OLD TOWN TROLLEY & SEAL TOUR- APRIL 29, 2011
Our sightseeing adventure of San Diego, California's second largest city, started from the birthplace of California at the Old Town Market in Old Town State Park, where Mexican settlers started building their homes in 1821.
Dr. Ben and Gladys Malayang, Laarni and Frank Gularek and Joel and Ligaya Simpkins hopped aboard a trolley at the Old Town Market, the first of 11 stops on a cool (mid to high 60s), partly sunny day. We wound our way along San Diego Harbor where the USS Midway is docked and proceeded to Seaport Village where we transferred to a Seal boat. After a few minutes of driving along the harbor where we viewed the Embarcadero, Star of India, tall ships, the PETCO park, Maritime museum and the Lindbergh airport, we entered San Diego Bay at which point our bus became amphibious and spent a good 1-2 hours on the water, viewing the San Diego cityscape, pelicans, fellow mariners and seals basking on docks.
On our return to Seaport Village, after a quick lunch of soup and sandwiches, we boarded our second trolley where our American conductor spoke welcome phrases in Tagalog. We wound around the Convention Center, Horton Plaza, the Gaslamp quarter known for the gaslamps and Victorian era buildings that have existed since the 1880s , the Hilton Bayfront and then crossed the famous 11,000 foot long Coronado bridge to Coronado Island, home to a U. S. Naval station. This beautiful island was formerly home to brush and jackrabbits before it evolved into one of the highest priced real estate areas where tiny homes can command prices in the millions.
Our tour ended with visits to Balboa Park, and Little Italy, after which we made a quick stop at the University of San Diego. We then proceeded to National City to meet up with Jay and Desiree Lao and had halo-halo and other desserts at Red Ribbon, courtesy of the Malayangs.
It was a fun day that provided a birds-eye view of San Diego. We wish we had had more time to stop and look the sights in a leisurely manner but were proud to show Dr. and Mrs. Malayang the city and county many alumni now call home.
