DAY 33---SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

 THERE ARE LOTS OF PHOTOS ON THIS POST.  I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CLICK ON THEM TO ENLARGE THEM TO GET FULL APPRECIATION OF SAN DIEGO.

We sailed in beginning at 10am and was docked at the Broadway pier by 11am.  Sunny and low 70's today.  

LAST NIGHT:

                          Murphy presenting my "Purple Angle" carmenere Chilean wine.

I give Dara the "thumbs up" when we are ready to order.

      Caesar salad with my 5 anchovies and dressing on the side so we can put tabasco in it.

                                                                Perfect beef wellington.

                                                 Pecan pie cheesecake again.  YUMMY

         Executive chef, Oleksandr stopped by at our request.  He rarely comes out of kitchen.

TODAY:

North Island Naval Air Station is a huge naval base.  In this photo are munitions storage bunkers.  Base is located on Coronado Island.

                               Used 10 power lens to get part of a very large military cemetery. 

                                                               Naval ship repair area.

                                                        Escorted in by a coast guard boat.

                                                    Forward machine gun was manned.

                                                        Fighter taxiing out for takeoff

        About to takeoff and what a racket the fighter made with afterburner during takeoff roll.

                                                       Lots of helicopters at the base.

                                                  Downtown--where we will be docking.

                                        USS Midway---Aircraft carrier that is now a museum.

                                                                Bridge to Coronado

                               San Diego airport next to the marina very close to downtown.

                                                                     Broadway Pier

                                         Disney Wonder with passengers disembarking today.

                                                   View forward from our pier today.

                                                                  USS Midway again

        They started the face-to-face with Customs/Border Protection officers began at 11am.  We were among the last to clear as did not want to sit in the cruise terminal for very long.  Every one had to clear before anyone could reboard.

        Wolfgang, corporate chef from Austria, and Jasna, corporate head of housekeeping from Croatia, were right behind us clearing so we had a nice chat with them while waiting in the terminal.  Wolfgang called the executive chef and ordered Jeff's birthday cake for the 28th.  They are two great people.

        We had booked a two hour trolley tour of San Diego that was to depart at 12:30.  It was just after 12:30 when they let us reboard the ship.  We have been here many times so decided to not do the tour.  

        Instead I grabbed my sunglasses and headed off the ship for a walk.  Wanted to go to Ross store.  Well it was a mile walk to get to Ross and the store was terrible.  Waste of time!!  Heading back towards the ship I passed many crewmembers heading in.  On my walk I decided San Diego was a filthy city.  The sidewalks were gross.  My walk was nearly 3 miles and it was 2:30 before I was back.

USS Midway Museum is a historical aircraft carrier museum located at the Navy Pier downtown.  The Midway was the United States longest serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century, from 1945 to 1992.

                                                                     Strange trees.

                 Giant sized statue called "The Kiss" in Tuna Harbor Park near USS Midway.

Bob Hope with figures representing all types of military.  He was know for his USO Tours and entertaining the troops.  There was a recording playing with him telling jokes that he used during his shows.

                                  Restaurant called "The Fish Market" fight on bay front.

                                                                  Interesting street lamps.

                                                                        Train station

                                 After a mile walk I got to this poor excuse of a Ross store. 

        I spoke with Jeff on the phone this afternoon.  He flew to Long Beach today and will be spending the night there.  He said he luggage also arrived so all it good.  He plans on arriving at the Pier 93 for embarkation at noon tomorrow.

        I spoke with our Chief Purser, Brenda, this morning and she will make sure Jeff boards in a timely manner.  She is from my favorite city in the world, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  I also spoke to William, Executive Concierge, about Jeff's boarding.

        The ship is not sailing until 10pm as it is a very short trip up to LA where we will be docked by 7am.  Almost everyone will be disembarking except for two other couples besides us.  

        So our plan for this evening is cocktail hour in our suite followed by dinner in Sette Mari.  Chef Siegfried is making me another veal parmesan.  We plan to go see Mark Preston's second show at 9:30 in the theater.  Prior to it I want to get some night photos of the city.

        Well, big day tomorrow as have not seen Jeff in a couple years.