sunny san diego

Another post from 2 years ago saved in the draft list
__________

It is that time again. Time to write another post. It seems that I cannot bring myself to write regularly. I blame work.

Anyways, back on October 11th, 2013 I left the East Coast for the sunny West Coast for a softball tournament. Let me tell you now: that flight is not particularly fun. Especially when it is split up with a layover. Although, the layover was in my homeland, Minnesota. It was nice to be home, albeit for only 2 hours.

Upon my arrival to San Diego the plane emptied into the newly renovated terminal. That terminal was HUGE! Very nicely designed too. I was walking down the terminal trying to get to Gate 7 where my friends were arriving. Little did I know that Gate 44, where I arrived, was on the other side of the world from Gate 7. It reminded me of trying to catch a connection in Detroit. Now that airport is huge. I see now why cars were invented...

After getting my weekly exercise walking to meet my friends we grabbed a cab and headed to our hotel, The Lafayette. The hotel was built in a grand colonial style in 1946 by former car dealer and developer Larry Imig. He hoped to create a legacy vacation resort and hideaway for the celebrity elite. I have to say, he did a very good job. That hotel was incredible. The central courtyard that boasts a 9 foot deep pool is a great gathering space for all hotel guests. Guests can also enjoy the meeting and event spaces and a delicious restaurant complete with bar (a necessity). Non-service pets are not allowed in the hotel, but there is a pet hotel right next door. You can also get a preferred rate if you mention you are a Lafayette guest! How wonderful is that?! Quite wonderful. Now I just need to find a husband with a dog!

The softball tournament, the Autumn Classic, was great. The team that asked me to play with them was awesome. And all the competition was amazing. It was a great couple of days playing. So much softball though! Ugh, exhausted. Random side note: Be careful with IcyHot on your legs. I had a terribly painful reaction to it - woke up in the middle of the night to what felt like my legs on fire! I swear by BioFreeze now. So much better!

The nightlife in San Diego was fun as well. One of the nights we went out to Urban Mo's for some drinks and dancing. Our friend, Jim, was a happy camper as they were playing mostly Madonna all night. She is a diva. Jim I mean, not Madonna. Well...Madonna is too.

One of the other nights we drove out to one of the burbs on the coast and ate an amazing Italian restaurant. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name. And it is driving me nuts. In any case, it was incredible. Take my word for it! You will just have to go out, try every Italian restaurant in the San Diego area, pick the best one - that is the one I am talking about.

It was wonderful to have my first experience in California be in a city like San Diego. It definitely has made me want to go back. My aunt has a place in Palm Springs that I would love to visit. My parents went out there last winter...did not invite me though. Stingey bums!

steinkraus.