Heading for Balboa Park

The sun had a lazy day today, not venturing through the morning cloud cover until noon. It was warm though and if temperatures of seventy degrees signalled the onset of winter, at home we'd be happy! Anyway, having found a nearby Peet's coffee shop this morning, complete with seating and parking, we had had a good start! After coffee, we set off for a short twisty drive to Balboa Park, where it was relatively quiet today. This, and the cooler morning temperature, made exploring this beautiful park, very pleasant. Its hard to believe that the Beatles and Rolling Stones once appeared here, on the famous organ stage! We took our time, taking in the gardens and the interesting San Diego History building, before enjoying an al fresco lunch, at the Arts Centre.

The park is bigger than New York's Central Park and has just about everything you could wish for, from a Science Museum to indoor sports courts.In the early afternoon, we drove up the National Monument  and Point Loma tide pools. Who knew about this? Just a short distance from where we are staying, this National Park area overlooks the whole of San Diego Bay. The views are stunning from the cliffs and by driving down to the tide pools, you can get a fabulous close-up of the rugged coastline.

San Diego is California's second biggest city, but it doesn't feel like that. There's water everywhere you look and its all vivid blue.

I felt that only one song would do for today, Springsteen's Balboa Park, from his Tom Joad album ..... but as it isn't on YouTube, I;ve selected La Bamba, by Richie Valens!