San Diego, California

Hello from San Diego!

Hey, there’s the Santa Fe Amtrak train depot.
I’ve been there!

This girl was busy today. When we’ve been here before (and were more able-bodied) we walked to and from the cruise ship to Petco Park (the San Diego Padres ballpark) to go to a baseball game. I wrote about that day here. Now that we’re no longer able-bodied we have to find a new way to get to the ballpark. We’ve been talking about flying to San Diego and staying in a hotel close to the ballpark. So along with my touristy things today was about exploring two hotel locations I had been looking at. 

I thought the Hilton Bayfront was going to be our best option for limited walking but it was far from it especially when you have a return trip to think of.

Start at the tall hotel on the right and walk left past the parking garage

Cross the sky bridge 

Then once across the street, walk to the ballpark.

But oh boy, my second choice became my number one when I saw how easy it was. 

Omni hotel

It’s so close to the ballpark

The best part is how you get to the ballpark. Go to the fourth floor of the hotel and go to the end of the hall.

And you’ll find a door that takes you straight to the ballpark.

Just a few short feet away

I am certain the nightly rate is probably horrendous but if we only do this once in a while, it just might be worth it.

I spent the rest of my time putting several miles on the scooter and taking too many pictures. It was such a beautiful day it was hard not to. 

Bob Hope Memorial

Huge kissing statue

Convention center to the left

Spent some time in Seaport Village

You can sit in an Adirondack chair and put your feet in some sand.
Unfortunately my Adirondack chair sitting days are long gone.  

Lots of places to eat and drink

Need these flags for my daughter

I stopped by a waterfront restaurant and had some garlic Parmesan fries right next to the ship.

Wandered by the Maritime museum with all the different ships available for viewing and touring.

It always looks like the planes are landing right inside the city.

I saw lots of things in bloom.

Looks like red bottle brushes

Pretty purple/pink

So pretty against the blue sky

Tonight’s pre dinner drinks wound up being a four martini night. Yikes. I did have a bottle of water and a Diet Coke so everything equals out, right?

Feels so good, but man I’ll pay in the morning

A little stop by Movies Under the Stars for some Top Gun Maverick. Only seems fitting when we are across the water from North Island. And to think I was just a block away from the original Top Gun bar today and didn’t even know it! (At least the internet tells me so.)

Movies Under the Stars

North Island

Afterwards a dinner of chicken breast and dessert of sugar free coconut cake and orange sorbet then a glance at the USS Midway Museum on my way back to the cabin. 

Up tomorrow, Ensenada and my 1000th day on Princess Cruises. Oh, yeah. 

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California

Hello from San Pedro!

While the itinerary says we are in Los Angeles we are really docked in San Pedro. Several Princess tours went to Los Angeles to see some of those things Ed and I saw on our own 10 years ago, but my plan today was to stay close to port. San Pedro has been our turnaround port for our winters-at-sea cruises so I’ve been here upwards of two dozen times in the last two years. Usually on turnaround days here all aboard is 2:30 PM so there isn’t a lot of time to get out and about. But today being a port day instead, all aboard was 6:30 PM. Plenty of time for me to do my thing both on the ship and ashore.

After breakfast I watched the loading/unloading of cargo.

Always interesting

Had some phone calls and texts to deal with from home. Had a morning nap. And finished charging the scooter to be ready for today.

Just a short 15 minute walk (or scooter) from the ship is the Green Onion Mexican restaurant. It’s next to the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is where we always stay pre-cruise in San Pedro. The Green Onion has delicious food in large portions for a cheap price. I chose a beef taco and cheese enchilada combo for lunch. The price? $13.95! No way in the world I even came close to even finishing a third of it.

Guess who has dinner tonight too?

As I was already overstuffed I figured I might as well start heading back to the ship. But how can I come so close to The Happy Diner without getting a churro waffle? I had no room in my stomach for more food but I sure could take one back to the ship for tomorrow’s breakfast. It’s not like I haven’t had it for breakfast before.

Thanksgiving breakfast 2023 in San Pedro

This time I got the ice cream on the side and rolled my way down to the waterfront and ate the ice cream there.

Lots to watch on the busy waterway

As I sat there I spied something else across the way at the fire department. When I was done eating, I had to go check it out. 

Their fire dog is a Dalmatian sculpture.

Occasionally, the sun would break through the clouds today and it would feel oh so good. It made the colors of the flowers and trees pop.

I made my way back to the ship by 3:30 with an extremely full stomach and Mexican food left over for dinner. With a churro waffle ready for breakfast I guess there will be no need to go to Richard Walker’s Pancake House for an apple pancake tomorrow. So now I’ll see you in San Diego tomorrow where I’ll have time for things other than breakfast.