On the road again!: Week 6 - second day in San Diego...an almost perfect day!

Cabrillo Point on Point Loma, outside San Diego

Today was an almost perfect day!
The day started out a bit overcast and drizzly which was a bit of a bummer as we'd planned to have an outside day. But, our air filter needed changing in the Prius and Mark decided to tackle that first. We went to a Jiffy Lube where he talked with a guy about it and the guy showed him how to take off the glove compartment door and remove the filter. So, we went to an auto parts store and Mark changed it in the parking lot. That was a good start to the day as we felt we'd accomplished something. (Although I did nothing at all!)

San Diego Harbor from Cabrillo Point

Next, we drove out to Cabrillo Monument at the end of Point Loma, despite the weather. I applied for my Eagle Pass for the National Parks, which is good to have. I guess there are a few perks for getting older! Now we get into all national parks and monuments for free, which is great. Anyhow, we walked around up there and the weather began to clear.

Mark eating on Coronado Island

Next, we drove to Coronado Island where we walked around and check out places to eat. We decided to eat at the grand old hotel there and got two pre-packaged meals at their deli. I had a chicken caesar salad for half of what it would have cost to have it at one of their restaurants. Then, we took our meals out on the lawn and had a relaxing meal watching people, the water, the palm trees. There was a woman who had four birds of prey, too which she said they use for pest abatement at the hotel.
From there, we headed down Coronado Island to the Tijuana River Estuary, about 3 miles from Mexico and had a 2+ mile bird walk down to the river's mouth and back. Unfortunately, we did not remember our binoculars, but the ranger there loaned us two pairs, which was very kind and trusting. I thought the best bird that we saw was a Western Meadowlark. The colors were amazingly vivid and the song was beautiful. We also saw some hummingbirds, pelicans, cormorants, a few curlews and some avocets, along with unidentified ducks. There were also many red-wing blackbirds. Anyhow, it was lovely and sunny and warm.

Imperial Beach 'art'...

And...from another angle!

Then, we went back to our hotel and changed for the theater. We stopped not far from Balboa Park for some take-out sushi and ate it outside the Old Globe Theater, one of our very favorite theaters in the U.S. We have never seen a badly done performance and there is not a bad seat in the house. It is theater in the round. We saw Anna Christie by Eugene O'Neill. It was powerful and well acted. The set, which re-created a barge at sea was amazing, complete with pretty dense fog. We thoroughly enjoyed it.