Cleopatra, Shakespeare and Shepard

Wayne and the Bard

We've become very familiar with the Thames Path since it leads from our East End area to central London to where we've found ourselves bound almost daily.  The Path is 184 miles long beginning at the source in the Cotswolds and ending in Greenwich.  In London it is a wide stone path built along the embankment of the Thames.  On this walk we wanted to see the Cleopatra's Needle, one of three such obelisks erected in London, Paris and NYC.  The NYC obelisk in Central Park is the pair to London's.  It is flanked by two sphinx that beg sitting under.  Today was the first foggy day.  But, as we walked along the Thames, there were beautiful views of the bridges cast in gray silhouettes which reminded me of both Monet's and Whistler's paintings.  And, paintings were what we sought after at the National Portrait Gallery,  Among their collection is the Chandos Painting, which is long held to be the portrait of William Shakespeare from which the engraving for the first folio was taken.  It is the first work in the Portrait Gallery's collection. You can imagine Wayne's delight.  

We had dinner at Lotus, an Indian restaurant, near the National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Studio where we were attending a Sam Shepard play, The Buried Child.  London is famous for its wonderful Indian Food.  Lotus did not disappoint serving up a wonderful complexity of flavors, spices, breads and a memorial presentation.  Service was grand.  I recommend it highly.  The Buried Child, starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan was too minimalist for us. The director seemed to be as interested in the atmospheric conditions of a mid-western dysfunctional family as he was in Shepard's dialogue.  There were long periods of the actors contemplating each other, themselves, dripping water.  Interestingly, though, during intermission some Brits in back of us began discussing the state of world affairs, which inevitable led to Donald Trump.  One woman just kept repeating over and over, "Oh, the poor, poor Americans."  as the others signed in agreement.  It set the same tone as the play.  

Ed Harris in The Buried Child

More pics at flickr.

St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral

It seems that everywhere we've walked while here, Christopher Wren's St. Paul's has nodded it's dome at us through narrow streets, over pub roofs and beyond wide avenues.  Each time I would think, how fortunate that it was not bombed during the WWII blitz.  Today I discovered that to be untrue.  We had an informative tour with Yvonne who explained that a bomb came through the high alter area, damaging only a small portion of the ceiling and none of the Italian ceiling mosaics.  Wren's vision was one of a wide open, white, bright and clean interior.  Yvonne asked us to imagine that since today's Cathedral has been altered with Victorian mosaics, altar spaces filled with sculpture and painting, and the nave full of chairs.  Yvonne seemed to sneer each time she mentioned Victorian influences.  We climbed the 259 winding steps to the whispering galleries, which runs around the dome 100 feet above the crossing at the trancept.  Here we got a beautiful view of the only original art work, Thornhill's dome paintings.  The crypt holds the bodies of Wren, Nelson, Wellington and a memorial to Churchill.  If one is a member of the BOE, one may marry here.  

We returned after a very late lunch to hear vespers with song by the Westminster Abbey Choir.  Photographs and recordings are not allowed anytime.  But drawing is always allowed.  

National Gallery and Trafalgar Square

Along our walk to Trafalgar Square

There are such beautiful little vignettes that open up along our walks revealing segments of history and life in London.  Today was the first foggy day, but still no rain.

National Gallery across Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, once the King's mews, marks the division between the wealthier west end of London and the poorer east end.  The government felt that by placing the National Gallery here, it would be accessible to all Londoners.  The current building is the 3rd home for the collection.

Interesting about the National Gallery is that, unlike other European national museums, it was not formed by nationalizing an existing royal or princely art collection. The British royal collection remains in the hands of the royal family.  The collection began when the British government bought 38 paintings from John Angerstein and opened it to the public in his townhouse.  While the collection is not as expansive in holdings, it is as comprehensive as any other major museum.  The works are magnificent.  We spent our time in the Sainsbury wing which holds 13th-15th century paintings.  

The Wilton Diptych

Of particular interest was the Wilton Diptych, an extremely rare survival of early English medieval painting. Most religious pieces from this period were destroyed by the Puritan iconoclasm.  On the left panel Richard II kneels as he is presented to the Virgin Mary and the Christ child on the right panel.  We have been watching the Richard II episode of The Hollow Crown which traces Richard's reign and fall.  In the play, John of Gaunt speaks of the Precious Stone set in a Silver Sea (England). The timely finding of this diptych brought history to life and reality to drama.

Mars and Venus by Sandro Botticelli

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of art that reminds me of the current administration in DC.  Mars and Venus again roused such feelings.  In the painting Venus watches Mars sleep. The meaning of the picture is that love conquers war, or love conquers all.  Such was the message of the Women's marches this week: love beats hate.  

More pics at flickr.

From Spitalhouse to Somerset House

The Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market is nestled in the heart of the city, in the shadow of Christ Church.  This site once housed an old covered market that has been transformed in to a mixture of market stalls with modern shops and restaurants.  Sunday is the busiest day with over 150 stalls operating.  We were under the impression that we could find a great farmers' market within the greater market area.  Alas, no.  But we did enjoy wandering through the market and the surrounding public space where we discovered an old Roman burial ground exposed with a glass view point.  We also found a good Cuban restaurant where our palate got some relief from English blandness.

Wayne in the Somerset House Courtyard

We've decided to walk most places for exercise.  This has also afforded us the pleasure of discovering beautiful hidden gems of architecture, gardens, and neighborhood small businesses.  The walk from Spitalfields to Somerset House took us along the Thames where we met up with joggers, dog walkers and great views of the Westminster area of the city.  Somerset House (don't let the word house fool you) is a large Neoclassical building that was originally the palatial residence of Edward Seymour.  You may remember him as the brother of Jane Seymour, 3rd wife of Henry VIII.  Edward didn't fare too well after Henry VIII died.  He was attainted by Parliament and executed on Tower Hill.  The house then came into the possession of the Crown.  Elizabeth I lived here during the reign of her 1/2 sister, Mary I.  There proceeded a rich history of royal use, murder, civil war use, and continued expansion.  At one point prior to the Thames embankment, water lapped the front where arches allowed boats and barges to land within the building.  Leap forward to today and the building has been reinvigorated as a center for the visual arts.  One of these institutions, the Courtauld Gallery was what brought us here.  The Gallery houses the art collection of the Courtauld Institute of Art and has an important collection of old master and impressionist paintings.  My goal was to see The Bar at Folies-Berger.  In the same room with the Manet was a version of his Luncheon on the Grass, and Card Player.  A small concert of 2 classical guitarists was taking place in the gallery.  Heavenly.  For those so interested in the collection, works can be seen here.  My pictures can be seen at flickr.

Women's March on London

See those smiling faces?  We were proud and excited to be part of an estimated 100,000 people marching in protest of Donald Trump's inauguration, or coronation as a friend described it.  It felt good to publically demonstrate our opposition to the tyranny that is gathering in Washington.  The march began at Grovesnor Square beneath the US Embassy where speeches lasted 1 1/2 hours.  We were shoulder to shoulder and heel to heel.  There were newborn babies, people of color, men, gays, old and young.  The only head gear visible to me were pink pussy hats and stocking caps.  People were enthusiastic and polite.  Despite the cramped conditions and the inability to even move at times, no one pushed or screamed "Make America Great Again". There was singing, chanting and cars honking.  It was a day of vigilance.  From Grovesnor Square we marched over 2 miles through Mayfair to Trafalgar Square.  Wayne was amazed by the enthusiasm and singing of the fellow marchers.  NOW we must see what goes forward.  

More march pictures of the march at flickr.

Tate Britain and Happy Days

Pre-Raphaelite Room

We indeed had a happy day at the Tate Britain.  But later that evening we also had a wonderful fish dinner at a restaurant, Happy Days, near our apartment. Once again, we took the tube (we are so cosmopolitan!) and alighted at the Westminster Stop.  As you can guess, upon reaching terra firma, Big Ben was staring us down.  Heading in the wrong direction we crossed the Thames, crowded and boisterous with a bag piper delighting us all, we were goggle eyed at the Thames, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the diversity of all the people.  Correcting our direction, we crossed back over the Thames again, and walked the perimeter of the Houses of Parliament, through the Victoria Gardens and to Tate Britain.  The holdings here date from the 1500's to the present, the most comprehensive in the world.  Only Yale Center for British Art is comparable. The best known works are those of Turner, who bequeathed all his own collection to the nation.  We spent a good deal of time in the room that holds the Pre-Rephaelite works, favorites of us both. Among them are Millais' Ophelia, and Waterhouse's Lady of Shalott.  They also have 2 of Whistler's Nocturne paintings.  We're sorry to miss the David Hockney exhibit coming in February.

Entrance to the Tate Britain

We've been fortunate to have nothing but sunny days and tolerable temperatures.  But, this is England and the food choices are, well, English.  But we did manage to find a good fish restaurant tonight.  It was near enough to walk and good enough to report on.  Happy Days.  More pics at flickr.

Tate Modern and Mahler

Barbican Center, London Symphony Orchestra

We had a day filled with art and music.  We started at the Tate Modern which reminded me of the Boston ICA in the manner that they both offer wide glassed in spaces that overlook major bodies of water.  The Tate sits alongside the Thames and has a cafe on the 10th floor that offers a grand view of the river and the city's skyline.  To get there, we disembarked at the Blackfriars bus stop, which is the area Shakespeare's company performed indoor plays when not at the Globe. Our walk to the Tate was along the Thames in bright sunshine.

The Tate Modern was confusing to us.  It is divided into two houses, the purpose of which we still don't understand.  The space is massive and very industrial but with choppy small galleries.  What we did enjoy were some Picasso pieces, especially the Three Dancers and a gallery focused on the studio work of the artist.  This room had many portrait and self portrait pieces which were in a realistic style yet not photo realism.  Here is one example.

This evening we went to the Barbican Center to hear the London Symphony Orchestra.  The Barbican  Center is the largest multi-functional performing arts venue of its kind in Europe.  It hosts classical and contemporary music, theater (including the Royal Shakespeare Co.) film screenings and art exhibitions. Simon Rattle was in from Berlin conducting Mahler's 6th Symphony.  I think Mahler attempted to use every item that could make a sound in this piece.  It was very dramatic, bold, colorful and symphonic to the nth degree.

We purchased an Oyster card to use on busses and trains.  It is the London version of Boston's Charlie card.  When we entered the tube station and found our oyster card empty, we couldn't understand how we had used 20 pounds apiece worth of travel in 2 days.  We discovered that we were charged the maximum amount each trip because we were not using the card to exit.  Live and learn.
The day's pictures are at flickrUIKeyInputUpArrow and .

London 39* and Sunny

The Tower of London viewed as we exited the tube.

Monday we managed to take the bus to the Reykjavik airport, fly to London and then take the tube to Tower Hill where we then walked the few blocks to our VRBO.  We did all this by only asking 8 people for help and not being robbed.  I mention this because we have been robbed while enjoying European public transportation.  It can put a damper on the fun.  At any rate, the VRBO is nice enough.  The first morning I did manage to dislodge the hot water faucet from the tub.  It's hard enough to reattach a faucet knob without tools, but add to that hot water is spraying hard and fast and you've got one trying ordeal.  All is well now thanks to Wayne.

We are in a lovely area, near London Tower.  It's active with residents and shops, most importantly, based on the drip coffee I prepared first morning, Starbucks.  It is called the Minories area.  The name is derived from the former Abbey of the Minoresses of St Mary founded in 1294.  It was in the ancient parish of St Botolph and said named Church is at the top of the street.  A major bus terminal is just a few blocks away.  We have taken advantage of this very efficient and easy to use system. We think it much better than the underground as we can see all the areas of London as we travel along.

Yesterday we traveled uptown to a mall where we shopped for food and acquired a SIM card for my phone.  The population of the area was very diverse.  We smiled at all the varied peoples living side by side, bustling around shopping, working, going home.

Today we took the bus in the opposite direction to the British Museum.  The collection is a massive collection.  Of course, this collection results from decades of foreign rule by the British Empire.  The empire upon which the sun never set was able to collect and bring to London some 8 million works.  Most impressive of what we saw today were the Elgin Marbles and the Parthenon sculptures, the Rosetta Stone, the Lewis Chessmen,  the Sutton Hoo burial artifacts, and multitudes of Roman, Greek, Egyptian vases, coins and sculptures.

Wayne with an Anglo Saxon helmet from the Sutton Hoo burial site.

Elgin Marbles

More pictures at flickr. 

A Little Night Music

Thermally Heated Sidewalks and Streets

Reykjavik has no ice or snow on the roads and sidewalks. Imagine that!  No shoveling or plowing needed.   The thermal waters are used to heat the homes.  The run off water is then piped into plastic tubing inside the city's streets and sidewalks.  We walked those sidewalks today to The National Museum of Iceland which holds some 2000 objects dating from the Settlement period.  Around 870 Vikings began to arrive. Estimates of settlers ranged from 311 to 436.  To my surprise some women came on their own to settle. These Settlers, or farmers, were the chieftains that met in the Thingviller that we visited yesterday to form laws in a quasi Parliament.   There were no indigenous peoples here.  

The Harpa Concert Hall

The Harpa is relatively new having its first concert in 2011.  The multicolored glass facade is inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland.  We heard some very American music at the Harpa.  The Elektra Quintet performed a very jazzy first piece with a tenor.  The second half consisted of Gershwin and select pieces from Bernstein's West Side Story.  The tenor and a soprano provided voice.  

Tomorrow we fly to London.  To see all the pictures of our time in Iceland, link to flickr.

Hot Golden Circle

Today we took an 8 hour tour of what is known as the Golden Circle.  Since we selected the tour with a swim in a lagoon, we got to add the word Hot to our adventure.  The circle loops out of Reykjavik into the southern uplands of Iceland and back.  Our four stops were the Thingviller National Park, the Gullfoss waterfall, the geothermal area that contains the geysers, and the lagoon. It was a snowy and windy day.  Visibility was limited and the light a sleepy blue.  We were on a 25 seat van driven by "Andy" who tried his best to be funny.  It felt a bit like being in Kansas in winter.  

Pass Between the Continental Plates

Thingvellir National Park is where early Icelanders held Parliament once upon a time. Today it is where at times Game of Thrones films. It sits on the North American Tectonic plate.  Here we walked through a pass and onto the Eurasian Tectonic plate. 

The geothermal area was formed at the end of the last ice age.  The general descriptive term geyser comes from the large Icelandic Geyser.  Since Geyser has been dormant for some time now, we visited her little brother and got a show every 3-5 minutes. 

The Gullfloss is a magnificent waterfall system, not as large as Niagara Falls, but certainly as impressive.  The wind was bitingly cold as we climbed abut 50' to look down upon the system.  After this we were happy to find the warmth of the lagoon.  An hour of soaking left my core feeling toasty warm and my spirit lazily satisfied.  

Upon returning to Reykjavik we ate at the Old Icelandic Restaurant.  I was in search of a traditional lamb dish.  This I found.  It was succulent.  

Pictures at flickr.

Reykjavik

View from our hotel, Reykjavik

Well,  here we are in the land of the Vikings, a place I never dreamed of or thought I would be.  It was a most convivial beginning as we rode the Grey Line from the airport to Reykjavik. The entire bus was entertained by a local tour guide passenger who was three sheets to the wind.  Wayne was directly across the aisle from him, and misguidedly encouraged him with polite responses.  We were lectured on what not to do.  "Don't go near the water at the black beach.  I beg of you.  I beg of you.  Please, please.  I will love you forever if you don't go near the water."  "Don't go into the ice cave.  I know you want to see where Russell Crowe was naked.  But don't go.  I will love you forever if you don't go."  Later when a group of us boarded the transit van to our hotel, we were all in stitches repeating his conversation.  Every Icelander since has been just as friendly, helpful, happy and polite but with a more sober approach.

Downtown Reykjavik 

Iceland:  much less snow than I anticipated.  Just as freezing as I anticipated.  Much less dark than I anticipated.  Just as interesting as I anticipated.  Today we walked the main streets which are filled with winter wear shops.  We found the Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church which seems to stand guard over Reykjavik.  At 244' it is among the tallest structures in Iceland. It is made of concrete in a most contemporary fashion that mimics the geography of Iceland.  The interior is totally white and austere but soaring high with gothic vaulting.  Tonight we enjoyed local music and fare at Cafe Rosenberg.  Kristian Kristianson of the KK Band entertained us with some jazzy blues. See pictures at flickr

Magic Pants, Salty Water and BBQ

Book of Mormon

Provo, Utah

Yesterday we drove north to Provo past sites visited on our last cross country.  A second look at these fabulous places was still as awe inspiring as the first look. The Wasatach Mountain Range escorted us into Provo which sits surrounded by snow capped Unita Mountains.  The architecture is lovely and there is a beautiful tabernacle in the center.  We strolled around the small downtown area, past the tabernacle and considered where to eat dinner.  Place after place was closed.  We soon realized that it was Sunday and probably a city ordinance to be closed.  We did find a cafeteria on the outskirts of town and barely got served at 7pm before closing.  More photos can be see at flickr.

Today we continued on to Salt Lake for 2 days.  As we had seen The Book Of Mormon in San Diego, we felt well prepared.  However, we did not see one man dressed in black pants, white shirt, black tie.  We spent the first half of the day downtown where we toured Temple Square.  It is very impressive!  The grounds are beautiful and immaculate.  The trees and bulb flowers are blooming.  One cannot enter the Temple but can enter other buildings on the grounds such as the Tabernacle where the famous choir performs.  Salt Lake also has a very impressive library designed by Moshe Safdie, the architect of Crystal Bridges Museum.  The library has incorporated small shops and kiosks. 

Wayne at Temple Square

Later in the day we ventured out to The Great Salt Lake.  One passes vast acres of salt flats and a smelting plant on the road to the Lake.  The area seems barren despite the surrounding mountains.  As it was early in the season, no boats or activity were to be seen.  No birds either.   

Great Salt Lake

More pictures are at flickr.https://www.flickr.com/photos/minkcove/albums/72157668507197782

Navajo Nation Reservation

Navajo Nation Reservation, Grand Canyon

As we drove east out of the Grand Canyon National Park, we stopped at a few more viewing points.  We never saw a bad view, and remain awestruck.  The views became even more amazing as we traveled on.  Our destination was Provo, Utah.  To get there we had to drive east first around the Canyon and through the Navajo Nation Reservation's Western Agency.  The road hugged the edge of the Canyon to our north and offered extensive views of the desert and the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon.  

Navajo Nation Reservation Arts Sales along the Little Colorado River

We came upon a Navajo set of arts tables and stopped.  Here we found a porcelain Christmas tree ornament that was hand painted with symbols. 

Navajo Nation Reservation, The Painted Desert

 Our drive from there took us through the painted desert, by the Colorado River and into Utah.  In Utah we edged past the Grand Staircase Escalante and Bryce Canyon, beautiful areas we visited several years ago.  It was a long 8 hour day of driving.  But the sights were so lovely that we hardly noticed.  Provo is a beautiful little town that has kept its historical buildings in original shape.  What we didn't realize is that we had arrived on a Sunday, and there was nothing open in downtown.  We assumed this was a Mormon rule.  We did find a cafeteria on the edge of town.  We arrived near closing at 7pm.  When we asked for some roast beef, we were told it was put away.  HA!  Having paid full price we insisted on bringing it out.  It was not worth the argument.  Cafeterias never fail to disappoint.  

Entering Utah near Bryce Canyon

Provo, Utah

Beautiful Pictures of the Ride are at flickr

The Grand, Grand Canyon

Wayne on the South Rim

After a brief stop at Home Depot to buy screws, nuts, and bolts to shore up our duck-taped oil pan cover, we headed for the Grand Canyon. The road took us around the San Francisco Mountains, across the Coconino Plateau and deep into the Kaibab National Forest which is comprised of beautiful ponderosa pine. Our lodgings are in the park at the Yavapai Lodge in the Grand Canyon Village.  We're housed on the second (walk-up) floor in a very nice room. Despite the early season the Park is busy.  We are happy to have found a room inside the park, and able to take advantage of the shuttle bus.  As soon as we deposited our gear, we took the bus to the visitor's center and sought advise on the best course for a single day visit.  Mather's Point is behind the visitor's center.  This is where Wayne got his first view of the canyon from the South Rim.  He was awe struck.  From here and on advice from the ranger, we took the shuttle bus along the 7 mile Hermit Road view points ending at Hermit's Rest.  We walked between some of the stops along a rim path that provided views of the Colorado River.  It would be impossible for me to describe the beauty, the vastness, and the breadth taking experience of the canyon.  Pictures alone cannot do justice either.  In addition to the expansiveness, the colors of the rock layer sequences change with the light and atmosphere.  Because the canyon was incised out of a plateau and is not hidden by mountains and vegetation, one walks suddenly up to the edge and can see the the geology for miles.  The approach to the along the flat ground does not prepare one for the depth and distance of the Canyon.  The canyon floor includes rock nearly 2 billion years old.

The Colorado River

Tonight we drove out of the park to have dinner at the Grand Hotel's steak house.  A funny memory was listening to the family next to us talk about their day of horse riding and touring, then watching them all walk out bow legged and waddling.  

flickr pictures

Flagstaff, AZ on Route 66*

Prescott National Forest nearing Flagstaff, AZ

As we drove out of California and into Arizona, the views became more expansive, the land flatter and more desert-like.  We passed by Joshua Tree National Park which we had visited in 2010, crossed over the Colorado River and into Arizona. I'm beginning to feel like I can see for "Miles and Miles and Miles and Miles." Flagstaff, some 6 hour drive east of Palm Desert, was our destination.  The intention was to stay here one night in order to reach the Grand Canyon early the following day.  Then, we could take an entire day to explore the south rim, stay the night and head out again early toward Utah.

Mt. Humphreys in the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, AZ

Looming over Flagstaff are the San Francisco Peaks, the largest of which is Mt. Humphreys.   We are now about 7,000' elevation and can feel it.  Just a small amount of exertion can leave me breathless.  

Flagstaff has preserved the historic downtown through which runs the historic route 66.  It was here that we found the Beaver Street Brewery and dinner.  

Wayne and Sweetness enjoy a brew at the Beaver St. Brewery

Leaving the Brewery our car loudly announce it was dragging the oil pan cover.  Seems the Jiffy Lube guy left out most of the retaining screws.  Never fear.  My Renaissance Man purchased a few screws and, voila, all fixed.  We thought the earlier duck tape solution might not hold up in the Grand Tetons.  

Mechanic Wayne securing the oil pan

Route 66 preformed by The Manhattan Transfer

More pictures at flickr

Palm Springs, CA

Moreno Valley and the Redlands

We had a quick change of plans yesterday when we discovered that our lease ended on March 31, not April 1.  Because of that we added Palm Springs as an additional stop on our way home.  This route took us through Moreno Valley and the Redlands with beautiful views of the hills and mountains of California.  As we entered Palm Springs we spotted the visitor's center and entrance to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  The tram car rotates as it rises 2 1/2 miles along the Chino Canyon to Mt. San Jacinto State Park.  Here we had expansive views of the valley below and of Palm Springs.  

Tram Ride

Tram Ride with Palm Springs in the valley

Palm Springs viewed from Mt. San Jacinto

Following that spectacular introduction to Palm Springs we headed for our hotel and headed and headed until we realized we were in Palm Desert, not Palm Springs. Palm Desert was beautiful and we were not disappointed.  The downtown is quite swanky with an outdoor mall that would rival Rodeo Drive where we had pizza.  

A few more pictures are at flickr.

Adios Imperial Beach

Sweetness

Sweetness is very sad today because she has to pack all those winter clothes for the trip home.  She would much rather be on the beach.  Yes, tomorrow we end our stay in Imperial Beach.  It has been a very delightful and uplifting time.  We are melancholy but looking forward to the trip home.  It was wonderful to spend time with Kathy, Phil and Lola, and to see Bonnie and Duncan.  Staying for 2 months helped us to feel as if we lived in the area.  The people at the fitness center I joined we so welcoming and friendly.  Lee, our fearless leader, was attentive and shared his Sunday hikes with us.  

Imperial Beach Fitness Center, Silver Sneakers

Our days and nights were filled with the rumble of the Pacific Ocean. We finally stuck our toes in on the last day.

Wayne, Christy and the Pacific

If you have about 30 minutes to spare flickr has 60 days of recorded sunsets.

Point Loma, San Diego Serenade*

Point Loma looking across San Diego Bay

Point Loma is a seaside community of San Diego and also the peninsula that hangs out around Coronado Island and helps form San Diego Bay.   We can see the Point from our condo as a distant gray form from which giant freighters and cruise ships emerge.  It is historically important as the landing place where the first European expedition came ashore in present day California.  Loma is the Spanish word for hill, and, indeed it is quite a hill.   At 422 feet, the end point gave fabulous views of downtown San Diego, Coronado Island and even a teeny little speck of our condo and Mexico.  The winds were quite strong but warmed us as we walked up the hill to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.  Also on the Point stands the Cabrillo National Monument.  Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to see San Diego Bay.

Wayne on Point Loma with Downtown San Diego and San Diego Bay

There are 2 major military bases, a university, and a national cemetery which hugs both sides of the Peninsula.

Point Loma National Cemetery.

At the suggestion of a friend from my gym, we ate at Mitch's Seafood, a funky little restaurant sitting on the docks.  Since we are trying to see how many tacos we can eat in 2 months, we obviously ordered octopus tacos.  They were as good as it gets and were enhanced by a great seat overlooking the bay.  It reminded us of eating with the pelicans on the dock at Cortez Bait and Seafood in Florida.

Tacos at Mitch's Seafood, Point Loma

San Diego Serenade, Tom Waits

Mo Better Photos at Flickr