San Diego

I love San Diego and was sad to leave. I really hadn't seen enough of it, though we did manage to fit quite a lot into our week stay.

At the start of the week we went to SeaWorld, which in case anyone isn't aware is not an aquarium, it is a theme park. Admittedly a theme park with lots of fish and other 'swimmy things'. We saw a seal show, which was Willow's favourite, Cirque du la Mer, which I loved, Shamu Rocks and Shamu Believe, which was ridiculously busy as the show before the one we watched was cancelled as the whales wouldn't work. We saw dolphins, manatees and Sharks swimming over our heads. And in true theme park style we went on the rides and for a change 'all' got soaked on Shipwreck Rapids. Which made a change as usually it is me that gets the soaking. The food at Seaworld amused me, most places had massive ques to get served. All but one, the healthy alternative place, which is where we ate and much nicer than the other fast food places there I'm sure.



We also managed to squeeze in San Diego Zoo which was just a short bus ride away in Balboa Park. I am sure we could have spent a whole week in the park alone, which is home to 15 museums. It looked really big with lots of interesting things to do there, but alas we didn't have enough time for that. The first thing we did in the zoo was go on a guided tour by bus which I think was a good idea as we were pushed for time and got to see quite a lot this way. We saw pandas sleeping and polar bears playing and splashing, monkeys doing roly polys, and koala's hugging. As usual though we ran out of time and Tweedy and Rebecca had to get back for a show and Willow was already late for school, but it is all educational.



The local Children's Museum (a very short walk from the train) is free every second Sunday which is when we were there so we spent quite a bit of time there. There didn't seem that much in the museum compared to some we have been to (yes I know we are a bit spoilt in that field) but it was very hands on. Willow helped paint an old beetle with thick pink paint (“it wasn't a beetle mum it was a car”). We made clay models, though my spider needed a leg transplant with some pipe cleaners after he was badly transported home in my bag. Willows volcanoes fared a lot better. Some of the children from school and the nursery showed up too so she had fun playing with them as well.



The train was parked right next to the Gaslight area but we didn't really get out to explore it enough, it looked like a really fun place, lots of bars and clubs and even a few shops thrown in. Typically though when we are parked somewhere decent there is also stuff by the building. Nothing to exciting but there where lots of shops and it made a nice change just being able to pop over the road to pick up a few things for tea. You really notice this more when you don't have your own transport and have to rely on supermarket runs on the circus bus.