Hotel Del Coronado

After running on the beach one morning, I was left home while dad and momma went to Coronado Island (actually a peninsula) in San Diego Harbor. Momma is helping me write this blog since I only saw the pictures...just like you!

This huge, wooden hotel was built in 1887 and is a California Registered Historical Landmark.

 

It is too big to fit into one photo....

                       

These gold gates are part of an elevator that used to operate with steam.

The courtyard is beautifully landscaped. Monkeys and parrots used to live here...but the early guests complained!

Now this is a sandcastle!!!

At Christmas time this grassy area is turned into a skating rink!

Outdoor fireplaces keep the diners warm.

This round section is the most recognizable part of the hotel.

 The very funny movie, Some Like It Hot, with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon was made here.

Momma didn't "attract throngs," but she was glad she went on the tour....

On to Ocean Beach in San Diego

We're at the beach!!!!

I just love chasing balls and frisbees in the waves. If my frisbee sinks, I put my head under the water and grab it.

This is our back yard. There is a gate at the far end. 

This is a picture taken over the back gate. On our first morning, as we went by this clump of trees at 7 am, there were people sleeping under them! They scared me at first...but they haven't been back again. I think I scared them!

Right past the clump of trees is a great hiking/biking trail that goes for miles. 

The San Diego River is just across the sand dunes that are very close to our house. We walk down special paths so we don't trample the plants.

 We saw more people who don't have a home to sleep in.... They remind me of how I used to live before I got my "forever" home. 

The dog beach goes along the ocean and also down the side of the river. It is SO big....and only a few steps from our house. I love it here!

One day we walked really far to the fishing pier, hoping to eat at the cafe at the end....

 What did you say????? No dogs allowed on the pier???? That's not fair!

We are staying here for two weeks so dad got my crate out of the truck. I hadn't seen it since Christmas....I was so happy. I sleep in it every night with the door opened. The door only gets closed when momma and dad go on adventures where I'm not allowed to go. But they only leave me after letting me run and play at the beach for a long time. I just sleep while they are gone. See...I'm not spoiled!

Fabulous La Jolla and Spoiled Dog????

La Jolla is an affluent community, just 12 miles north of San Diego. Dad and momma really enjoyed the lovely restaurants and shops AND the 7 miles of rugged coastline.

Their favourite thing to do was to walk along the coast! The views were spectacular.

One area is called La Jolla Cove. Hundreds of sea lions enjoy the area, also!

We met a wonderful man who belongs to the La Jolla Swim Club. He swims a couple miles every day...and only wears a wetsuit when the water temperature goes below 60F. Brrrr....He and his teammates keep track of their miles. Their goal this winter is to swim enough miles collectively to reach Bora Bora...and they are almost there!  Where's Bora Bora???

 I heard the "barks" of the sea lions...and wasn't too interested in getting very close to them.

The Children's Pool area in La Jolla was built as a protected beach for children, with a sea wall keeping large waves from entering. The children enjoyed it for a short time...until the sea lions discovered it! Now children and adults go there to observe the sea lions in their natural habitat. Very soon mothers will give birth to young pups right here on this beach.   So I guess it's still a "children's" pool.

 It was fun watching them swim to the beach and get up onto dry sand.

 We drove up Mt. Soledad for more stunning views of the area.

To be honest, forget the fabulous ocean views...my favourite places are the dog parks! I played with this dog. His name is Herman, but he is no Pee Wee!

I can smell a dog park over a block away! I was so lucky to have a dog park at the end of our street. I went there every morning and late afternoon.

 One day momma and dad started laughing and told me I was SPOILED. We had this long mirror in our room all week, and I never paid any attention to it....until....I hadn't been to the dog park for my afternoon play time. It was almost supper time when I walked up to the mirror and saw another dog. I started whimpering because I wanted to play with this dog.  Momma and dad started laughing. I went and laid down for a while...then came back to the mirror. The dog was still there...so I started whimpering again. After a half hour of on-and-off whimpering, they finally took me to the dog park. Now, do I seem spoiled to you????

 I was so happy to see this "puppy" at the dog park. He is only 6 months old....I'm glad we played before he becomes an adult and weighs 150 pounds!

Momma and dad's friends from Buffalo will recognize Mary and Tom! We visited them in Encinitas and also walked the beautiful ocean trails in Carlsbad. We had a very special day!

Grand Canyon to Yuma, Arizona to La Jolla, CA

The sunset was so intense as we left the Grand Canyon that it looked like the flames of a forest fire, especially when it's out-of-focus. 

 Dad didn't want to take the interstate south through Arizona so we drove down the mountains along hair-pin turns...and reached the desert, once again. But this time we saw green grass and palm trees. We were in Yuma along with thousands of snowbird RV'ers. It was warm!

At the dog park I met a bigger dog that looked like me!

There were about seven large dogs and we all chased each other. We were having so much fun until...

the large group of racing dogs went by this fire hydrant...and a yellow retriever-type dog couldn't avoid it. Her back end hit it, and she started howling immediately and couldn't walk. We all stopped running...nobody felt like playing anymore. We knew she was hurt. At our dog park in Tobermory, I hope we don't have a steel fire hydrant. A plastic one would be much safer.

 After we crossed into California, we saw miles and miles of sand dunes.

There were ATV's racing all over.

 Finally, we reached La Jolla, which is just north of San Diego, and we stayed a few blocks from Windansea Beach.

 Momma called this a bird of paradise, but it doesn't seem able to fly.