Across the USA by train.

On Monday, 16th September, we took the 11:00 flight to Heathrow, a delayed 15:20 BA flight to San Diego had us arrive at 19:45 local time (05:45 Tuesday am) - we had been awake for 23 hours!!  The Dublin - London leg really adds to the journey time !  How things have changed! On board, no longer does one receive any pack and one had to request head sets as most people (particularly the young) bring their own. However, head sets were provided. 

We’re staying in San Diego for 3 nights to get over the jet lag. From there we go by train to San Luis Obisqo, Sacramento, San Francisco, Reno, Denver, Chicago and finally terminate our journey in NYC - all courtesy of Amtrak. Some journeys are lengthy and require an  overnight on the train, other journeys will be completed in a matter of hours. I’ll advise as I go along......

Arriving at the airport, I was relieved to see a short queue for Emigration and no Customs check.  A twenty minute taxi ride and we had arrived at the Horton Grand Hotel, a Victorian Hotel 

                        The Hotel Bar

                         The Dining Room

located adjacent to the 15 block Victorian Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. 

San Diego is located on the the Pacific Ocean on the border with Mexico. It is the 7th city of the  US, 190 km south of LA. The area was occupied by Kumeyaay Indians 9,000 years ago.

It was the place of the first landing of Europeans in what is now known the West Coast of the US when in 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay and claimed the area for Spain. Permanent colonisation  by the Spaniards began in 1769. Initially part of the Mexican Empire, it became part of the US in 1848 and admitted to the Union in 1850.

Prior to 1867, there were many failed attempts to build a new town on the coast, but in that year Alonzo Horton purchased land along the coast and built a wharf at the end of 5th Avenue and NewTown  eclipsed Spanish Old Town. The avenue was lined with gas lamps, hence the name! 

Horton attracted investors but in addition to merchants, a Red Light District (Stingaree) emerged together with bars, gambling joints and brothels. In 1912, the city decided to host the Panamá - Californian Exposition, the brothels were raided by police and 138 women were sent out of the city by train!!! 

Some unsavory characters came to town in that era. The famous lawman Watt Earp arrived in 1885 having put law and order on cattle drives in Kansas and battled outlaws in OK Coral, Colorado. He set up gambling halls, organised gambling excursions to Mexico and prospected for gold and silver. He resided for a time here at the Horton Grand  Hotel!! 

We made the 10 minute walk to Santa Fe Railway Station en route crossing the trolley lines. To  my untrained eye, they appeared more like trains!

            Above Santa Fe Railway Station 

and across the tracks  - one of San Diego’s numerous skyscrapers - side by side - the old and the new!

The city is justly proud of its numerous sculptures 

J. went to visit The Midway Museum - the first aircraft carrier open to the public. While he was perusing the ship, I explored the harbour area and came across the iconic piece of art - a sailor kissing a nurse, commemorating the conclusion of WW11. 

Nearby was located the Bob Hope Park, where stood sculptures commemorating the veterans of WW11 with audio recordings of Bob Hope entertaining the troops 

As I made my way  along the harbour to Seaport,    another sculpture:





Seaport is a holiday village by the harbour complete with shops and restaurants 

On my return, to rejoin J, I could see Midway in the distance. 

We took lunch at the harbour and then boarded a ferry to take us to Coronado Island - at least it was an island - but since 1969, it had been linked to San Diego by a vast bridge. The bridge was opened by the then Governor Ronald Regan! 

We left San Diego behind as we made the 15 minute crossing to Coronado Island, San Diego’s holiday resort. 

In 1888, a luxury hotel was built on the island for the the delection of the rich and famous. Presidents visiting the area stay there.  Trump was to be campaigning in San Diego today but he missed us !! 

Its interior is built in mahagony. 

                             The Foyer



         The Grand Hall  where Nixon entertained.  

           The hotels adjoins a vast beach 

    The famous B&S  50 foot original mahogany Bar 

Some Like it Hot  (1959) starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis was filmed here at the hotel. 

We returned to the city by bus crossing the expansive bridge 

and made our way via 5th Avenue - The Gaslamp District and our hotel. 

Tonight we decided to eat in the nearby Gaslight Quarter - we were advised that there are many restaurants and quality varies. We chose an Italian - yes after a week in Rome - the quality was good but the price reflected the USA and not Rome !! Walking home we passed bar after bar - two Irish bars within metres of one another!! It is the Temple Bar (Dublin)  of San  Diego! 

Until tomorrow then ......