Turning 30 in SoCal

This weekend we went on a road trip to San Diego and I turned 30....

 

San Diego is at the Southern most point of California, and borders Mexico but it is only about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.  We were lucky to have borrowed Iain’s boss’s massive gas guzzling 4x4 which is totally unnecessary but ensured we didn’t feel quite so intimidated by the SEVEN lane highways!! 

The highlights:
                    Endaevour's-last voyage

 

The first bit of excitement happened even before we left LA when, by chance, we spotted the ENDAEVOUR space shuttle piggy-backing on a jumbo jet on its last voyage and to its final resting place in Los Angeles. Now you dont see that every day!!

                        Sunny San Clemente

 

On our way down the coast we stopped for lunch in a chilled-out surf town in Orange County, called San Clemente.  It had a board walk right out into the sea and we found a little spot to have fish and chips on the pier while watching some very bronzed and buffed surfers show off before heading into San Diego. 

Saturday was spent visiting San Diego’s main attractions including  the famous San Diego zoo-where I saw my first panda (although for Edinburgh folk that’s probably not all that special now a days!!) and Mission beach where Iain plucked up enough courage to rent a surf board and have a go.
                        La Jolla Seals

 

One of my favourite parts of our San Diego trip was “Birthday brunch” spent at the Brockton Villa, La Jolla. La Jolla, (pronounced La HOY-YA) is a lovely little cliff top town in North San Diego famous for its cliff tops views, sandy beaches and resident seals. We spent Sunday morning opening cards, phoning home and sampling some of Brockton Villa’s famous French toast while watching the La Jolla seals and the hoards of eager Sunday morning swimmers who also descended on the cove. The surveillance became slightly more exciting when Iain pointed out this would make a very rich feeding ground for the more predatory sea dwellers such as the 14 ft great white shark which had been spotted off the shores of La Jolla only several weeks ago!!

                   Birthday dinner in Little Tokyo

Once back in Santa Monica, and just when I thought my birthday celebrations were over our lovely lovely American friends took us out to sample some real Japanese cuisine in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA. I was having a fabulous evening and was just commenting how embarrassing it must be for the poor person who was being serenaded by the loudest rendition of Happy Birthday-ever until much to my surprise and horror I realised that person was me!! Totally mortified but secretly touched. Thanks Emily and Merko-feel like I’ve known you forever it has only been three weeks!!
                        Birthday Surprise

Thank you everyone for all the cards, and cupcakes and flowers and messages that made my 30^th birthday so special. I was really excited about joining the thirty’s club, until it dawned on me that my next big birthday celebration will be turning 40-ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Miss you lots,

Kx