San Diego

5/10 Lux bus to San Diego......not the bus ride from hell this time. Arrived too early to check in so we patronised the English style pub in our hotel for a spot of lunch and a drink while awaiting our room. Able to check in at 2 a couple of hours earlier than the usual check in time. Excellent room on the 11th floor over looking the San Diego bay and right opposite the cruise line terminal, where a new liner docked every day for an ever changing view. We also had a great view of the naval base, Jac got very excited.
6/10 Day trip to the SD Zoo, world class and beautiful. Saw my favourite animals, the giant panda along with every other animal you'd expect to find in a zoo. It wasn't gay day but Chicano day so we were one of the few anglo saxon variety of bipeds. Weather was excellent a balmy 26C.
7/10 Free day, so first activity was a spot of shopping. Joodz relaxed by the pool while Jac and I did a tour of the decomissioned ship USS Midway, which was an aircraft carrier.....excellent. Back to the hotel where I joined Joodz pool side for some relaxation and reading and Jac headed across the road to the Maritime Museum which houses an old clipper sailing ship and a Russian sub among other craft. Headed across the road to Anthony's Grotto which is a seafood restaurant on the edge of the wharf, yummy hand battered prawns. Quiet night in on our balcony with a few drinks.
8/10 Caught the trolley and then local bus to Sea World, not as big as I thought it would be but still good. Saw the Seal and Otter Show (who would have thought you could train otters), then the show to beat all shows Shamu, they have 4 performing Orca's that are amazing. The first sixteen or so rows are wet zones as part of the act is for Shamu and friends to wet the audience........we only got a slight spray, but people sitting at the front got absolutely drenched. Then over to the dolphin show which was good as well, they also have 2 pilot whales that perform, also has a wet zone but this time we weren't sitting in it. The other highlight there was the Arctic Exhibit, with Polar Bears, Baluga Whales (which are white and looked like they were doing water ballet), Walrus and an excellent penguin exhibit which you could sit and watch for hours, entertaining to say the least. By 3pm we'd had enough as it was stinking hot and we'd seen everything that interested us. Didn't go on any rides as my neck was out and we'll get our fill of rides at Universal Studios in a few days. Back to the hotel via bus and trolley for a few drinks before dining at the English style pub again. Off to Santa Monica in the morning at a decent hour of 11am, the weather will be a little cooler which doesn't bother us cause we all got a little fried today.

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