This trip to San Diego was for a family wedding. I really didn’t want to go. Having spent six weeks in the US at the end of 2007, I felt no desire to return to the States again so soon. Especially to somewhere as far away as California – 15 hours of flying each way. I hate long flights. But in the end, I couldn’t justify missing out on this celebration and the opportunity to see so many family members in one place at one time (some of whom I hadn’t seen for many years).
And I’m very glad we went. Not only was it great to hang out with folks, but we also ended up liking San Diego itself, much to our surprise. It’s a very cute city, and the beautiful beaches are plentiful. The weather managed to be warm enough for swimming in the sea yet cool enough for me sit on the beach in the sun (and we all know how much I hate the sun). And Tower23, the hotel with the cool fire pit, made a great backdrop for the first half of our stay. I even started imagining how fun it would be to live so close to the ocean for a year or so, eating Mexican food and shopping at Trader Joe’s to our hearts’ content. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
“All joking aside, don’t move back.” The sternly-delivered unsolicited advice came from our friends we met for dinner on the second night, American friends who moved from Zurich to San Diego around the same time that we moved from Zurich to Munich. It seems that the temptations of southern California aren’t quite enough to make up for the downsides of living in Bush’s America.
We had a secondary goal of abusing the exchange rate and using the American banana currency to stock up on clothes and electronics on this trip. We were only partially successful at this, since we ended up spending more time at the beach and less time at the mall. The mild food poisoning we were suffering on our last free day there didn’t exactly put us in the mood to shop, either. Sign of a bad wedding caterer: guests all have mysterious stomach problems the next day.
At least the wedding itself was a blast. Especially the photo booth! Note to Italian wedding vendors: start offering more photo booths, fewer balloon bouquets.
As a San Diego native (who went to school in La Jolla, hence the guess about the locale of the picture you posted previously), I’m glad to hear you enjoyed America’s Finest City. Given prices in La Jolla (even with the bargain-basement dollar), the beach was probably a better call. I can tell I haven’t been back in a long time, because I never would have imagined a hip hotel in Pacific Beach (which always had more of a raffish, old-skool, Jeff-Spicoli-from-Fast-Times-at-Ridgemont-High vibe).
The photo booth is so cute. Where can you rent that?
I love San Diego! I would so live there if the opportunity arose.
Except I am a bit terrified of earthquakes…
The photo booth definitely rocks.
Kirk – the hotel was definitely a bit out of place in the neighborhood, although the area did have a strange mix of stuff and seemed to be in transition. Eccentric and fun.
Bluefish – alas, no idea. But I’m sure you could find out on Google… probably some wacky wedding vendors have them.
GL – the only earthquake I’ve been in was kind of fun (and not death- or destruction-causing), so I kind of think I’d look forward to that aspect of living in California… sick, I know.
Heza – Totally. Maybe I should get one for my apartment! 🙂
We stayed in Pacific Beach on our trip to San Diego and I absolutely fell in love with the city. The food, the ocean, and the fact that everything is so close!
I’ve been to LA (twice), Santa Barbara, and San Francisco, too, but San Diego is by far my favorite.
Leandra – we also loved how close everything felt in San Diego – the beach, downtown, various little towns… None of the crappy highway traffic I tend to associate with Southern California!
San Diego is a great city. I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip.
Thanks, Diane. I’m just wondering why no one told me what a cool city it was before! Or maybe they did, and I just wasn’t paying attention…
Jul-
I’m pretty sure I mentioned what a cool city it is! But you probably had to see for yourself.
P.S. Oops–sorry if the advice seemed stern! I think that’s what happens at the intersection of margaritavilla and memory lane. A little bit too much tequila mixed with reminiscing!
Becks – you’re right, you probably did tell me before… like when you were so excited about moving there.
Had we been drinking margaritas? I hardly remember… but hey, even if you had said “it’s fabulous, move back right now!”, I think we’re pretty firmly planted in Europe for the moment. Although it was nice to hear confirmation that we chose correctly. 🙂 Hope you make it back over here soon!
I agree with Kirk. San DiegO is America's Finest City. I've lived in San DiegO almOst all Of my life. I was bOrn in LOs Angeles, but when I was abOut 1 Or sO, my mOm & I mOved tO San DiegO. I thank gOd that she decided tO mOve frOm LOSer ANGELES, tO DaygO.
ThOugh I dislike the Chargers, I believe that nO city can tOp San DiegO. NOt because I live here, but because Of everything IN DaygO. FrOm the weather tO the night life. Everything can be fOund in the SD COunty.
I've been here fOr 18 years. I'm currently 19 & I can hOnestly say that in every city I've visited in CalifOrnia, San DiegO is by far the best One. I've been tO many cities. FrOm LOs Angeles tO Oakland. FrOm San FranciscO tO Palm Springs. I lOve traveling. But believe me. I always lOOk fOrward tO gOing back hOme tO San DiegO.
I am very prOud tO be a San Diegan. 619 baby!