
Be careful what and how you say something,
Thank You Lord for the rain. Our land has been so parched,
I pray for my family and friends to turn to You,
Your will be done.
Hope you all are having blessings heaped upon your life.
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