These were our final days in San Diego.
On Wednesday, Hubby finished up at his conference, just in time for lunch. The kids and I picked him up and aimed the van for the Gas Lamp District. We found a parking garage and crossed the street with the smell of lumpia calling my name. The lumpia place was right next to a beautiful Mediterranean place. This called for an abrupt change of plans!
Mimoza was a light-filled corner eatery that served food on delicate platters and water in Depression era glassware. I felt like we were about to dine with the queen, or at least a high-falutin grandmother. The food was wonderful and unique!
Hubby has been fascinated by Japanese gardens for a while now, so we made visiting the local one at Balboa Park a priority after lunch. There is a fee to get in, but it is worth it! The gardens are extensive with an amazing view around every corner. We spent more than an hour watching Koi, studying old Bonsai trees, listening to wind chimes, shopping in the fun gift shop, and admiring views from the bridges scattered throughout the garden.
Balboa Park offers so much on a beautiful day. We attempted to visit the international buildings; alas, they were all closed except for their gift shop. We walked through Alcazar Garden and Palm Canyon. A keyboardist serenaded us with classical music as we glided along the paths. We would’ve loved to visit the Botanical Garden, but it was closed for renovations. Instead, we stepped into the free five-room fine art museum, Timken Museum of Art.
We were growing hungry for dinner after so much walking! I’d read that Ocean Beach hosts a farmer’s market and international food stalls every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. This family is always open to international food! The promise of going to a nearby dog beach kept our weary bones from collapsing.
Hubby handed some cash to each kid, and we scattered into the overcrowded street. I indulged in a chicken stick and some lumpia (remember that I’d been craving it all day?) at the Filipino stall. Then Hubby and I got distracted by the fresh cannoli at an Italian pastry stall. Baby girl wanted to sample dim sum. Then she and I found the Indian food–a chicken masala wrap completed our international dinner! Hubby and the big boy got a rice-and-protein bowl from a West African stall.
The crowd was an interesting mix, and we had to climb out of it to find a place to perch and eat. Have you ever studied the Mercer Meyer picture books with the crowds of Little Monsters at the beaches? That’s where we were while we inhaled our food. If only you could also imagine the noise.
We were only too happy to make our way on foot to the dog beach, far from the maddening crowds!
That night, Hubby lit the gas fire pit at Airbnb. It was a little cool outside, and we were all exhausted!
The next morning, we drove to the Safari Park. It was very different from the last time Hubby and I had visited—20+ years ago! Still, it was lovely, and the tram ride that we took at the end of the day brought back the nostalgia of our visit there long ago.
The Safari Park boasts so much more than open savannahs these days. It feels a little more zoo-like, but there are also gardens. In fact, a tour guide told us that their collection of botanical specimens are more valuable than their collection of animals! I know a couple of young men who’d probably want season passes, knowing that fact!
