Around Town

We kicked off the long Memorial Day weekend at the Little Italy Farmers Market, the largest farmers market in SD.

 

   

While Bo and Sandy went to get their nails done, I visited Grandma White, from Mom's American Family.  Surprisingly she only lives 1 mile from Sandy so I was able to just hop on over for a visit!  I wish I could see her more often...

Somehow Grandma was familiar with selfies! 

We had a lazy afternoon but in the evening Bo and I were psyched to try a West Coast specialty, the In-N-Out Burger.  Even Grandma raved about them, so I knew it had to be good!

 

In-N-Out Burger did not disappoint!

On Sunday we hopped to another local Farmers Market.  Too bad Waltham's farmers market isn't nearly as good :o(

Hillcrest Farmers Market

 

Sandy went for her weekly disc golf game and Bo and I went to explore Balboa Park, home of the zoo, 17 museums, and numerous gardens. The first stop was the vibrant art studios at the Spanish Village Art Center. 

 

 We continued on along El Prado

Casa del Prado

Botanical Building

Inside the Botanical Building

 

 

We ended up taking a very, very long tour of the Japanese Gardens.  By the end I reckon we learned just about everything there is to learn about bonsai and koi.

During the tour we were serenaded by a concert in the pavilion just around the corner.  It was the Spreckles Organ, the world's largest outdoor pipe organ. 

For dinner we exercised our group cooking skills!

A day at the zoo!

We kicked off Day 2 with a food coma courtesy of Snooze, the popular brunch site located in the gay neighborhood of Hillcrest. 

Colorful bike rack!

Sandy had us participate in an interactive mural

The rest of the day was dedicated to getting acquainted with the San Diego Zoo!

After a series of awkward tortoise pictures, here is the best :-P

The new exhibit, Koalafornia, made me giggle.

We got matching Koalafornia souvenirs :o)

 

 

 

 

 

A great day at the zoo!

No So Sunny (but still lovely!) San Diego

After my parents returned to NC I took a trip out West with Bo.  Even though Bo and I have been friends since 7th grade, we never took a big trip together before, so it was really fun to have a little adventure together.  Our destination was San Diego to visit Sandy, another good friend whom I hadn't seen in years.  Since 8th grade I had only been back to CA for Aunt Chris's funeral, almost 8 years ago, so returning was a real trip down memory lane.

Sandy lives just a couple blocks from Balboa Park so my morning jogs consisted of running down traffic-filled Pershing Drive then coming back up via the narrow, dusty trails along Florida Canyon.  The famous San Diego Zoo and numerous other museums are also in Balboa Park, but to the West.  The mornings were consistently cool, dry, and cloudy, and combined with hills and trails made for excellent running!  

On our first day Sandy had to work. Bo and I took an excursion to Coronado, the upscale "island" community just outside of San Diego.

The Coronado Ferry Landing

Walking down Orange Ave

The famed Hotel Del (Coronado)

Fabulous sandcastles!

We took the ferry back to the mainland (downtown SD)

The best food always comes from a literal hole in the wall!

Little Italy doesn't quite resemble Italy

Seaport Village was quiet

 

While Bo and I were searching for a place to eat in the very ritzy Gaslamp Quarter, Sandy got off work early and we went back to her own part of town (North Park)

Awesome mural in North Park

Superb sushi!!

It was great to be together again :o)

Sandy showed us some of her favorite haunts, including the old school arcade, Coin Op