San Diego

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Lots of pictures with this one.

Debbie, Bobby and the kids had come to San Diego last year and were really impressed with the city. I must echo their opinion. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the U.S. I have been to the zoo, the mission, and on a whale watching cruise and can honestly say that I have never sat in traffic! Their highway system takes a person right where you want to be. I have really enjoyed this visit.
The icing on the cake was a visit to the San Diego Wild Animal Park which is about 16 miles from the Ramona Canyon Resort where I was staying. The Park was established as a research facility but has developed into a safari adventure park. The animals are not enclosed by fences, areas have been created where hundreds of animals that are not a threat to each other can roam together. It has been established that breeding programmes are more successful when animals are facilitated in as close to their natural environment as possible.

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Photos

San Diego
Debbie told me that I must go on a whale watching trip, so off I went. I was just thinking "there are no whales out here" when up came a back and then this beautiful humpback came out of the water!

California Whitesides
This group of dolphins decided to surf at the front of the boat. I was afraid they'd be pulled under.

Whaler
For those who like to "live the way it was" a whale watching trip can be made on an authentic whaler.

San Diego Skyline
It was quite foggy when we left but the sun came out and like any other ocean side city the skyline is quite lovely.

Star of India
The harbour area is interesting. The Star of India is a floating museum which also goes out onto the bay from time to time

Scupltures
There are several unique sculptures placed along the harbor wall.

Midway
The aircraft carrier the Midway is also a floating museum in San Diego. We had visitied the Lexington in Corpus Christi but I hadn't thought it was soooo big!

San Diego Zoo
The zoo is known for saving endangered animals. It also grows a lot of the food that the vegitarian animals consume.

Stroke
Does he not look like you could just reach in and stroke his head?

Not this guy though
This albino Burmese python was just trying to get out!

Polar Bears
This exhibit was really lovely. Very spacious

San Diego Mission de Alcala
This Mission established on July 16th 1769 was the first in California. San Diego was the first European settlement on the Pacific West Coast.

Father Junipero Serra Juan Viscanino
This little man (5'2") became a priest at 19 He was born in Majorca, came to the "New World" at 39 and established 9 missions here in California

Old Town San Diego
This area has been preserved and now hosts an array of shops in the renovated original buildings

Colourful
The Mexicans are known for their colourful pottery and blankets

Presidio
This is the most intact archealogical site in California. One of things that impresses visitors most is the fact that no matter how hot it gets the inside of these adobe homes is always cool

Sn Diego Wildlife Park
The park is kept in as natural a state as possible. I saw this cactus and thought "I just wouldn't want to be thrown off a horse into that."

Lions Den
The lion has two lionesses to keep him happy and a huge area in which to stretch his legs.

Gorilla Exhibit
There were six silver back gorillas in this huge exhibit. One big male, his grandson, his mother and three females.

Me
Taken at the San Diego Wildlife Park by my friend who lives in Escondido and with whom I went

Queen Califa
This little park is just a couple of miles from the Wildlife park and is amazing. This excentric artist developed this park entirely by herself. You can see the amount of hours it must have taken to apply all the little tiles that cover the forms.

Orange Grove
This picture was taken entirely for my friend Carole. On my way into Ramona Canyon I saw guys picking the oranges. Can you just imagine my painting?????