Last month, I had a total of 100 hours of layover time in San Diego. Surely that should have qualified for some sort of temporary resident status, no? I digress.
San Diego has really grown on me in the last few months, and I think it may soon knock Vegas out of the top spot as my favorite layover. The weather is consistently perfect, the food incredible, and the access to the beach? What more could you ask for?
My last trip for the month of November was a 30 hour layover. Since we got in around noon, that meant the majority of Tuesday and Wednesday were all mine to explore. As much as I love downtown, it was time for me to explore somewhere other than Gaslamp and Little Italy. As I researched things to do, I found out that San Diego was filled with things to do. Balboa Park, The San Diego Zoo, Old Town, Condado, La Jolla, sailing, hiking. The list quite literally went on and on. I had no idea San Diego had so much to offer, and such a diverse offering at that. I have heard nothing but great things about San Diego’s beaches, and in the mood for a chill day, opted for a quiet afternoon at one of the local beaches.
When we arrived at the hotel, most of the crew went off to do their own thing, while one of my other crewmembers and I made plans for the afternoon. A California native, Elaine was better than any guide book or Pinterest board. She too was looking to spend a few hours at the beach, but her beach day included a little something extra: a California burrito. I had no clue about this burrito she spoke of but I was fair game. After a quick nap, we got a Lyft and made our way over to Ocean Beach.
Our Lyft dropped us off on Newport Avenue which leads right up to Ocean Beach. OB reminded me of beach towns I knew in Maine and New Jersey, but with a very distinctive California vibe. Palm trees lined the sunny, bustling street of restaurants, cafes, and shops. A hostel closer to the beach had a spot outside designated for surfboards. Everyone we passed looked relaxed and happy. I could only describe it as chill.
We made our way down Newport, stopping into different clothing boutiques and antique shops along the way. While surfing was not on our agenda for the day, we stopped into Ocean Beach Surf and Skate Shop because it felt like the right thing to do. Now as a child of the 90’s/00’s, from Baywatch to California Dreams to Laguna Beach, there was no shortage of “exposure” to California and California surf culture in my youth. I was sure what I had seen on these TV shows was an exaggerated reality. tBoy, was I wrong! I couldn’t get over how cool it was that surfing was not just a sport, but in fact a way of life for some. (And a cool one at that.)
As we walked around OB Surf, always attracted to something shiny, a display of silver pendants with St. Christopher on them caught my eye. They were different sizes and different colors, all of them containing the inscription “St. Christopher, Protect Us.” What did St. Christopher have to do with surfing?! Turns out, St. Christopher, the protector of travelers, became popular amongst surfers back in the Sixties as a way of protection in their day-to-day lives. (You can read more about St Christopher in surf culture here.) The guy working in the shop at the time told us how his dad wore one, and how as a child, his dad gifted him the pendant he wears to this day. He had no idea what the meaning was behind the pendant, just that it unified him and his father, as well as his community.
After our visit to OB Surf, it was time to make our way to the beach, but first, burritos. Before Elaine brought it up earlier in the day, I had no clue what a California burrito was. I’d heard of it in passing, but never knew what it consisted of. Then Elaine told me. A carne asada burrito with french fries in it? I started salivating immediately. There was absolutely no way I would hate this. Plus, with its origins in San Diego, it was basically a local delicacy. We made out way over to Nico’s, got our burritos, and made our way down Newport to the beach.
Now I know this must be the East Coast in me talking, but I couldn’t get over how many people at the beach. People out with their dogs, sunbathing, taking walks, and meeting with friends. Not to mention the swimmers and surfers in the water. What felt like a summer day was simply a typical Tuesday afternoon in November in Ocean Beach. No season, nor time of day, or even time of week dictated when was or wasn’t a beach day. This was just life, business as usual.
We found a spot on the beach, settled in, and ate our burritos. It took only one bite for me to be totally hooked. Who knew french fries added that something extra, that something special, to a burrito? Between the burrito, the waves crashing against the shore, the outbound planes roaring gently over head, and the seemingly endless clear, blue sky, I was simply in a state of pure bliss.
Before we knew it, the sun was starting to set, and soon the sky soon became filled with some of the most vivid shades I have ever seen in my life. Red, orange, purple, blue. I was truly in awe of this moment. As I watched the waves roll in one last time, it dawned on me: this was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean! Up until this point, I had only ever flown over the Pacific! Even though it was cold, I took my shoes off and let the waves wash over my feet. Once the sun set, we made our way back up Newport Avenue where we stopped at Azucar, a Cuban bakery, where indulged in a night cap of rum soaked cake with dulce de leche.
The next morning, I woke up feeling happy and content. The previous days activities truly helped me to put things regarding my future into perspective. I felt inspired, renewed, and invigorated. Since I would be working the redeye that night, I opted for a day more on the relaxing side. I slept in a little later, and opted for some gentle stretching in my room instead of the gym. I caught up on some work and later crawled back into bed with a coffee and the last two episodes of This Is Us.
When afternoon rolled around, not one to stay in the room all day, I went out for a quick stroll by the waterfront. It was a bit chilly and overcast, but with sun breaks here and there and the salty ocean air, it was perfect to me. The waterfront is one of my favorite areas to walk around in San Diego because despite the pedicabs and people, it’s surprisingly peaceful. Since I had my camera with me, I took my time along the pier, getting in a few shots of the USS Midway and the Ultimate Surrender statue. And of course, taking in the sunset.
All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better layover/month in San Diego. And to think I was going to drop this trip…
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