The Sunshine State

Very early start this morning to get to the airport. Kendell dropped us off and it was an emotional goodbye. We will be back!

We were at the airport a good two and a bit hours before our flight. Plenty of time right? Turns out all of the Air Canada flights to the USA go out at the same. As such we lined up for the entire time before getting on our flight. We lined up to drop off our bags, followed by lining up for security, then we lined up to use a machine for USA pre-clearance, before lining up to be checked by a USA customs guard after using the machine, almost there when we lined up for a Tim Hortons breakfast (obviously!) and lastly lined up to get on the plane. Barely anytime to go to the toilet!

Five and a bit hours later we were landing in sunny San Diego, great to feel warm again! Once we located our Uber we found our way to our accommodation in Little Italy. San Diego Airport is one of the strangest I have ever seen. It is right in the centre of town and the planes pretty much brushed our roof as they came into land. We could stand on the corner and watch them fly overhead and then track them down the runway to landing. It’s a pretty cool view!

Before we came to San Diego, one of Jo’s friends had sent us a list of things to do, places to eat and breweries to check out. Turns out San Diego has the third most craft breweries per capita of anywhere in the world, only behind Portland and San Francisco. Great to know! There was also a recommended one, Ballast Point, just down from our house. This is where we went for lunch, and it did not disappoint.

Another reason we came to San Diego is a few friends that Jo made in Australia live here. While at lunch Seton called and said he was heading to Mike’s place before work and we should join. Sounds like a great way to see everyone. We headed in an uber over to Mike’s house in Point Loma. Was great catching up/meeting Seaton, Mike , Mike’s wife Tasha and twin daughters Chloe and Avalon. Jo was making conversation with Chloe and asked if she was having a party for her birthday. Poor Chloe looked embarrassed and said she does that everyday. Amongst the laughter we worked out that with Jo's accent Chloe had thought she was asking about the potty! We hung out at their place for a bit and then Mike took us up to the Cabrillo National Monument, which meant driving through a working US military base, complete with nuclear submarine park and war cemeteries. Pretty daunting. The view from the monument back over the city and down to Mexico is brilliant. Crazy to think that Mexico is only a half hour drive away.

Back through the military base and we went through Sunset Cliffs, named because (can you guess?!) it’s a great place to watch the sunset, and went to Ocean Beach. Mike took us to his favourite tap room, Culture Tap House great place, and then gave us some hints

on taco shops for dinner. After saying goodbye we wandered around the beachfront, which is a very lively place with some interesting individuals (open air karaoke on the promenade anyone?) , and went to Mike’s Taco Club for dinner. We also found the Raglan restaurant. Part of a chain of restaurants named after New Zealand towns here including Dunedin and Queenstown....very random. Last stop of the day was Pacific Beach to hang with Seton between his two bar jobs.

We met Seton at Firehouse where he was just finishing. Pacific Beach is a real party area and Sunday sessions are a big thing here. The place was packed with a wide range of people eating a meal or raging to the DJ upstairs. Really random mix. We hung out here then when Seton finished we went to Tower23 for a beer before he started his second job. A beautiful spot and great yarns to finish our first day in California.