What we did this weekend
Sep. 8th, 2024 05:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madbakerWe flew to San Diego for a quick getaway. I know we went to Italy a few months ago, but this was a somewhat spur-of-the-moment weekend vacation.
The hour flight was easy and when we got in on Friday, we found out our hotel (like several here in SF) was being picketed and yelled at. I'm not unsympathetic but I don't refuse to cross a line, so we checked in. It did mean that we could hear drumming and megaphone-yelling most of the time (except between 10 PM and 7 AM, which seemed like a negotiation - as was the fact that the main hotel doors were shut, so you had to walk through the line to get in. At least things were peaceful, but this has been going on a couple weeks so everyone has settled in.)
Anyway, we walked to the local district and had some reasonably tasty fish tacos. I had an over-hopped IPA, which is most of what San Diego produces beer-wise. Then we went to a Giants/Padres ballgame. That's when we found out that the park refused to let us in with the wife's purse; they only allow transparent bags, basically a gallon Ziploc. Now I don't think this actually increases security so much as it's a Kabuki performance to try to persuade people that there's security. Plus the team can prohibit outside food and drink and sell more, he said cynically. There is a rent-a-locker there but the wife refused to pay the $12 for it, especially when the guy there pulled petty power, and so she walked back to our room and dropped stuff off. Round trip was an additional 10 minutes but it put us both in a more-foul mood.
When we were oh-so-graciously allowed in, we walked all around the park. It's a decent ballpark, Camden Yards retro-style. We bought some barbecue sandwiches (not that great) and I had planned to have another beer or two, but wasn't feeling it. The game itself went about as we expected - the Giants looked tired and overmatched, losing without putting up too much of a fight. I was un-thrilled by the constant basketball-style flashing lights and over-loud exhortations to the crowd. Baseball has fully caved to the short attention span to "stay relevant". There was a sizeable Giants fan contingent.
Saturday we walked back to the area around the park and got a good breakfast. Then we caught a cab to the zoo. It was too hot for most of the animals to do anything. Us too. We walked around until we decided we were done, then walked about ten minutes to the San Diego Fine Arts museum. It had some paintings the wife wanted to see; unfortunately, the Giotto that was the top draw wasn't on display. There were only two floors and the first floor was all 20th c, which we skipped. So we went to the local overpriced restaurant and had a drink to cool down.
Eventually we made our way back and had dinner at a fish place. It was quite good and pretty much exactly what we wanted. I had a good local beer that was not overhopped, being like a Sierra Nevada pale ale. We got back to our room just as the ballgame ended, with the Giants actually winning.
Sunday we tried a different breakfast place, sadly less exciting. Then to the airport and home, where we can rejoice in not having to have air conditioning to be comfortable.
The hour flight was easy and when we got in on Friday, we found out our hotel (like several here in SF) was being picketed and yelled at. I'm not unsympathetic but I don't refuse to cross a line, so we checked in. It did mean that we could hear drumming and megaphone-yelling most of the time (except between 10 PM and 7 AM, which seemed like a negotiation - as was the fact that the main hotel doors were shut, so you had to walk through the line to get in. At least things were peaceful, but this has been going on a couple weeks so everyone has settled in.)
Anyway, we walked to the local district and had some reasonably tasty fish tacos. I had an over-hopped IPA, which is most of what San Diego produces beer-wise. Then we went to a Giants/Padres ballgame. That's when we found out that the park refused to let us in with the wife's purse; they only allow transparent bags, basically a gallon Ziploc. Now I don't think this actually increases security so much as it's a Kabuki performance to try to persuade people that there's security. Plus the team can prohibit outside food and drink and sell more, he said cynically. There is a rent-a-locker there but the wife refused to pay the $12 for it, especially when the guy there pulled petty power, and so she walked back to our room and dropped stuff off. Round trip was an additional 10 minutes but it put us both in a more-foul mood.
When we were oh-so-graciously allowed in, we walked all around the park. It's a decent ballpark, Camden Yards retro-style. We bought some barbecue sandwiches (not that great) and I had planned to have another beer or two, but wasn't feeling it. The game itself went about as we expected - the Giants looked tired and overmatched, losing without putting up too much of a fight. I was un-thrilled by the constant basketball-style flashing lights and over-loud exhortations to the crowd. Baseball has fully caved to the short attention span to "stay relevant". There was a sizeable Giants fan contingent.
Saturday we walked back to the area around the park and got a good breakfast. Then we caught a cab to the zoo. It was too hot for most of the animals to do anything. Us too. We walked around until we decided we were done, then walked about ten minutes to the San Diego Fine Arts museum. It had some paintings the wife wanted to see; unfortunately, the Giotto that was the top draw wasn't on display. There were only two floors and the first floor was all 20th c, which we skipped. So we went to the local overpriced restaurant and had a drink to cool down.
Eventually we made our way back and had dinner at a fish place. It was quite good and pretty much exactly what we wanted. I had a good local beer that was not overhopped, being like a Sierra Nevada pale ale. We got back to our room just as the ballgame ended, with the Giants actually winning.
Sunday we tried a different breakfast place, sadly less exciting. Then to the airport and home, where we can rejoice in not having to have air conditioning to be comfortable.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-09 05:34 pm (UTC)I've dealt with the "see through" purse thing before, too. I have 1 special cross-body bag that's entirely see-through. Our local high school uses the Concord Pavilion for graduations and sometimes they enforce that kind of security. I've been thinking of adding lots of tampons around my wallet/keys/chapstick next time I use it. Because I'm immature like that.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-09 06:27 pm (UTC)