San Diego

Up San Francisco Ridgecrest San Diego CA State Map

San Diego is a beautiful city and so much like many Australian costal cities (weather wise at least). It's no wonder so many ex-pat Australians live there. Through the years the area has been inhabited with Portuguese, Spanish and finally Americans so the diversity in their lifestyles is evident throughout the city.

We spent a few days in San Diego while Adam attended a work conference at a Marine base just north of the city. We visited the world class San Diego zoo, Coronado Island (location of the Naval base North Island), USS Midway (aircraft carrier), Maritime museum and Carol and Alexander did a city bus tour. Like many of the places we visited we could have spent days seeing the sights. We also took the opportunity to catch up with some other Australians in San Diego who Adam works with.

San Diego Zoo

Located in Balboa Park, the zoo has a fantastic selection of animals from around the world. This was Alexander's first trip to a zoo and while he probably won't remember it, he get to see some familiar and some not so familiar animals. Unfortunately all the koalas in the exhibit were sleeping while we were there. I guess that happens when they are nocturnal. If you're ever visiting San Diego this zoo is a must see. I think it's also worth a trip down from LA if you have time.

Maritime Museum

Located in San Diego Bay, the museum houses an impressive collection of historic sea vessels. The collection includes the Star of India (1863 iron windjammer), HMS Surprise (used in the movie Master and Commander) and a Soviet submarine.

The Star of India is actually the oldest ship that still sails regularly and the oldest iron hulled merchant ship still afloat. Not a bad record to hold. The HMS Surprise is actually a replica of HMS Rose and was built in 1970. It's not really entitled to the title HMS but has been registered that in honor of it's role in the movie Master and Commander. Life aboard either of these old vessels back in the day (either for the paying passengers or crew) would not have been great.

USS Midway

The USS Midway is a decommissioned aircraft carrier, coming floating naval aviation museum located just down the wharf from the San Diego Maritime Museum. The Midway had a long and illustrious career in the US Navy, first being commissioned in 1945. It underwent several modifications / overhauls during her career, going from a straight launch / recovery deck to the modern day offset deck of the aircraft carrier. Those modifications allowed her to say in service until 1992.

We did an audio tour through much of the ship and even though those aircraft carriers are massive, they certainly use all available space. I suppose you have to when you house 3000 or 4000 personnel onboard when underway on operations. Not my cuppa tea and I'm certainly glad I joined the Air Force!!!

Very tight sleeping quarters for the enlisted.

I guess you need a big anchor chain if you're to anchor a ship as big as the Midway

The maintenance deck would not have been this empty when on operations

Sea King Helicopter - actually the one that plucked some of the Apollo astronaunts from the sea after they returned to earth from their moon landings.

F-14 Tomcat (as used in the movie Top Gun)

The famous sailor returning home to the loved one statue next to the USS Midway

Other San Diego Photos

Here is a few other photos from around the beautiful town of San Diego. The Hotel del Coronado is located on Coronado Island, just across the bay from San Diego. We spent the first two nights there at the US Navy Lodge. Certainly a great place to stay and no wonder it books out during the summer months. It's right on the beach. Hotel del Coronado was built back in 1888 and has hosted Presidents, royalty and celebrities through the years. People just stop by the check out the lobby - well worth a look. We just had ice-cream there. I think that was all we could afford at that place.

Hotel del Coronado

Adam enjoying the San Diego beach

Alexander doing the sight seeing the hard way

Some Norfolk pines located in San Diego

Hotel del Coronado

Navy Lodge that we stayed at located right on the beach

Carol visited an old jail / police station as part of her city tour