SAN DIEGO TRIP REPORT<br><br>Just got back from five days visiting San Diego, 10/31 through 11/4. This was my first-ever trip to California, and my first-ever opportunity to see the Pacific Ocean, so I was pretty psyched. Just to keep balance in our lives, and to remind ourselves that not everything has to involve sailing, we try to take at least one long weekend a year to play tennis once it’s gotten too cold for us to do so in Chesapeake country. Since my brother lives in San Diego, it seemed a natural choice.<br><br>Transportation:<br><br>We flew American Airlines from BWI. Our flights went through St. Louis outbound and Dallas inbound. All flights were on-time (or even early), and we managed exit row seats whenever we requested them. Security was efficient and friendly – the TSA regime is a definite improvement. I had a few scary moments checking in at BWI, when they asked for the credit card I had bought the tickets with … and I didn’t have it. No matter, as they simply credited the account I had bought the tickets on, and re-issued the tickets charging a card I did have in hand (at the same fare I got months ago). Gotta love mid-week travel.<br><br>We had rented a convertible from Hertz, as it seemed de riguer for Southern California. As it turned out, we only used it to and from the airport. The weather didn’t accommodate top-down transportation, and my brother squired us around in his much-nicer convertible (with the top up), so the rental car sat in our hotel’s parking lot.<br><br>Accommodations:<br><br>We stayed at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in La Jolla. We were attracted by the first-class tennis, as well as the resort’s location on the beach AND in this lovely town. This is a rather exclusive private club which happens to let rooms to the general public, and you feel set apart from the hurly burly of the outside world as soon as you pass the gate house and enter the exquisitely manicured and landscaped grounds, which include a large pond, a pitch-and-putt golf course, the aforementioned tennis courts, a pool, and a private beach. Though the club is membership-only, guests are made to feel very welcome, and club privileges are extended to guests.<br><br>The rooms are housed in a low-slung stucco complex with red clay roof. We opted for a 1-bedroom suite, since we like to have access to a kitchen (hate to eat breakfast out all the time). Our suite was large – with a roomy living area (with a tile eating area), kitchen, bedroom, dressing area, and bath. It was extremely clean and well-maintained, though the décor was dated (think Brady Bunch). <br><br>The Weather:<br><br>Weather during our stay was unseasonably cool, never reaching 70 and plunging into the 50s and even the 40s overnight. I had to buy a fleece pullover to keep warm, and wore it every day. It was never too cold to walk barefoot on the beach, however, and it was ideal for playing tennis. Most restaurants, since they have outdoor seating, also have propane heaters to keep outdoor diners cozy. Since we weren’t here for a typical “beach escape,” the weather was not a big issue.<br><br>Dining:<br><br>I’d read that San Diego has no real distinctive local cuisine, other than good Mexican and some seafood. So, we didn’t knock ourselves out to look for the quintessential SD dining experience. Nevertheless, we had some nice meals and one superlative one. Mexican food at La Jolla Cantina was good, non-chain Mexican, and fish tacos at Fins (near UCSD) were tasty. Local micro-brewer Karl Strauss has a few signature restaurants, and we ate at one in La Jolla, enjoying the excellent beer and the famous (or infamous) garlic fries. In-and-Out Burger is heralded as the ultimate in fast food burgers, and we can affirm that they make a great burger (for what it is, of course). My brother claims that the retired owner of well-known Chicago pizza chain Giordano’s now owns a single pizzeria near UCSD called Regent’s, and I can affirm that the stuffed pizza there is a dead ringer for a Giordano’s pie (not my favorite of Chicago offerings, but arguably better than anything that can be had in SD). We also went for the renowned surfer’s breakfast at Pipes in Cardiff by the Sea – if you love a breakfast bargain, this is an awesome one.<br><br>Our big splurge was dinner at Crab Catcher’s in La Jolla. It’s a beautiful restaurant with decks overlooking La Jolla Cove. We sat outside, propane-warmed, and had a dinner that started with several of their 20 different kinds of novelty martinis, appetizers (mussels, raw Washington oysters, crab bisque), seafood entrees (all beautifully well-prepared and not overcooked) and desserts. Dinner for 3, with tip, set us back a few dollars, but was well worth it.<br><br>Tennis:<br><br>Of course, tennis was the raison d’etre for our trip, and LJBTC’s facility is top-notch. They have a dozen perfectly maintained courts, and the setting couldn’t be lovelier: surrounded by tall palms and lush oleanders, and tall hills with beautiful homes, near the ocean. This is a very traditional facility; while whites are not required, proper tennis attire is. (I don’t know what they would think of Serena Williams-style togs here, though judging from one very stylish lady in a leopard-print ensemble, I suspect Serena would do fine….)<br><br>Just like for club members, courts were available to us on a first-come, first-served basis. We never failed to get a court when we wanted one. On Sunday afternoon, they have a mixed doubles mixer, and we played in various combinations with club members for 2-1/2 hours. Lessons and clinics were available as well, be we chose not to participate. We were here to play, and play we did. (I don’t know whether it was the atmosphere, or the crisp sea air, or just being outside in the sunshine in November, but it felt like we played really well…)<br><br>Sailing:<br><br>OK, so we can’t get away from sailing altogether! One of my brother’s co-workers took us out Saturday on his Pacific Seacraft 25 out of Mission Bay Yacht Club. We tooled around Mission Bay and did make it out onto the open Pacific Ocean for a while. It was exhilarating, and very unlike our Chesapeake Bay and island sailing experience (no worries about shoals, plenty of breeze – but also no gunkholes or anchorages to explore). San Diego is definitely a sailors’ town.<br><br>Seeing the Sights:<br><br>A disclaimer right up front: we did not go to the San Diego Zoo, despite everyone’s suggestions that we should. Ever since I had a parrot poop on my head at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, I’ve just not been interested in going to any zoo. Perhaps another time.<br><br>We mostly wanted to hang out on this trip, and did a lot of beach walking and relaxing. We made the obligatory visit to La Jolla Cove (to see the seals), as well as strolling around downtown La Jolla, in all of its casual-chic glory. We visited the Hotel del Coronado, which is indeed beautiful, but was glad I chose not to stay there, given all of the obnoxious tourists (like me, and like the packs of shutter-clicking Japanese) gawking at the place. We spent an afternoon in the Gaslamp District, but because we were so jet-lagged, the nightlife was pretty much out of the question for us. And then we hit the beaches, watching the surfers, paragliders, divers and other water lovers – La Jolla, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Cardiff. Each one different and special in its own way.<br><br>Everywhere we went, we noticed how uniformly friendly people were. Strangers who said hello, clerks who went out of their way to be helpful, gallery owners who were happy to just chat. Perhaps it’s all of that wonderful sunshine, but you’ve still gotta love it!<br><br><br><br><br>

I've got a Caribbean Soul I can barely control... (JB)