First impression ………. This is a really nice city!  Of course the sun shines all of the time. That in itself, is enough to make any Irishman feel like he’s in heaven. But I’ve been in Calfornia for a couple of weeks by now, so sunshine alone is not enough. No. San Diego looks well. To my surprise, it’s a hilly city. Not quite like San Francisco, and of course, much smaller, but hilly. It’s a bright, clean looking city. There is an air about it.

   
   
The sea dominates. There is a large navy presence. There is also a lovely seafront area. And a Splash Tour!  Have you ever noticed that there are things that you would never do in your own town but are immediately drawn to, when away. Like the Splash Tour!  I’ve often seen it in Dublin and never been tempted. Here, it seems like a must-do. So on we hop. It’s great fun. The tour goes through the harbour area of the city and then into the water and around the bay. Seal viewing, sail boat spotting and a close up, (relatively close up), of the submarine pens.  

   

Our craft.
  The party zone of town is called the Gaslamp Quarter. So named because of, guess what. Yes, gaslamps. Actually, I’m pretty sure that they’re electric, but the street lamps are the old gaslamp structures. Anyway, the place is full of bars, restaurants, clubs and people. Teeming with people. Tourists, locals, conference attendees, beggers, buskers and barflies.  We find a good bar with live music and dancing, and a pretty wild crowd, to pass the night away. 

   
   
The USS Midway is an aircraft carrier, that has been retired and become a museum. Very interesting!  We spend several hours aboard, immersed in the lifestyle of the naval personnel who called this massive ship home, for long stretches at a time. The living and working areas are laid out, just as they were when it was an operational naval vessel. 

   
A few words from Bob Hope.

   
Well!  It’s nearly Christmas.

No visit to San Diego could be complete, without going to see the Coronado Hotel, with it’s Some Like it Hot memories of Marilyn Munroe and Tony Curtis, a walk around Balboa Park, with it’s Zoo, miniature train, artists quarter and fourteen (!) museums, and finally on to La Jolla,(not prounced jolly or jelly, I’m told), with it’s beautiful beach, warm (well not cold), and very paddley water.  Sure where would you get it?