I just got back from two weeks of travel. First, a drive to and from LA. Second, a very pretty San Diego.
Almonds were blooming on my way down
These are the mountains on the west side of the valley
I stopped for gas and this fallow field was so vividly green I had to take a shot against the eroded wood in the foreground
From the courthouse roof downtown, the view was great. You can see the LA Times building and over on the left is dodger stadium. Of course, a helicopter completes the scene
City hall is a very tall, very old building (1920's, built with the first oil boom)
The downtown skyline is so much taller than any other city in the state
And they have gotten some new architecture in this concert hall. I've had lunch in the gardens 10 stories up from the street
This is a church abutting US 101, with the stadium again in the background
When in LA, you have to get some salvadorean food, I love papusas, tortillas filled with beans or meat and cheese
I found more green on the way back
Going
Gone. The almonds had dropped their petals and the beehives stacked for transport back to their homes
It had snowed in the higher mountains of San Benito county, on the eastern side of the coast range
There is very interesting geology here, from asbestos to cinnabar/mercury to our state gem, brilliant blue benitoite; the area even houses centuries-old hot springs
See the layers of earth, red, black, greys and tan
They have recently renovated, very nice hotsprings
I took a private bath, since it was raining when I arrived
The tile floor stands out here
And I appreciated the stone work, the water was very nice, not smelly, and a little carbonated
The 1800's-era bathhouse is now the office
This tree was huge and at least a hundred years old
San Diego is full of contrasts, I don't think they really have land use regulations
The churches stood out
As did the victorians
The downtown skyline was full
And the neighborhoods full of modern, eclectic buildings
A pirate ship?
No, just the coolest offices ever
Is that a beach shack 4 floors up?
I stayed in this beautiful part of town
I mean, how typically San Diego does it get?
No cocoanuts though
And the food!
More pirates
Sunsets for days
