We stayed somewhere different too, in the Pineapple Hotel. Whilst it was a great little hotel for a couple of nights sleep with very comfortable beds, free bikes to use and a little dog toy to keep you company, it is not really a hotel for tourists, it is definitely more tailored for the business traveler. But it was located in the heart of the Gaslamp area which is the place to be in San Diego.
We wanted to see a Major League baseball game whilst in the US. Ideally, Lee wanted to see the Cardinals (being a Cardinals fan) but we checked every single game they were playing whilst we were in the US (home and away) and we just couldn't line up the trip to make it happen. So we agreed to try to see another Major League baseball team so we could take in the atmosphere and experience.
A couple of days before we arrived we noticed that the San Diego Padres were playing at home to the San Francisco Giants on the days we were visiting. What was even better was that Petco Park, the home stadium for the Padres, is located in the Gaslamp area, a 10-minute walk from our hotel. We bought tickets in advance online although we needn't have worried, the upper tiers where we were had plenty of empty seats and it was very easy to buy tickets before the game from one of the automatic ticket machines, not like football back home!
Also unlike football was the food and drink offerings in the stadium, there was so much choice although at $13 (over a tenner) for a beer, it was really expensive. It was a good thing that we had been to Bub's at the Ballpark to have our favourite garbage wings and a few drinks before the game.
On the way to our seats, we noticed a children's area where Padres employees were inviting kids to come and play a game of baseball. We ended up watching them for a while and it was great seeing those who'd never played before managing to hit the ball, the kids who didn't know the rules and run around the wrong way but were so proud of themselves for getting all the way around and those that clearly want to be pro one day, being caught out by the smallest kid on the field. One thing America does so much better than we do in Europe is support minor league, school and college sports. They are just as fun and entertaining (maybe more so) than the professional teams and the kids must get so much out of having such a big crowd behind them.
The (major league) game itself was a lot of fun. Between innings, there was always something going on and even during the game, you'll see lots of 'interesting' facts about players on the screen although some of them were a little weird.
Our favourite break from the game was the camera panning around to a Mum with her teenage children. The Mum starts dancing (rather sexily) and one of the teenage sons gets really embarrassed. It was so funny watching him squirm and try to hide his face as his Mum shakes her booty. Everyone was laughing so much, they panned over to this family a couple of times during the whole game, the son getting more and more embarrassed each time!
Another highlight was the fire and fireworks that went off when a home run was hit by the Padres (there was only one). I think this is something we should take into football back home, it would be great for flames to come out of the top of the goal each time Spurs scored although maybe a little dangerous for the goalie.
Lee decided to support the home team who up to this point, were losing every match. Their run of losses was so bad, there were more Giants fans in the stadium than Padres fans. Strangely, Lee was both surprised and annoyed when they lost again although maybe their losing streak was starting to come to an end as it was neck and neck after the 9th innings (the point when the game normally ends if its not a draw) and the Giants only won after the Padres fell apart in the 10th.
The next day, we grabbed some breakfast in Gaslamp which include a giant Mimosa and a Bloody Mary with bacon, before picking up some scooters (Lime and Bird ones again) and scooting down the Gaslamp and along the harbor. The last couple of times we visited, there was extensive work being done to the piers and the harbor, we wanted to see what it now looked like.
After dumping the scooters (you literally just dump them where you stop and take a quick picture to show you've not been an idiot about it) we waited for the Coronado Ferry. We loved Coronado Island the last times we visited but we had always gone over the bridge on a tour bus, we wanted to try the ferry this time. The ferry definitely beats the bus. As the ferry leaves, you get to see an amazing view of the San Diego skyline. This is the way we'd travel to Coronado Island in future!
The ferry landed at a side of the island we hadn't seen before. It was a small outdoor shopping center with bars and restaurants where you could sit out and look over the water. We picked up some shaved ice and enjoyed people watching for a while. Shaved ice is in between a slush and an ice lolly, its bigger pieces of ice covered in fruit juices. Knowing what American portions are like, I went with a small but Lee went with a large, it was bigger than his head and a real struggle to finish (although through determination he did it, without throwing up - man vs food and man won!).
Our favourite side of the island is by the Hotel Coronado, one of the filming locations for Some Like It Hot. As has now become a tradition, we always seem to turn up to this bright white beach completely unprepared so we popped into one of the local shops for some sunscreen and a blanket and then snoozed on the beach.
You'll see from our video the common theme of aircraft. Being in San Diego is like being at an airshow. With a Navy Base located on Coronado Island and the home of the Navy Seals being in San Diego too, there is a constant stream of military aircraft overhead, military boats in the water and exercises going on. You could spend hours just watching.
We had planned to go to one of our favourte Mexican restaurants that evening in Old Town but by the time we caught the free bus back to the ferry, the ferry back over to Gaslamp and walked back to the hotel, it was a little late. Instead we headed to a couple of bars around Gaslamp where we had a recommendation for a sushi place called Taka Sushi. The sushi was awesome, so fresh and unlike many sushi places you go to, the sushi chefs were really interactive. Unlike other sushi places we had been to in San Diego, this place felt very local and was actually really reasonably priced.
One of the things we like about Gaslamp are all the bars and restaurants concentrated around a couple of streets. After dinner, we had a couple of nightcaps before heading to bed.
SanDiego the Pinapple hotel Bedroom looked quite posh. Were you allowed to keep the soft toy?
ReplyDeleteGood you got to see a Baseball game but hope you were not too thirsty @ 13 dollar a beer;-)
Very good sing along from Lee but wish the cameras had picked him out that would have been great to see :-)
The Scooters would have been right up my street and I would have definitely given You both a race :-)
The military part of the Vid. pleased Dad a lot !! :-)
The shaved ice drinks looked very refreshing but Lee’s size would have given me “ brain freeze “ ( especially as they tasted icy Lee :-) ) I would never have guessed ;-);-)
Love to you both Mum XX
As much as I liked seeing the great outdoors, it is cool to see you back in a city and SD looks great. Great tunez for the soundtrack to this vid.
ReplyDeleteThe ball game looked good, you were high up and the stadium was empty to start with for what must be a local derby game. It filled up and I realised how long the game goes for so I assume more people turn up for the latter stages of the game. That must be a bit weird, like turning up to a footie match after 65 mins!
The scooters looked great fun again and is defo a cool way to get around. The SD skyline was pretty amazing and the shaved ices looked just what you needed on a hot day, although perhaps not bucket sized. Good Man v Food ref and a fellow yiddo too.
The Aircraft carrier was way cool and I didn't appreciate how mahoosive they are, seeing it against the docks and buildings, you really appreciate the scale.
Gaslamp looks a great place to spend the evening and the Sushi did look nice, although I'd have plumped for the Crab Shack I saw as you were on the ferry.
Speaking of which, made me chuckle as I rememebered Lee doesn't ahve great sea legs, from our trips across the channel as kids.
The beach looked great too, did you have a dip in the sea? You both have nice tans btw.
PS - Was he wearing both your top and shorts?