We had been planning to go to Japan in November this year, but Japan's borders are still closed due to COVID-19. So we're planning our Japan trip possibly for next spring, and in the mean time, we did a few days in Southern California. This trip was November 11-17, 2021.
We stopped for dinner at Sushi Takashi, our favorite sushi spot in Las Vegas.
Thousand Oaks, California
We stayed in Thousand Oaks for our first night in SoCal. This is Santa Monica Beach.
Santa Monica Pier.
When we arrived at our hotel, we had to walk through the welcome line for an Indian wedding. The bride and groom were not far behind us.
El Matador Beach in MalibuThe next day we headed to El Matador Beach.
This beach has some cool tunnels in the rocks.
Video tour of Matador Beach
Tokyo Central
Then we headed to San Diego and stopped at Tokyo Central, a subsidiary of Don Quixote (Donki) in Japan. Donki is a crazy store crowded with people and merchandise of all sorts, from candy to food to socks with toes and luggage. It's also open 24 hours. Tokyo Central has the Donki feel.
Mission Bascillica San Diego de Alcala
This is the first of 21 Spanish Catholic missions that stretch from San Diego to Sonoma. It was built in 1769. It was moved in 1774 due to drought and burned down by the locals in 1775.
Video of the Mission. We happened to be here on Sunday just before mass.
San Diego
Statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on what is now California, in 1542.
The Hotel Coronado on Coronado Island, seen from Point Loma.
The route where Randy and I rode our bikes a couple months ago. We started in National City, across the bay and the strand in the middle of this view. We then rode south (to the right) to the beginning of the strand, up the strand to Coronado Island and around the hotel, across the bay and around the USS Midway on the ferry, and back to National City. I think it was about 25 or 30 miles.
Chieko in front of the Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo state.
The retired Cabrillo lighthouse at Point Loma.
Sunset from Point Loma.
Surfing below Point Loma at dusk.
Michael taking pictures of the sunset at Point Loma.
San Diego, looking from the military cemetery at Point Loma.
San Diego from the cemetery at Point Loma.
Video of Point Loma and sunset.
Tour of the USS Midway
San Diego Harbor
The first U.S. aircraft carrier and the latest. USS Langley and USS Gerald R. Ford.
Recipe for Navy Bean Soup. Feeds a lot of hungry sailors.
Fighter pilot Chieko.
Fighter pilot Michael.
Sailor kissing Wave in Times Square at end of WWII with Navy ships passing in the background.
Sailor kissing Wave in Times Square at end of WWII. Their size looks normal until you see the tourists near their feet.
Ensign Chieko with other enlisted sailors.
Video tour of the USS Midway.
Mitsuwa Grocery Store
Video tour of Mitsuwa. This is a highlight for us when we go to California. Salt Lake City doesn't have a large Japanese grocery store. SoCal has several. Tokyo Central has everything. Mitsuwa is a nicer, more comfortable store that has all types of food.
Balboa Park
We've been to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, but we've never really been aware of all the other things there are to see and do in the park. We visited the Japanese Friendship Garden one day and walked around other parts of the park a couple days later.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is playing in the playhouse here.
Crimson bottlebrush.
Crimson bottlebrush.
These monks are taking pictures in Balboa Park.
At the entrance to the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.
These are containers of all sorts in the Mingei International Museum. The box in the front left is for Sumo kimonos.
Masks from around the world.
Beaded horse.
Video tour of the Japanese Friendship Garden and other random places in Balboa Park.
Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve
Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve.
We hiked to the top of the hill, where the visitor center is.
We picked the time for our hike exactly when a heavy fog rolled in.
Last Day: Eat Lunch and Drive Home
Track Taco at Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill. Grilled fresh wild Pacific shrimp marinated in chipotle butter topped with Maui onion and mango slaw served on a fresh corn tortilla with melted cheddar, dressed with homemade white sauce, tomatillo sauce, and avocado finished with a pinch of queso fresco.
Driving Home from Las Vegas
It’s hard to drive through Beaver, Utah, without stopping at the Creamery for an ice cream. Chieko got the My Huckleberry, and I got a new temporary flavor called Toasted Almond Fudge.
