I’ve been positively giddy since arriving in San Diego on Wednesday night for the Enrichment Voyage and returning to my old home. In fact, I’m just two doors down from my old cabin!
That night, I was able to meet my ship daughter Molly, our friend Craig, and my former work study students Mikey and Maryum for dinner at Knotty Barrel for a brief catch-up. The best thing about being involved in Semester at Sea has definitely been the number of friends I now have scattered around the country and the globe. I feel like all I’ve done since getting off the ship in December is visit many of them!
There wasn’t a whole lot that needed to be done yesterday, as ISE was hosting open ships for prospective and future students, so after getting my office all set up, I took off for a wander around San Diego with my camera.
I’ve been to San Diego a handful of times, but the last visit was for Holly’s wedding in 2009. It was surprisingly brisk this time around, with temps hovering around 64—a huge change from the 92 degrees I left behind in Nashville the previous day. So no one was more surprised than me when I returned to the ship a few hours later having reached lobster status. After weeks of insomnia, I fell asleep on a bench while reading the second installment of Divergent and woke up an hour and a half later—I’m pretty sure this admission classifies me as a full-fledged “vagabond”—and forgot to apply sunscreen before I left. Stupid girl!
I find San Diego rather funny in its obvious identity crisis: It’s got beautiful beaches, it’s a huge Naval base, it has all the makings of an urban hub in a tropical environment.
And yet, it still insists of being artsy, as evidenced by all the random installations scattered among town.
I mean, a sea dragon—really?
Even the buildings and shadows insist on symmetry.
There’s no denying, though, that San Diego is a magnificent city and one that grows on me more and more every time I’m in town.
And while I have zero regrets about moving away from California—the South just suits me better, plain and simple—it sure is nice to come back for a visit every once and awhile.
Vagabond.
What does that make you then–a vagabond’s wife?
Dang skippy. Which is even more vagrant than you.
Awesome photos! I was just in San Diego myself, and did a few blog posts on the trip. I completely agree with you – SD grew on me since my first trip, and I appreciated it more this time around.
I will have to check out your posts on the experience, too! Fun city, great weather.
I’m not going to lie San Diego never really attracted me as a destination but after this post you’re making me want to go!
PS. Did you like Insurgent? I’m not super into yet…
I’m only at 50%! So I guess the answer would be, “I’m clearly not so into this one as the first given that it’s taken me five days and I’m just halfway done?” I read Divergent in just an afternoon. Boo!
Loving that lens you’re using on the pics! And yes, San Diego seems far from an “arty” city. The dragon installation made me laugh. But it’s on the list if only for the fish tacos. I need to re-watch “I Love You Man.”
Oooh me, too! Actually had it on my laptop while on the ship but had zero free time to watch it =)
I’ve only been in San Diego twice and have definitely not seen it all. Your images make me want to go back again. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVED the sea dragon. What are you thinking?
He’s a bit creepy…
I love the photography in this post. What kind of lens and/ or technique are you using?
Thanks, Thais! It’s a Sigma 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC HSM Circular Fisheye lens. I’m obsessed!
welcome to my hometown, again! hope you enjoyed it. gorgeous photos, as always
How could I not–such a beautiful place, and you live there!
Love the new lens! I miss SD so much!!!
Thanks, girl! It’s fun–now, I just need to figure out how to do circular crops in Photoshop
I love the Navy sailor statue – I wrote about that a couple weeks ago. I hear they’re taking it down for good this month