We spent Tuesday afternoon walking/hiking around Point Loma area. It was low tide, so we could explore areas of the tide pools that are inaccessible at high tide. Our exploration along the paved and unpaved pathways took us past Bergerocactus plants on our way down to play in and around the tide pools. We saw lichen, little hermit crabs, incredible rock formations and, of course, the ocean. These are beautiful creations that we cannot see in the mountainous region where we live. For us, the beauty of this part of the nation is fascinating and impactful to the creative side of our existence.

At one point we decided to hike up to the old lighthouse at Cabrillo. My sister and I were walking along the path leading directly toward the lighthouse, when to the right and up several steps is a building with a recorded looped presentation about the guns that the military used to have in this place years ago. My sister’s husband came out of that building and said he was going to walk up the next set of stairs up to the lookout at the top of the hill. My sister and I decided to walk up behind him instead of continuing down the path we were on. I made it easily up the first set of stairs and nearly to the top of the next set of stairs, when suddenly I felt out of control and the ground was coming up fast. My husband’s phone went flying, as did my readers. I heard a loud “Ouch!” escape my mouth. Then all I could do, after I realized I could still move my right ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and wrist, was laugh uncontrollably. My sister, who just stood there and watched motionless as my teeth nearly became part of the cement step in front of me, was now bent over laughing with her legs crossed.  She said she thought I was joking at first, so she didn’t move to help me.

Joking?! About falling UPSTAIRS, near a cliff?!

Nope! The pain was proof that I was not kidding around. My knee was becoming the size of a watermelon as we stood there laughing. The remainder of the trek was uneventful, although I did walk with a bit of a limp.

We were able to enjoy the presence of the sun beating down, pouring warmth around us, embracing our feet, and the breeze blowing through our hair while we looked out over San Diego Bay. It was breathtaking, a postcard-worthy moment.

 I wish I could have captured the feeling, the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the breeze, and the feeling of smallness and largeness, simultaneously, I experienced as I stood there at the edge of Point Loma taking in the map-like view of the Bay, Shelter Island, North Island, and Coronado. From my perspective the area was overall easier to understand. Just like looking at a map, I could see from above, the size and shape of Shelter Island and it’s proximity to North Island, San Diego proper, and Coronado. It was a fun experience to share with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law.

Old Town

This afternoon, we decided to head to Old Town to do some shopping. None of us had ever been there. Old Town is the oldest city in California. It was fun to see all the old buildings, now converted to commercial shops. It was interesting, yet sad, in a way, to see how commercialized it has obviously become.

While we were wandering from shop to shop, my husband spotted a quaint outdoor Mexican Restaurant called Casa de Reyes. He said he wanted to eat lunch there. That was unusual because he usually does not offer opinions about where or what to eat, unless he is asked specifically what he would like to eat. My sister, her husband, and I were not hungry, yet, but we shared an appetizer and of course downed way too many chips with the delicious salsa that came with the chips. We were happy to have stopped there to eat authentic Mexican Food in Old Town because my husband’s chili relleno and our appetizers were very tasty.  I recommend stopping there if you are ever in Old Town in San Diego.

After shopping until we dropped, our brother-in-law brought my husband and me back to the hotel while he and my sister drove over to Seaport Village to do more shopping to find the perfect sweatshirt for my niece.

The Hotel Balcony: My Place of Peaceful Reflection (or not so peaceful with all of the helicopter movement)

I am currently sitting on the balcony outside of our hotel room before sundown, watching and listening to the noise of the military helicopters land on North Island. The sky is gray with cloud cover, the November air, cool and crisp. Most of the people that are walking along the Bay are warmly dressed in long pants and sweatshirts or jackets. I am typing on my laptop in my short sleeves, long pants and flip flops. The speed of my typing is slowing down with the reduction in temperature of my fingers, however. It is getting darker outside. The streetlamps have turned on, the skyscraper buildings across the Bay are beginning to light up and the passing cars on the road in front of our hotel have their headlights on. I can feel the temperature dropping.

Before I head into my hotel room for the night, I will share a few photos from the day… Wait… There goes the Disney Magic Cruise Ship heading out of the Bay toward the ocean. I can’t help but wonder what unique experiences they will have on the ship and at each of their destination stops. We can only guess.

Have a happy day!