Thursday, March 26, 2015

Throw Back Thursday - San Diego


About a dozen year's ago, I went to San Diego for the first time. If you have never flown into San Diego you need to.  About a mile from the water's edge, there is a steep hillside, some would call it a cliff.  If the wind is in the right direction the landing approach brings you in between the water and the cliff, at one point the houses on the side of the cliff are higher then the airplane.  It is a wonderful view.

The first time we were there was in early January, we were staying in once of the hotel towers in front of Travel's beak across the bay from where this picture was taken on the 20-something floor, with a balcony and view over the water.  The weather was heavenly, highs in the high 70's , lows in the high 60's, we had the sliding doors open to the balcony for most of the time we were there.

While there we took the street car down to the boarder and walked across into Mexico.  The streets of San Diego are not paved with gold bricks, but with the prices you might think they should be. San Diego is a very plush.  Less then an hour away, as you enter Mexico, you see neighborhoods of corrugated metal houses on dirt streets stretching up the hillsides.  I suddenly understood why people risk there lives in the desert to sneak into the United States and work illegally.  The income from a minimum wage job, would buy better living conditions.

It was easy to get into Mexico, just walk past the police standing there with machine guns.  Getting back into the Unite States took a little longer, showing my passport and opening the bags to show them what I had bought.  Much easier for me, with a US passport, then for those without.  

6 comments:

  1. we do not realize how good we have it here in murrica, until we travel outside our own borders/minds.

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    1. And those who need it most, never seem to leave their comfort zone

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  2. David,
    I've heard nothing but positive comments about San Diego all my life. Just once I would like to sit and verify. Maybe next year.
    Ron

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  3. The Gaslight District Downtown, Coronado Island, the Zoo and Balboa park are area really quite wonderful. You can get to Mexico by public transit. Politically is a very conservative part of California, lots and lots of retired military.

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  4. Ah yes, happy memories with flightless fowl. He's looking exceptionally noble there.

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  5. I love that picture. Travel Penguin is in fine form, but I am surprised he isn't sweating his "you know whats" off! It's HOT in San Diego!

    I have been to a Mexican border town, so I get you (the US border town wasn't much better). Further south, Oaxaca, with its small villages and wonderful caves, is a lot nicer!

    Peace <3
    Jay

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