Widdi
Diana L. Widdifield Joined: July 3rd 2008
Logged in: August 20th 2009
Logged in: August 20th 2009
Travel Blog Posts
How Would You Pronounce That?
After a morning at Torrey Pines, we drove to La Jolla (pronounced Lahoya), a wealthy neighbourhood on the Pacific coast of San Diego. When we arrived, I read the sign exactly as it sounded, ...... and my host, Laurie, just cringed. Apparently the locals are rather sensitive about the way the pronunciation of their neighbourhood’s name is repeatedly massacred. We made our way down the street to one of the staircases that descends to La Jolla Cove. As we looked over the retaining wall, we could see California sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks at the water’s edge. Around the curve, all kinds of pelicans were perched in the crags of the boulders. And, ..... let me tell you, ...... the smell was overwhelming, .... really overwhelming. The rocks along the shore were snow white ... read more
The Presidio
This is the last blog entry I am publishing today, dear friends. If you haven't guessed by now, I can only post blog entries when I am somewhere I can actually get on line. I usually just update my journal on my laptop and then work on the travelblog site when I can find an internet location. Then I end up posting several blog entries all at once. Please don't feel pressured to read everything in one sitting. Open my entries at your convenience. I hope you are all enjoying this journal of our trip. One day we drove down the hill from Alpine to do some shopping and visited the San Diego Presidio Site while we were there. ‘Presidio’ is the Spanish word for military garrison. Soldiers, sailors, Indians and Franciscan missionaries from New Spain ... read more
Sea World Front Gates
Sea World, San Diego, was probably our favourite site in California. We absolutely enjoyed every minute! Janice, Nathanael and I spent two days at the park, not only because there was so much to see, but the ticket price included a two-day visit, anyway. (It was the same in Busch Garden and the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, but, sadly, Nathanael and I only had one day to give those sites so we missed out on the extra time we could have spent there.) Janice was able to purchase our tickets on line and get a small discount doing so. Therefore, on both Wednesday, April 29 and Tuesday, May 5, we made our way down the hill to be at Sea World as early as we could. We packed a lunch and brought bottled water with us ... read more
Old Point Loma Lighthouse - 1855-1891
We left the tide pools and headed towards the Old Point Loma Lighthouse which sits high atop the southern tip of, ..... what else?, ..... Point Loma, San Diego. The point forms a natural protective barrier at the entrance of San Diego Bay. Like a sandstone rampart jutting into the sea, the peninsula rises 422 feet above the water and provides strategic views of the harbour and ocean. In 1852 it was designated as a military reserve and gun batteries were built in 1899. During World Wars I and II military installations on the point provided vital coast and harbour defence. The military painted the Old Point Loma Lighthouse olive green and used it as a command post and radio station during the wars. The first stop at the park is the Visitor Centre where you ... read more
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
What a busy day this Friday has turned out to be. We drove into some of the down town areas of San Diego, past “Midway Drive” and “Nimitz Blvd.” That was really cool. Following lunch, we drove through Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on our way to the Pacific Tide Pools. A burial ground before 1847, this graveyard became an army post cemetery in the 1860’s. It is the final resting place for over 50,000 U.S. servicemen who have served honourably in war and peace. Geographically, this cemetery is located on a narrow spit of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Bay of San Diego. It is one of the most popular cemeteries in the United States because of the beautiful views over the ocean and bay. So many people want Fort Rosecrans to be their ... read more
Taking Time to Smell the Hibiscus
So much to see, ... so little time! Friday, April 24, finds us on our first foray “down the hill” into “Old Town” San Diego State Historic Park and sites along the Pacific coast. The Kumeyaay Indians lived near the San Diego River for thousands of years before the mission and presidio were built in this town. In 1769 Spanish colonization began with construction of the royal Presidio and the first in a chain of 21 California missions. At first the natives were friendly with the settlers but this changed when their traditions and beliefs came into conflict with each other. Diseases, introduced by the settlers, decimated entire villages and the native culture nearly disappeared. Padres taught mission Indians to cultivate crops, make blankets and clothing, raise livestock, and trade for manufactured goods. Mexico gained independence ... read more
The Schwark Home in Alpine California
Wednesday, April 22nd, our first full day in Alpine, California, and it is wonderful to finally be here. We have been looking forward to making it to the Pacific coast for a long time and Nathanael can hardly wait to dip his toes in the ocean. The Schwark’s have actually been expecting us since the last Lutheran Girl Pioneer convention in March of 2008 when I asked Laurie if it would be okay to visit. Our hosts live in a ranch-style bungalow that they are renovating little by little. We have parked the RV in the laneway and the three of us sleep in the camper while sharing meals with the family. The Schwark’s have a wonderful yard where work continues on landscaping and where they raise honey bees in a special enclosure. An elevated vegetable ... read more
On the Road to California
On Tuesday, April 21, we set the alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. Why such an early hour when you have no itinerary and are on vacation? You may ask that question. The answer is simple, ....... we wanted to have a good part of the desert behind us before the day got too hot. By the time we had all showered and loaded the RV with last minute food items, it was 5:30 a.m. It was gloriously cool when we left. We headed north on highway I-10 with Janice and I sharing the driving. From Phoenix it was west on I-8, towards our destination of Alpine, California and the home of James and Laurie Schwark and their family. We stopped for gas mid-way between Tucson and Yuma. It was a great stop because I found the ... read more
Tucson Mountains
The week after Easter has been a flurry of activity, ..... homeschooling and preparing for our trip to California. We asked Janice to come with us and she accepted the invitation. So there will be three of us heading west in another week’s time. As we have run errands and travelled around the Tucson area, we have come to appreciate all the things that make this city so special. Nathanael and I can honestly say we have truly loved every place we have visited but since so much of our time has been spent here, we have really been able to notice things that make Tucson, Arizona, unique! One thing that makes Nathanael and I laugh is that we have never crossed so many bridges which span dry river beds! Each time we drive over a ... read more
Easter Altar
After visiting the Grand Canyon, we returned to Tucson in time for Palm Sunday and then the Holy Week celebrations leading up to Easter. Nathanael continued with homeschooling during the week and we went shopping for a few Easter treats to hand out when Janice’s family came over Easter Day. On Maundy Thursday, April 9, we spent part of the day cleaning Janice’s house and yard for the company we were expecting Easter Sunday. Nathanael pulled weeds for a cent a plant and raked the new pods that had fallen from the front tree since he had cleaned up earlier in the week. He even used a broom to try and knock more down so there would be less to clean up in the weeks to come. We attended the 19:00 Maundy Thursday evening church service. ... read more
