Day 26, April 27, 2019, Saturday. San Diego, CA
With passports in hand, we drove 20 minutes south to the border and took the pedestrian crossing into Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico for the day. A walk downtown and then lunch at Telefonica Gastro Park, a permanent arrangement of food trucks and small shops featuring a variety of different foods. We had quesadillas from Satabu. I had the Conejo quesadilla (rabbit) served with habanero salsa, fortunately on the side as it was plenty spicy. Rosemary’s quesadilla was cheese, mushrooms and other non-meat stuff. Lunch for 3 was about $18. Dessert was at Barbas Cakes & Coffee. I had an iced mocha and Rosemary got her skinny decaf latte. We shared a “Pastel Cajeta Nuez”, a pastry made of layers of crepes and cream cheese topped with cajeta (a syrup made from sweetened caramelized goat’s milk). A good thing we shared it 3 ways as it was very rich but absolutely fantastic. Three drinks and the pastry came to about $14. We walked all over Tijuana in the afternoon including an open air marketeplace (Hildalgo Market) and a stop in the cultural center where we viewed a nice ceramic display and sculpture garden. After another walk of about 30 minutes, we arrived at our dinner location, La Querencia.. I had the pulpo a las brasas (grilled octopus with red mime sauce with sweet white miso tree chili) with mash potato sprinkled with a white grated cheese and some type of unidentified leafy green vegetable. It was the best meal I have had on the trip so far. Rosemary had the camaron a las brasas (shrimp). Aaron had the Marlin Ahumado (smoked marlin taco) and pasta con salsa pesto. Everyone enjoyed their dinner immensely and all for about $45. We were thankful for uber as we took a ride back to the border crossing as walking all day left us fairly exhausted. The crossing took 45 minutes to get through as the U.S. entry point was noticeably understaffed.
Day 25, April 26, 2019, Friday. San Diego, CA
We visited Coronado Island, just west of downtown San Diego. A walk along the beach and a visit to the “Del”, the Hotel Del Coronado, built in 1887, it is one of the few surviving Victorian wooden hotels. After our picnic lunch, we visited Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. A nice little walk with a few museums scattered among restaurants and trinket shops, not a must visit. Dinner downtown with Aaron at Lola55 for some rather interesting, and delicious, Mexican cuisine. With Oaxaca Quesadillas to start, then tacos including smoked carnitas, squash blossum relleno, and rainbow cauliflower with eggplant bacon. After dinner we walked 25 minutes across downtown to Pappalecco Gelato in Little Italy, not as interesting as An’s but good nonetheless.
Day 24, April 25, 2019, Thursday. San Diego, CA
We visited Torrey Pines State Preserve about a half hour north. A beautiful area of seaside hills and cliffs with lots of hiking trails. We hiked the Razor Point Trail, the Yucca Trail and the Beach Trail. Easy trails but with a lot of ups and downs but some fantastic views. After about 2 hours plus we headed to Camellia Road Tea Bar to meet Aaron and have boba teas. After a walk around the area, we ate dinner at Wa Dining Okan, Japanese cuisine served tapas style. This allowed us to try a variety of things such as fried baby octopus, shiitake mushrooms, chicken gizzards, eggplant and Saba-shio (salted mackerel). Back to Aaron’s place and then a 25 minute walk to An’s Dry Cleaning for the best tea gelato. The dry cleaners were there for over 50 years and when it finally ended, the new place kept the name and signage as locals knew where it was just by the name. We had the Dragonwell fig gelato, the pandam, coconut and lemongrass gelato and blueberry jasmine tea gelato. Very delicious!
With passports in hand, we drove 20 minutes south to the border and took the pedestrian crossing into Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico for the day. A walk downtown and then lunch at Telefonica Gastro Park, a permanent arrangement of food trucks and small shops featuring a variety of different foods. We had quesadillas from Satabu. I had the Conejo quesadilla (rabbit) served with habanero salsa, fortunately on the side as it was plenty spicy. Rosemary’s quesadilla was cheese, mushrooms and other non-meat stuff. Lunch for 3 was about $18. Dessert was at Barbas Cakes & Coffee. I had an iced mocha and Rosemary got her skinny decaf latte. We shared a “Pastel Cajeta Nuez”, a pastry made of layers of crepes and cream cheese topped with cajeta (a syrup made from sweetened caramelized goat’s milk). A good thing we shared it 3 ways as it was very rich but absolutely fantastic. Three drinks and the pastry came to about $14. We walked all over Tijuana in the afternoon including an open air marketeplace (Hildalgo Market) and a stop in the cultural center where we viewed a nice ceramic display and sculpture garden. After another walk of about 30 minutes, we arrived at our dinner location, La Querencia.. I had the pulpo a las brasas (grilled octopus with red mime sauce with sweet white miso tree chili) with mash potato sprinkled with a white grated cheese and some type of unidentified leafy green vegetable. It was the best meal I have had on the trip so far. Rosemary had the camaron a las brasas (shrimp). Aaron had the Marlin Ahumado (smoked marlin taco) and pasta con salsa pesto. Everyone enjoyed their dinner immensely and all for about $45. We were thankful for uber as we took a ride back to the border crossing as walking all day left us fairly exhausted. The crossing took 45 minutes to get through as the U.S. entry point was noticeably understaffed.
We visited Coronado Island, just west of downtown San Diego. A walk along the beach and a visit to the “Del”, the Hotel Del Coronado, built in 1887, it is one of the few surviving Victorian wooden hotels. After our picnic lunch, we visited Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. A nice little walk with a few museums scattered among restaurants and trinket shops, not a must visit. Dinner downtown with Aaron at Lola55 for some rather interesting, and delicious, Mexican cuisine. With Oaxaca Quesadillas to start, then tacos including smoked carnitas, squash blossum relleno, and rainbow cauliflower with eggplant bacon. After dinner we walked 25 minutes across downtown to Pappalecco Gelato in Little Italy, not as interesting as An’s but good nonetheless.
Day 24, April 25, 2019, Thursday. San Diego, CA
We visited Torrey Pines State Preserve about a half hour north. A beautiful area of seaside hills and cliffs with lots of hiking trails. We hiked the Razor Point Trail, the Yucca Trail and the Beach Trail. Easy trails but with a lot of ups and downs but some fantastic views. After about 2 hours plus we headed to Camellia Road Tea Bar to meet Aaron and have boba teas. After a walk around the area, we ate dinner at Wa Dining Okan, Japanese cuisine served tapas style. This allowed us to try a variety of things such as fried baby octopus, shiitake mushrooms, chicken gizzards, eggplant and Saba-shio (salted mackerel). Back to Aaron’s place and then a 25 minute walk to An’s Dry Cleaning for the best tea gelato. The dry cleaners were there for over 50 years and when it finally ended, the new place kept the name and signage as locals knew where it was just by the name. We had the Dragonwell fig gelato, the pandam, coconut and lemongrass gelato and blueberry jasmine tea gelato. Very delicious!
Day 23, April 24, 2019, Wednesday. San Diego, CA
We departed the casino and headed about 2 hours northwest to visit Rosemary’s high school friend, Janet, in Huntington Beach. Dim sum lunch followed by a walk around downtown and on the beach. Dinner at the beachfront restaurant, Duke’s. Janet had let the restaurant know we had an anniversary coming which lead to a complimentary dessert, a huge piece of Hula Pie. After a very pleasant daylong visit, we drove back to the campground in San Diego, 90 miles.
We departed the casino and headed about 2 hours northwest to visit Rosemary’s high school friend, Janet, in Huntington Beach. Dim sum lunch followed by a walk around downtown and on the beach. Dinner at the beachfront restaurant, Duke’s. Janet had let the restaurant know we had an anniversary coming which lead to a complimentary dessert, a huge piece of Hula Pie. After a very pleasant daylong visit, we drove back to the campground in San Diego, 90 miles.
Day 22, April 23, 2019, Tuesday. Valley Center, CA
Leaving the coach at the campground, we drove the car about an hour northeast for a night at the Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, CA. The night was a gift of a friend/client for whom I did some work. Awaiting in our room was a plate full of goodies welcoming us. We then took a trip to the Hill Top Ranch Winery about 2 miles away and enjoyed some wine and a beautiful view. Back at the casino, we attended the Maine Lobster Dinner Buffet. Over 200 items of many different ethnicities. Although we try to avoid buffets as we always seem to overeat, the lobster was enticing. Enticing, yet disappointing. Tails only were cut in half and due to precooking, they were overcooked and a struggle to get the meat out of the shell. Plenty of other items to satisfy. I had 6 different desserts. Did I mention overeating? Unfortunately, the casino does not have a workout room so to get our 10,000 steps we hit every floor and staircase of the 6 floor parking garage.
Leaving the coach at the campground, we drove the car about an hour northeast for a night at the Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center, CA. The night was a gift of a friend/client for whom I did some work. Awaiting in our room was a plate full of goodies welcoming us. We then took a trip to the Hill Top Ranch Winery about 2 miles away and enjoyed some wine and a beautiful view. Back at the casino, we attended the Maine Lobster Dinner Buffet. Over 200 items of many different ethnicities. Although we try to avoid buffets as we always seem to overeat, the lobster was enticing. Enticing, yet disappointing. Tails only were cut in half and due to precooking, they were overcooked and a struggle to get the meat out of the shell. Plenty of other items to satisfy. I had 6 different desserts. Did I mention overeating? Unfortunately, the casino does not have a workout room so to get our 10,000 steps we hit every floor and staircase of the 6 floor parking garage.
