Notes from the San Diego Mini-Reunion
Submitted by Sonja Fogelberg Jones
Bobbi and Ginnie arrived Tuesday evening, Feb. 24. Wednesday I joined them and we walked along the Embarcadera, looking at the Urban Trees (which are changed each year, created by artists–and they are art installations, not growing plants), then to Seaport Village and the Cool Globes and lunch at the Harbor House. Ginnie wanted to visit La Jolla, so we headed north, spending time at the Birch Aquarium at UCSD, then drove by LJ Cove and on to the Children’s Pool. This protected cove was given to the children/city by Ellen Browning Scripps (newspaper publishing family) many decades ago and over the past 10 years has been appropriated by sea lions, making it unattractive for humans, leading to great controversy and court cases: should the sea lions be chased away (how?), the sand dredged and replaced so that children can again use it? How to keep the sea lions from returning? Where else in a major metropolitan area can you view a sea lion rookery? We left LJ without seeing the main drag which is what Ginnie really wanted to do… Actually, most stores are now what you would find in a mall, so she wasn’t too disappointed. Next time…
We returned to the Padre Trail Inn and the Geislers and Matthiases had arrived; dinner at a wonderful little Persian restaurant and when we arrived back at the Inn, the Olsons and Di had arrived.
Thursday morning everyone explored Old Town and in the afternoon we took a whale watching trip to see the migrating gray whales. Unhappily, we didn’t see any even though we travelled almost to the Coronado Islands, but the weather was nice and there was no lack of conversation. Dinner was in Old Town at La Piñata, a family-owned Mexican restaurant which has been there for many years. The Himes had arrived by the time we returned after dinner.
Friday was our day for the museums in Balboa Park and the zoo. Most met for lunch in the art museum’s sculpture garden cafe, some spent the entire day at the zoo. In the evening we attended the opening of the mosaic exhibit at the Museum of Man (the international society of mosaic artists (?) was having its annual convention in the city). I erroneously thought there would be plenty of food–when we returned to Old Town, restaurant service was very limited–we enjoyed big breakfasts Saturday morning.
Saturday was the day for people to go wherever; some went to the Wild Animal Park and others to hike in Torrey Pines State Park. Dinner was here and Bobbi left that evening. When I returned from the airport, all the dishes had been done :>
Most people left Sunday morning. In the early morning Di and Ginnie (who were to leave later in the day) and I walked with Walkabout on Shelter Island (SD Bay) and had breakfast (I walk with them every Sunday morning). Ginnie’s and Di’s flights were canceled because of the blizzard on the eastern seaboard. In the afternoon, Di and I went to the SD Symphony. And on Monday, Di and Ginnie were able to depart.
To be honest, I was nervous about planning this little reunion, but I think all had a good time and it was wonderful to have so much time together. I wish you all could have joined us–we missed you. Maybe next time.
Cheers,
Sonja