BT=symbol for boiler technician
Dramatic sculpture on "Greatest Generation Way" by the U.S.S. Midway (Midway is in the background)Monday, February 1, 2010 / sunny, high 60s
Brian and Nancy picked us up this morning about 10 a.m. After picking up Donna and Lawrence and all of their luggage (not quite as much as ours), we went directly to “Wienerschnitzel,” a chili dog “restaurant.” B and N thought we needed to have this experience for lunch before we dropped L and D off at the airport. Our ongoing teenage experience continued as we munched our chili dogs, chili burgers, and chili fries outdoors. The dogs are similar to our Greek dogs and burgers back home—I’m glad we did this. After lunch we took D and L to the airport for their return to Wisconsin. We made an agreement to get together in Branson, Missouri, or even another cruise, perhaps later this year.
We traveled back to the Seaport Village for shopping and then went to Coronado, a town on the peninsula that forms the San Diego harbor. We stopped at Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888. We were able to tour the grounds of this grand hotel that reminded me somewhat of the classic Hershey Hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Hotel del Coronado has a beach on the Pacific! We enjoyed walking this beautiful sandy beach and even went inside the hotel to see the Victorian charm. From there we went to Imperial Beach and Pier. I bought something here that I think Son R will like, if they are the right size. By this time it was near sunset as we walked on the pier, gulls were flying about, a young fisherman displayed the croaker (fish) that he caught, and surfers in wet suits looked for the best waves.
Brian took us to the nearby Veterans Home in Chula Vista to meet his 87 year old mother. She was one of the first 49 women who were at the U.S. Marines Corps Recruit Depot during World War II. She was part of the “Free a Man to Fight” program. She took the troop train to California after basic training and was a truck driver in the motor pool. I was very honored to meet her.
For dinner Brian took us to “La Bella Pizza” in downtown Chula Vista. His 77 year old aunt has worked there for 35 years and she waited on us. I loved the cheese and pepperoni pizza! Chula Vista was the hometown of my dear friend, Chuck. His wife Judy, from Nebraska, was the friend who went to France with Cindy from Connecticut and me in 2008.
We have truly enjoyed our special Cruise Critic friends in San Diego so much. We are going to miss them a lot. Brian and Nancy are heading back to northern California on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Today TK and I walked to the port to visit the U.S.S. Midway, an aircraft carrier that was in service from the end of World War II to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. After spending so many hours on the U.S.S. Yorktown, I cannot believe we spent another three hours on this ship! We had lunch in the “Fantail Café.” TK had navy bean soup, just as he would have had in the Navy aboard his ship, the U.S.S. Columbus! We spent considerable time viewing the engine room, boiler room (TK was a boiler technician in the Navy), chaplain’s quarters, the bomb elevator, the laundry, several different galleys, the mess deck, machine shops, the captain’s quarters, and the flight deck. I was able to go into a Huey helicopter.
I especially liked asking TK to share his experience aboard his Navy cruiser compared to the aircraft carrier. I learned that it was very hot (120 F) in the boiler room where he worked, but an air vent provided air. He showed me the symbol for boiler technician. He told me that his name was stenciled on all his clothes and that he could send his dress uniforms to the drycleaner. It is hard to get information from him, but I will work further on this. He tolerates only so many questions at a time (smile).
It was interesting to experience two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, one on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean, all in one trip!
Near the Midway are the tall ships, Star of India and the HMS Surprise (used in the Master and Commander series).
We walked to the Kansas City BBQ for a soda. This is the restaurant used for a scene in the movie, Top Gun. We then walked to Horton Plaza, a large indoor/outdoor mall in downtown San Diego with Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. We purchased two more pieces of luggage at San Diego Luggage Co.: California Pak Andover Collection -a spinner wheeled 28 inch and a spinner wheeled carry on. We really needed more luggage. After the purchase, TK wanted to throw out one of the older pieces with the broken zipper that we had given to Son B and then taken back for this trip. I convinced him that No. 1. it was really B’s luggage now and No. 2. we still needed that piece of luggage because all the other suitcases are now FULL. I don’t think the new carry on will “carry” all the souvenirs I still want to buy, including the emeralds in Colombia.
We had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory, about 2 blocks from our hotel. The cheese and spinach ravioli was very good and TK had baked chicken. When we returned to the hotel we went to the Marriott’s 22nd floor to see the bar and fire pit atop the building, a very neat spot for San Diego’s nightlife. Other nights when we were returning to our hotel, we saw many people enjoying the downtown city bars and restaurants. Since we have recently been in New York City, New Orleans, and Savannah, we think San Diego compares very, very well! I would definitely recommend this city as a port of call or a destination. We did note a huge convention center, too.
San Diego is an incredible city—we enjoyed our visit very much. I will always envision the gardens and gardens of flowers-purples, oranges, reds, yellows, the bird of paradise blooms ALL over, the palm trees, sun, warmth, the smell of the ocean, a center city port, friendly people, the commercial planes swooping over the city to and from the very near airport, the Navy ships coming and going, helicopters and military planes always in the air, the beaches, the variety of restaurants, the best zoo I have ever seen, the Midway, the shopping, and especially our dear friends who made San Diego so memorable.
We would also recommend the San Diego Marriott-Gaslamp District. The bellmen, the concierge, and the desk staff have all been very helpful. Our room was large and we could see inside Petco Ball Park from our window (San Diego Padres).
Tonight we are packing (now 5 big suitcases, 3 carry ons, my computer bag, and my purse. TK indicated that he is tired and will be driving to Los Angeles tomorrow so I better get a move on packing.
We miss our friends. I also miss our family and friends back home. It is hard to believe that we will be gone another month.
TK’s Takes: The weather is great. He said he could almost live here, if it just wasn’t so far, if he could drive here like he drives to Florida.
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