Today we decide on Balboa Park as it’s a super sunny day. We walk down fifth Avenue to the train stopping for breakfast, everywhere has long lines but eventually we get a table at the Hard Rock Cafe. Very mediocre breakfast and Roger pitches himself in a seat so he is able to watch the golf! On to the train but it’s not such a straight forward trip with two changes then a bus for the short ride, sounds like Norwich to Liverpool Street on a Sunday in peak season! The city is buzzing with people and cars trying to park for yet another Padres game today. We eventually order an Uber. The car is three minutes away but cannot reach us with all the road blocks so the driver rings us with a location for us to walk to. He is a friendly driver, very informative of the problems with homelessness in San Diego. As we head north to the park we see lines of homeless banked together in rows upon rows, plastic or cardboard housing, trollies heaped high with possessions. It’s very sad and alarming. Our driver informs us they have a huge problem with fentanyl which is smuggled in from Mexico. All age groups get hooked and that’s it. Apparently it’s killing more people than covid as it’s very easy to overdose. Our driver also complains about the government sending aid and money to Ukraine when it can’t even feed its own poor. Along with the USA’s crushing deficit. I am a little perturbed as this driver is also sniffing all the ride. Balboa park is a sprawling outdoor destination and home to the city’s renowned Zoo, 17 Museums, gardens and more. Our driver drops us off near the info kiosk where a super friendly older gentleman informs us the things we must see. I hear organ music and head for the open air organ, I have inherited my fathers love of organ music. There is a concert at 2 pm but for now we listen to a young lady in rehearsal. It’s quite a stunning sight. We move on and walk around the various building and statue’s all of which seem to be Spanish influenced. The gardens are stunning with every conceivable colour, pools full of lilies and ducks. We walk to the museum of art and pay extra for the exhibition Monet to Matisse: Impressionist masterpieces including some rare Picasso portraits. After this we head for the Spanish Art Village. There’s quite a distance between these areas and we are both dying of thirst. Good job Mr C brought water to save the day. The Spanish Art Village is self explanatory. Full of vivid, weird, creativity. Most of which is for sale. Not that we could get any of it home as our cases are full to the brim already. Through the Spanish Art Village and onto the carousel, the miniature train, on to the Zoo. Mr C insists on taking a photo of me by the enormous Lion out side the zoo ( two Leo’s ). A line for tickets is slow moving and I kick myself for not pre ordering online. However in we go a mere $59 each for us seniors. ( a two day ticket apparently) We head straight for the open bus to ride around this huge zoo but unfortunately pick the wrong side of the bus to see much so have to walk around to get any views of exciting species. After a few hours with hot feet we find the exit and head for the taxi rank. Taxis are rare in San Diego, a dying breed due to Uber, I feel guilty now. We head for little Italy as we fancy an evening of Italian delights. The centre of the Italian quarter is along Indian Street for some reason. Hundreds of restaurants with outside spaces we cannot decide on which one and end up walking back to Gaslamp and our favourite restaurant and bar the Water grill, here we settle down at the bar for Margaritas and beer. All tables are full in this 500 seater restaurant so we eat at the bar. We watch in awe at a young lady called Kim who was the fastest cocktail maker server we have ever witnessed, she didn’t stop once, pouring two pints at once at the same time shaking cocktails and pouring wine. She was amazing. We later found out she had been working like this for 10 hours straight. I have wedge salad drizzeled with blue cheese and bacon dressing and a small appetiser of tuna Tartare. Roger has East Coast oysters followed by swordfish. Wandered back to the hotel tired but jolly.
Liquid Tales 