Please find a few photos on this video link below ⬇️.
It was an early start today due to us taking a flight to our next destination, San Diego. The hotel arranged a taxi for us to be collected at 9:30. The taxi driver was ex army and told us that he’d been in Iraq, he’d managed to pay his mortgage off and he had been married for 11 years. His mortgage payments and putting three kinds through school was costing him $13000 per month at one point. Crazy money which was funded by him not only running two taxis, but working in Scoma’s Restaurant on a night and as a real estate broker on a weekend. He has also seen the Rolling Stones 13 times! We told him we were going to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers tomorrow and he’d seen them too, with Beastie Boys supporting them.
The journey passed quickly and we soon arrived at the airport. Security was a bit disorganised and it took longer than expected to get through with one of the security guys constantly shouting at people to move down the queue. However we did get chance to sit and relax with a glass of Californian wine before boarding our flight. Everything seemed much calmer airside. We flew with Alaska Airlines on a half empty plane with staff who looked after us well for the one hour five minute journey, as long as it takes us on a bus from Hornsea to Hull. It was easy as we only have hand luggage (our rucksacks comply with the cabin bag requirements) so no long wait in the airport at San Diego.
As soon as we left the airport we could feel the heat in the Southern Californian sun. There was no queue for the taxi so we were soon on our way.
It took about 15-20 minutes to arrive at the Andaz hotel located on 600 F Street. We chose this area as it’s in the Gaslamp Quarter, a busy and vibrant area of San Diego. It’s also close to Petco Park.
Check-in was smooth and we were straight to our room to freshen up. Once we’d settled in we headed out. Barley Mash was the first place we found on Fifth Avenue. This place prides itself on its selection of beers and bourbons. We sat at the bar and had a couple of beers and a bite to eat. Hospitality was good.
We went for a walk to the convention centre on W Harbor Drive. Beyond this is San Diego’s sparkling coastline and from here we could see the Coronado Bridge and the marina.
We headed back to Fifth and found another bar called Union Kitchen and Tap. We sat outside and it was just such a nice feeling to be out in the fresh air. A visit to Lou and Mickey’s Restaurant followed. This was somewhere that we had visited the last time we came to San Diego in 2017. We had memories of oyster eating which left a bit to be desired. Apart from the oysters (which I will never eat again), the food was too rich and there was no time given between courses. I felt like I’d been force-fed and left disappointed.
We walked back towards the hotel and Fifth Avenue was buzzing. We arrived back at Andaz and had a drink in the rooftop bar, which ended the day nicely.
jctraveller 
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