San Diego, California: Day 2 - A night out in La Jolla

Travel Date: Friday, Oct 10 2014

I got up in the morning and noticed this waiting for me. Kristen had left me tips of things to do in San Diego. Fantastic!!

So I ventured out to the local coffee shop: Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Took out my laptop and starting chatting with my neighbor Alexa and we had a great conversation about San Diego and the atmosphere of this area. She is also a blogger: Check out her blog at
www.theshortandthesweetofit.com.

Watched the owner give a lesson about coffee to possibly new employees.

After my coffee fix, I headed out to meet an old friend from DC who has relocated to San Diego: Ruggero. We decided to meet up at a popular Fish Taco place.

I met Ruggero in DC. Over the years we became closer friends especially through his roommate Will whom I would stay with often when I visited DC. Ruggero has helped me countlessly over the years with great timely advice in many situations. It was great seeing him. The last time I saw him was at Will's wedding.

Now time for some tacos.

After a nice snack, we headed out for a walk.

Got to the beach and watched the Pelicans dive down and catch fish.

We then decided to go for a walk along the coastlines by the cliffs - but not too close to it.

Interesting rock separated from the cliffs.

At the other end of this short beach we see a few surfers.

We walk back to the Taco shop. I say goodbye to Ruggero. So good to see him and chat with him.

I head back to the house for a break and Lennie gives me the death stare as I walk out again.

Kristen recommended that hike the Torrey Pines State Reserve for great views of the ocean.

After I get back, Ralph and Kristen get back from work. We head on out to watch the sunset.

Looks like there is a lot of cloud cover. Bummer!

Few group pictures.

But at least we get to see some beautiful scenes.

We then head to a restaurant for dinner: World Famous in Pacific Beach

We meet up with one of Kristen's friends who is in the area. And enjoy a few drinks

And I order this amazing soup for appetizers: Lobster Bisque

And for dinner I order the San Francisco Style Cioppino: more soup again.

After a fattening and delicious dinner we head out to a local bar: Tavern at The Beach

Enjoy a few beverages and conversation.

And then it is off to Yogurtland.

For some delicious yogurt.

What an amazing evening.

Time to play with Lennie (their dog) and teach him to roll over. Sorry about the bad lighting.

Reflections:
Meeting new people at coffee shops that are friendly and receptive is always a great start to the day. Thank you Alexa for being welcoming to San Diego. Seeing and hanging out Ruggero was just like old times. We caught up on each others lives and talked about what we wanted to do in the future. Watching the sunset in San Diego is amazing. It wasn't the best sunset I've seen but the relative early timing of the sunsets around 6 PM ish makes it perfect to appreciate mother nature and its beauty. The sunsets, dinner, drinks and yogurt with Ralph and Kristen was delightful. I got a feel for San Diego and the possibilities of me living there. Thank you for both for the great company and the delicious yogurt. Playing with their dog Lennie was fun. He is soo cute and cuddly. I am ready to get one when I settle down.

Expenses: $79.62
Coffee: $2.15 (Bird Rock Coffee)
Lunch: $6.48 (Oscar's Mexican Seafood)
Dinner: $33.89 (World Famous - Pacific Beach)
Beverages: $37.10 (Tavern)

San Diego, California: Day 1 - My first snorkeling experience

Travel Date: Thursday, Oct 9 2014

When I woke up, Steve made me some eggs for breakfast and then we headed out. He went to work and I went to San Diego. After a relatively short drive (3 hrs - which by my traveling standards is relatively short) I park at Ralph's home.

I actually don't know Ralph personally, but our mutual friend Ally tried to connect us together when she found out that we both were walking the Camino in Spain at relatively the same time period. Unfortunately while we messaged each other on fb while walking in Spain we never connected. So when I was in San Diego, Ralph was also at home so we decided to actually connect for the first time.

I meet Ralph at his home and we are two peas in a pod. After getting settled in, we decide to venture out and see San Diego.

We drive around towards the beach. Ah the Pacific Ocean ... you are so beautiful.

Watching the waves crash on the rocks is always fascinating and soothing.

We stop at another view as well.

And then I see Fred Flinstones house in Bedrock.

We drive a little further to the La Jolla Cove Tide Pools with an assortment of marine life.

And then walk around to an underwater park where you can snorkel.

There is a lot of people here.

I tell Ralph that I have never snorkeled before. He is a marine biologist and dives into the water for a living taking amazing pictures of marine life. So he offers to take me snorkeling in the ocean and to witness marine life.

BTW You should check out his photos - they are professional and amazing... yes he has a waterproof camera.

Ralph Pace Photography: https://www.facebook.com/ralfotos

We head back to house and pack some wetsuits and other gear.

Then head over to the I.B. Divers store that his friend works at and pick up some rental gear.

And time to head out in our wetsuits. This is the first time I have worn a wetsuit. Always a first time for everything on this adventure.

We head out and hit the ocean not via the popular cove but right in the middle of the scarcely populated beach called the Marine Room Dive Site. I struggle a little with my breathing through the tube as we go further in the water but after a little time in the water I get used to the feeling and get more and more comfortable.

Soon we are about 7+ feet deep in the ocean and I am swimming with leopard sharks and schools of fishes, and held thornback ray and two spot octopus ... a free dive led by my marine biologist friend Ralph.

My favorite part of this entire snorkel experience was the octopus. When I held it in my cupped hands I felt the suction on my arms and the slipperiness of its skin. When I slowly opened up my cupped hands, I made eye contact with it, and a very large part of me connected with it feeling sorry that I have briefly kept it in captivity. As I let it go, it inked out in the ocean and the whole experience was amazing. Thank you for that Ralph!!!

Wish I took pictures but I forgot to buy a waterproof case.

Back from the snorkeling expedition ... and all wet!

We change and head back to the house, clean up. And lounge for a little bit, go grocery shopping and when Kristen gets home, they begin to cook some swordfish tacos and carne asada.

At the grocery store I pick up the only bottle of Spanish Rioja wine and we begin to cook, drink and chat.

The dinner table is set.

And it is time to get festive with these two awesome people sharing stories about our journey walking the Camino in Spain. I cannot believe I walked at around the same time as them - maybe 5 days apart from start to finish and we never met UNTIL NOW!

The swordfish tacos were amazing!

Cheers to great company and a beautiful center piece.

I thorough enjoyed every aspect of their collective company. Very beautiful people and personalities. And the common connection of the Camino is Spain is the icing on the cake.

And the cause for our connection is my dear friend Ally who is actually celebrating her birthday the next day in Roanoke, Virginia. So we wait for 12 AM on the East Coast and record this video message for her. Without  her this experience between Ralph, Kristen and I would not be possible.

Reflections:
What an amazing start to San Diego. I meet Ralph and we instantly bond. He shows me around San Diego and then takes me snorkeling for the first time which is an unbelievable experience. I am falling in love with the ocean and the possibilities. I meet Kristen and she is beautiful inside and out. And watching them two interact makes you appreciate a great couple relationship. I loved our various conversations about the Camino while drinking Spanish wine and dining on delicious swordfish and Latino spiced carne asada. What a fantastic day. Thank you Ralph and Kristen for a great San Diego start and hosting me... and thank you Ally for the introduction.

Expenses: $33.91
Wine: $33.91 (2 Bottles of Rioja wine)