Blogs from San Diego, California, United States, North America - page 9

Today we would be driving for the first time. This was exciting in itself and having the freedom to stop when we feel like it. First we picked up our car, they tried selling us every insurance under the sun and just felt a bit dodgy, almost like the dad from the Matilda story. We did lash out and upgrade to a car with GPS which after driving was possible the most sensible decision we have made all trip. When every taxi has a GPS it makes sense to be a first timer in the city to have a GPS. Once we got the car, on about the 4th corner Theresa freaked out when she thought Ryan pulled onto the wrong side of the road. We punched in Santa Monica into the GPS and headed for ... read more

So, I think I left you heading back from Pisa after a few days. Normally returing home from a trip isn't such a good thing, however this time I wasn't too upset to be returning back to England. Arriving back on the Wednesday afternoon from Italy, I had a quick turnaround before heading back out of the country the next morning. Bags repacked I headed to Heathrow to get a flight to Dallas then connecting to San Diego to visit my brother for a few days. My flight was via Dallas not because I had some long held ambition to visit the home of the Ewings, but I actually managed to get some flights on my long collected BA airmiles, so the indirect flight was tolerated for its cheapness and the fact that it was business ... read more

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, is an 1,800 acre (730 ha) wildlife preserve about 30 miles north of San Diego. It is not to be confused with the well-known San Diego Zoo within the City itself. The park houses a large array of wild and endangered animals from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. Free-range enclosures house such animals as antelopes, giraffes, buffalo, cranes, and rhinoceros. There are over 2,600 animals representing more than 300 species, as well as 3,500 plant species. There are a lagoon with a jungle plaza, an African fishing village, an aviary at the Park’s entrance and many appropriately chosen plants.It also has the world's biggest veterinary hospital and the Institute for Conservation Research. Covering 300 acres (about half a square mile) the open-range enclosures ... read more

Still getting used to my Ipad Mini so haven't been posting, plus we are now at sea and the service is dreadful. Have not had internet throughout the entire voyage. So here it is, late, hading home in an hour Day One - San Diego A beautiful day, sunshine and great friends. Joined Bob and Bev for breakfast and then Bob drove to San Diego University so I could admire the architecture. It is a beautiful campus, Spanish with a touch of Moorish and set hight above the city. The view was to die for. Then we stopped at their home to sit, relax, look at pictures, drink Champaign and reminisce. Then headed back to my hotel on Shelter Island for an early lunch overlooking the marina. It's so great to see them, always so much ... read more

Here we go restarting a Blog on a new site. Sorry for the change but the other one was just too complicated. This one was recommended from Frommer's. So I am repacking and shoving my suitcases again. I took several things out to be mailed ahead or mailed back home. It is truly interesting what you think you can't live without only to find out that you can. I have enjoyed this very special time in my life that I could spend with my sister Lee Ann. She has always been the angel in my life. We have sorted out so much history and understand deeply how important nuturing relationships are in our lives. Some might be from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church friends. But, relationships grow or change. What we choose to do with these ... read more