As California is a neighboring state, we decided to make the most of our new location in Arizona and skip the hustle and bustle of the airport (not to mention the expense) and take a leisurely drive instead. It was an easy drive on long straight roads, and after a stop for lunch halfway, we were sitting with a cold beer by the ocean less than seven hours after we had left Scottsdale (and all for less than $50 in gas. Bargain!). The temperature was a good 30 degrees cooler than when we left at a very pleasant 75 deg fahrenheit, although with the high humidity it didn't really feel it if I'm honest! Thank goodness for sea breezes!
We made a short pitstop after a couple of hours to stock up on water and Ethan bought a bag of fizzy Sour Apple gummy things covered in sugar (yuk) which he proceeded to open in the back of the car once we had resumed our journey.
"Would you like me to open those for you?"
"Er ... no thanks ... I'm not three you know! ..."
It was patently obvious (to me anyway) what was going to happen next ... bag rips in two ... a gazillion green sticky chews plus half a pound of sugar deposited in tween's lap amid much huffing and moaning. Great. Who needs Encyclopedia's these days? Just get a 13 year old ... they know it all ... apparently. He was subsequently ordered not to move a muscle until we could fine a place to pull over and he could get out and brush it all off. He also earned the nickname 'Sugar Pants' for the rest of the week (much to the amusement of Mr B and I :D)!
Our first destination was Del Mar and the hotel L'Auberge - a gorgeous hotel overlooking the ocean, with a 'beach cottage' feel to it and the most friendly and attentive staff. If you ever get the opportunity to stay there I would heartily recommend it.
Del Mar itself is a beautiful spot and was by far my favourite. It reminded me a little of summer holidays in Cornwall as a child, but with better weather!
Whilst we were there we decided to revisit the zoo, which had been a favorite on our last visit to San Diego some 5 years earlier. We were not disappointed and it was just as good as we had remembered, if not better. I think it has to be my favorite zoo of all time! A lot of the animals however, whilst visible, seemed to be asleep or at best, extremely dozy, and Ethan decided that they must have all been partying after the zoo closed the previous night and were all hungover! A lovely thought, which made me smile every time we arrived at an enclosure featuring a sleeping bear or a lazy koala!
LOL!
These two also looked like they had a rough night ...
After an extremely relaxing couple of days in Del Mar it was time to move on to La Jolla and the hotel, La Valencia.
This one had a very different feel to the relaxed beachy atmosphere of L'Auberge and whilst still lovely, was much larger and less personal with a distinct Mediterranean flavor. The decor included lots of dark wood and terra-cotta painted interiors which gave it a rather gloomy feel I thought. Still, it was in a prime location overlooking the beautiful ocean once again and La Jolla cove, complete with it's resident seals and sea lions.
After a late lunch at George's At the Cove just a short walk away ... again, can highly recommend both the food and the spectacular view if you are visiting La Jolla ... we spent a lazy afternoon strolling along the bay followed by ... er ... more food and drink! Speaking of which, Mr B also earned himself a new nickname this week. Spawned from his seamless ability to hoover up any food left on a plate by either Ethan or I, and the straw hat he has taken to wearing to stop his head getting burnt, Ethan has now declared him to be .... The Great Gutsby! :D
The next morning we headed back into San Diego and the Old Town Trolley Tour. I have to say, I do love a City Tour! Whenever we visit a new city, we always try and incorporate one of the 'hop on hop off' bus tours if possible as not only is it is a great way to learn about the city (although on one of the 'hops' Ethan complained that the elderly Chinese lady that he ended up sitting next to spent the whole time talking very loudly in Chinese to her husband who for some reason was sat in the seat in front .. Lol) but they also afford a great overview of the main points of interest and help identify the places to linger longer or to maybe go back and visit again another time.
All too soon our California Dreamin' was over and it was time to get back in the car and make our way back home. Once again, we stopped for a break around half way in a town called Yuma, just over the Arizona border, at a great place that had been recommended to us by a friend (thanks Merylee!) called Penny's Diner. I knew we were back in Arizona on account of my eyeballs burning in their sockets as we got out of the car.
Whilst we were there, an elderly local gentleman who I guess had heard our english accents, wandered over to our table and was keen to know where we were from, where we had been and where we were going. He looked like he had walked straight off the set of an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, complete with dungarees, ill fitting baseball cap and no teeth! On chatting to him and his wife however (who was wearing an equally ill fitting baseball cap emblazoned with the word 'JESUS' across the front ... which funnily enough is just what I thought...) they were actually really sweet. She informed us that her husband was 93 and had been a pilot in WWII flying bombers for the US Air Force and training young recruits and after the war he had flown the planes back from their base in Florida to the 'graveyard' in Arizona. He looked amazing for his age and despite having no teeth and a hearing aid, still had a full set of marbles and a glint in his eye! I love chance encounters like that - you can meet such interesting people (you can also meet some complete fruit loops of which I have also had my fair share!) - and I could have happily spent the afternoon chatting to them both. Sadly though, it was time to pile back into the car and some three hours later we arrived back in Scottsdale, relaxed and suitably cooled by the ocean breeze and ready to take on the heat of the desert once more.
Thought you might also like to see a couple more pictures taken by Mr B of some birds he spotted on our tour ... no not that kind ....
Hummingbird spotted in a garden at Old Town San Diego
A kingfisher snapped in the Aviary at the zoo - beautiful!
And finally, how could I not include one of his (many) sunset pictures ... just for you Adam Booth! TTFN and have a great week!
x
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