I don't know how to put this, but the ladies of San Diego are really not as classy as Mr Ron Burgundy, from Anchorman fame, led me to believe they were. I had imagined images of Veronica Corningstone walking around with beautiful eyes and hair smelling like cinnamon. Instead I was confronted with brassy blonde hair, fake boobs and trashy outfits (One outfit was literally just a pair of panties with high heels vest and a cardigan?!).
I know some of my male companions will be howling like dogs at the above outfit description, but as a rather British and as a result somewhat prudish female, I was well and truly shocked by my female counterparts. I'm not quite sure why I'm so appalled by it all, as you would have thought that after having spent the last few months travelling through Latin America I would be used to seeing women dressed like that - its all about the boobs, butt and long mane hair there - but for some reason having crossed the border into the USA I somehow expected it to be different?!
Anyway, lack of female clothing aside, I really enjoyed my time in San Diego, it was kind of a big deal. It is full of things to do and places to see. And the best bit about it is the size - you can literally cycle most of it in a day. Which is exactly what I did. I cycled uphill from the Gaslamp Quarter where I was staying all the way to Balboa (no relation to Rocky) Park which is beautiful. There are a number of museums there as well as the famous Zoo (which I didn't go to but now regret in hindsight, but the queue to get in at the time was immense and it looked pretty extortionate to get in).
citygirlrides |
Topiary elephant outside the zoo |
It turns out that free concerts are given every Sunday at 2pm so if you're in the area I would highly recommend you go and settle in one of the deck chairs and take in the music. You may want to bring an umbrella with you, not for the rain but for the sun as it can feel quite strong whilst you're sat down. I'm such an English Rose...
Spreckles Pipe Organ Pavilion |
Dr Carol Williams performing |
Desperately Seeking Shade |
Coming into land |
Scenic |
Clipper |
USS Midway. This picture does not do its size justice. My bad. |
The entrance |
The stadium |
The winners! |
Celebratory Padre Mexican wave |
My reason for visiting Coronado Island was to go and see the Hotel Coronado which is famous for having been in the film "Some Like it Hot" with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis. It didn't disappoint. You can walk in and around the hotel and take in its grandeur whilst sat in the restaurant sipping a cup of tea. Unfortunately the hotel staff had wised up and put in glass security doors preventing you from walking into the pool area. My usual trick of just walking in to hotels and having a quick dip in the pool therefore didn't occur. Damn you Hotel Coronado!
Hotel Coronado |
Soft sand |
A familiar sighting |
Spot the battleship... |
Coming into land |
You have been warned! |
The bar |
The duelers |
N.B. For those of you who aren't familiar with the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy then you inevitably wont have got some of the references I made in this post. Shame on you. Go and watch the film now so you know what I'm talking about!