San Diego

A day with no travelling. We started with a gentle stroll to the Maritime Museum.

This isn't like the Maritime Museum in London. It's really a collection of vessels and you wander from one to another, from the Star of India, merchantmen built in 1863, to the San Salvador, a replica of a 1542 galleon, to a Soviet nuclear submarine. All very interesting. Perhaps the B-39 Soviet Sub was the most fascinating historically since it featured in Cuban missile crisis and was close to launching its single nuclear warhead, potentially starting WW3.

HMS Surprise was attractive - a replica of an 18th century Royal Navy Frigate. But prettiest in my view was Berkeley Steam Ferry. Downstairs forms the museum's main exhibition space but on the upper deck is a wood lined comfortable seated saloon with a bar, a dance floor and stained glass windows.

Thibault cruelly questioned my ability to get through this and thus ability to enter the sub. With a bit of greasing I was fine....

 

 

After pottering around these vessels we went on a pilot boat for a 45 minute trip around the Bay, giving us a decent look at the aircraft carriers and skyscrapers surrounding the harbour.

Note the helicopter on the back of this yacht. Only the mega-rich need apply.

A short walk to lunch in Little Italy for (unsurprisingly) a good Italian meal. Then back to the hotel to finally convert the convertible and swan around in an open sports car.

 

 

 We hit Balboa Park, a large park with numerous museums. We picked the air and space museum.. Best part strangely was a 3D cinema.

Unfortunately it was too late to take in another museum so we just wandered around enjoying the architecture of buildings constructed for a in n international exhibition and then onto the Japanese Friendship Garden. Friendship clearly comes at a quite a price - 8 dollars each. But I like Japanese gardens and there wasn't anything else open at  half past five.

Thibault rushed off to a karate class but we reunited for a third sushi dinner in a row. Not deliberately, but restaurants close early. One that we intended going to claimed to stay open until 10 but at quarter to said we were a bit late for eating but would let us have a drink. Generous. The sushi was good but our attempt to find a nice bar for a glass of wine failed. Hotel bar was closed too. Everything else were sports bars, faux English/Irish pubs or strip clubs. In the end we went to a sports bar and had a beer but got chatting to an ex Navy man. Which was a cool end to the evening. Next stop Las Vegas.