Los Angeles to San Diego
Woke this morning to the realisation that I'm on my own again - tour is over and I'm not unhappy about that at all. I did enjoy many aspects of the tour but I'm happy to be doing my own thing again.
Pros of touring - you don't have to worry about anything, from getting somewhere to taking your luggage to your room.
You get lots of information about all sorts of things.
You don't have to drive yourself
There's lots of different people to talk to.
There's a nice camaraderie feel to being part of a group.
Cons of touring - you can't stop where you want, eg Venice Beach - which I wasn't really too fussed about missing.
You are always in a time limit - even with a three-hour stop, you're constantly looking at the time and worried about getting back on time.
No choice in hotel - Circus Circus was horrible.
Crowds of people queuing in the restrooms.
Don't like being seen as part of a 'tour' group.
Joan was an odd mix of someone who was nice and friendly and then she'd be like Mrs Kondourovskis - the Latvian gym teacher from high school - "You vill do zis and you vill enjoy!"
I could probably have done with an extra day in LA to go to Universal Studios but there will be other times for that.
Halloween is getting bigger and bigger. The Today show had a special this morning on decorations.
Went down for breakfast and there was the Danish family, the quartet who are nameless (to me) but very funny. They are heading to Hawaii for a week so we might see each other! And Chuck and Kerry.
I don't always remember to tip but I did remember here cos it's as close as I'm going to get to trashing a hotel room - moved the coffee maker, used all the coffee-making stuff, opened the cups out of the packaging (HATE the amount of packaging wasted here), had dinner boxes to go and the shower was pointing out when I turned it on and so the floor flooded, requiring every towel to be used to mop it up.
First thing I do after finishing a coach tour is get on a coach! I'm allowing 2.5 hours to get to the station. It's that not nice I-don't-know-where-I'm-going feel again. Anyway, onto the shuttle to the airport (which is all of ten minutes away), into the queue for the restroom (shouldn't have had that extra cup of coffee), wait for the bus and it does arrive - there's always that doubt that it mightn't. It's quite obvious, with 'Union Station' clearly indicated.
It's a 30-minute ride and as we're going, I'm thinking why is the train station so far away? Then I realise it's not the station, it's the hotel we stayed in!
You have to pay for your ticket on arrival then show your receipt to get your bag. They insist on credit or debit card only. I want to pay cash - you tell me to pay by card, I don't want to. He says I'll have to give the $7 to another passenger and they can pay with their card. That is ridiculous so I use my card and there goes any tip for the driver - in the cost of that transaction.
Into the station...
..past the section with the sleeping homeless and the begging and into the main area, which is quite lovely...
And if you have to sit and wait for an hour, this is not a bad spot to do it.
And I'd rather be here an hour early than one minute late.
Started in a single seat going backwards with no window, for some reason. Just moved to a single seat going forwards with a window, looking out on the water. It's quite lovely.
I don't understand why some people stand at the door the minute the train moves away from the previous station. They are standing there for 15 to 20 minutes. The guard gives a warning which gives plenty of time to get to the door so why not sit until you have to get up?
The Internet drops in and out on the train. I have managed to look up the bits I wanted to. Then it worked long enough to deliver three emails but then cut out as I tried to open them! So there's mail there, I just can't read it!!! Boo!
Arrive in San Diego Old Town and into a cab. Drive to the beach and Crystal Pier.
I'm here for two nights - luckily. It's a place you have to book a year in advance. I chanced it and got lucky and got one of the hotel rooms overlooking the pier, at a discount too. When I arrived today, I asked if they had any pier cottages available and they had one! It had a late cancellation. It's only for tonight, I have to move tomorrow, but I'm so happy I had a chance to stay on the pier.
Here's my cottage...
My view...
And the pier...
Went tomgo for a walk along the main road into the town, Pacific Beach when I met three ladies on a week away. Had a chat, they wanted to have a look inside. Lovely ladies. Then down the street. There's lots of tattoo shops, gyms open on to the streets, nail shops, tanning salons, lingerie shops - my kind of town...
Into Trader Joe's supermarket to get some fried rice and stuffed peppers for tea - I think it's the closest I'll be able to get to cooking - and back. Then down and onto the beach where I wander and paddle and look at the water and it's just lovely.
Then back to eat then another stroll down the pier until it's dark. The pier sways gently and you can hear the waves crashing and it's great!
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