OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Juan Cabrillo discovered the area where Old Town is today in 1543. In 1602 Sebastian Vizcano named it San Diego de Alcala.  A military post was established on Presidio Hill.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  By 1820 a small pueblo was developed below the Presidio using adobe bricks to build the homes.   Fiestas were held in the plaza.
  
  
  
  
  
  By 1846 the U.S. declared war on Mexico and a new constitution was written in 1849 and California was a state in 1850.  By then the American flag was raised in the plaza and San Diego was incorporated as a city.
  From 1868-1874 the San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line stage coaches came through San Diego.
  There were a series of misfortunes with fire, floods a severe earthquake.  In 1907 Spreckles bought the remains of  La Casa de Estudillo and started to restore Old Town
  
  
  
  
  
  Paul and I visited several of the restored adobe buildings around the plaza.  Many have small museums with docents who tell stories about the early history.  Some of the buildings are used for shops with merchants in period costume who provide a  peak into what life was like in the 1800’s. 
  The cigar shop had an interesting collection of historic pipes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  The Wells Fargo Museum had early coins, a stage coach and mail route maps- click photo for details

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  La Casa de Estudillo is a fine example of a home of a leading family of that era.  It  was built by Jose Estudillo with an inner courtyard with bedrooms,  servants quarters, a kitchen, storage rooms, a living and dining room and a chapel.  It was the social and religious center during the Mexican and early American periods.
  
  
  
  

  

  The docent at the blacksmith shop had many tools to demonstrate            

  
  

IMPERIAL BEACH SUN & SEA FESTIVAL

We had a good overview from the pier

This is an annual event in Imperial Beach that includes a swim & paddle at the  pier, a 3 K run, a Zumba demonstration, a parade and a fun zone for the kids in addition to the main event which is the sand sculpture competition.  Just sand, water and tools are used to pack sand into castles, whimsical creatures and buildings.  Some themes  included peace, Alice in Wonderland characters, castles, astronauts and whimsical fish. The Spirit of Imperial Beach bronze sculpture depicts the dual theme of surfing and sand castles.

There were food trucks and booths in the area so Paul and I bought  hot dogs from a Boy Scout troop and enjoyed lunch at one of the tables under some palm trees near the beach.  

 A band playing nearby for music entertainment. It was a fun way to spend a summer day.

AQUARIUM VISIT

         Paul and I visited the Birch Aquarium with displays of local sea life in San Diego.  Some exhibits also include fish in the ocean off of Baja California coast. 

           Another exhibit area features the effect of climate change on coral and other plant life with increasing water acidity along with other ocean science research
           There are also outdoor pools that mimic tide pools where one can touch the invertebrates and fish.

Local Girabaldi

Lion fish

Sea Dragon

OVERVIEW OF THE SAN DIEGO ZOO

 During Paul’s visit we took the bus tour of the San Diego Zoo.  It gives a complete overview of all the  exhibits along with an informative narration.

Often the animals perk up when a bus comes by, hoping to get a treat from the driver.

          

  

Later we walked around to see some of the exhibits 

close up.

Getting up front and close

Baby gets a free ride

Nothing like getting right in the dish for a snack

BUTTERFLY DAY

            Paul came for a visit In San Diego in April 2016.  He joined Ray and me for a visit to Safari Park. 

 It was Butterfly Jungle time there  when several dozen butterfly species are let loose by the thousands in an aviary.  A Common Blue Morpho is one of the most spectacular.  

We also visited the Tiger Trail that is the new home for the Sumatran tigers that are along a trail that leads to an Indonesian longhouse.

          

Later we visited the Orfila Winery for wine tasting and to enjoy the view of the Escondido countryside.

SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK CHRISTMAS VISIT

New cub on exhibit

It is a festive time to visit the Safari Park with decorative red bows throughout the park.  A week day during the holiday season is a good time to go there with fewer visitors. 

Marie is standing with Ray and Betsy at the entrance to the Tiger Trail which opened in 2014 for the Sumatran tigers.  There are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild.

 

A large lagoon in the Congo fishing village is home to numerous species of waterfowl. A white pelican is see here.

The park houses a large array of wind and endangered animals including species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia.  The Park is in a semi-arid environment with free-range enclosures that house such animals as antelope, giraffe, buffalo, cranes and rhinoceros. 

Giraffes and rhinoceros are in this African exhibit.  The park has the world’s most successful breeding program for southern white rhinos.

The open range East Africa exhibit  has a large lagoon with lesser and greater flamingos and other waterfowl.

The gorilla habitat houses a troop of lowland gorillas