February - finally over !!!

Watching Juanita and Aleida making salsa I decided I could do it!

But this gringo wasn’t born with the salsa gene.

A definite failure - too much garlic and not enough other flavor or spice.

Wednesday was beautiful.  Fran teamed up with her gal-pals to play 18 holes at the Balboa course.

That got me thinking I have a half-price ticket good for admission to any/all museums in Balboa Park.  So I too will be in Balboa Park.

The Botanical Building restoration will not be completed for a few more months.  The original 1915 style will be preserved ... YAY!

.

The shaded walkways of the Prado are always inviting.

Kg and Aj spent a summer camp at the top of these stairs for acting.  They performed CATS upon graduation.

I’m sure that our kids, Kami and Michael were the last generation to climb the Moreton Bay Fig, which was planted in 1915.

Spanish Village is open daily featuring art and crafts from the area, most with a Spanish influence.

The shops surround a colorful plaza, reminiscent of a Latin market.

I thought of wandering in the rose garden, but alas nothing in bloom, but the fountain would be inviting on a summer day.

There are several fountains in Balboa Park.  Perhaps a fountain walk will be in a future blog ...

The main fountain is Bea Emerson fountain in Plaza de Balboa, which is located between the Fleet Science Center and the Natural History Museum, at the end of the Prado.

I chose not to take the down/back flight of stairs to the Zorro Gardens.  During the California Pacific Expo a ‘nudist colony’ was housed here and performed various rituals to the Sun God.  For an entrance fee of 25 cents a person could watch.

It’s now a butterfly garden with free admission.

Another long shaded walkway returning down the Prado.

The Plaza de Panama Fountain is another well photographed fountain located in front of the Spreckels Oregon Pavilion.

My destination is the building on the left.  The Mingei International Museum.  The building also houses a coffee shop, Craft Cafe.

And the Artifact.  A place we considered for lunch with Joe and Gay.  It does have adult beverages, and food options, but way to much noise for a visit.

It is one of the few, if the only, museum we have not visited. 

.

.

.

A good dining choice, although it’s a bit pricey, The Prado, it remains the place for a special meal. … or Jimmy Carters …

The Museum of Us, formally the Museum of Man, stands proudly on the Prado.

My turn around was at the Founders Plaza.  Statues of Morse and Horton are shown laying out what was to become San Diego.

But poor George Marston has Caution Tape wrapped around his neck!  He sits next to a lily pond, in need of repair … ARG!

BTW - Kate Sessions sculpture is directly across the street.  There was some encounter happening on the corner, and I’ve shared her contributions before.

The following day was also postcard perfect.  We decided to do a bike ride around Mission Bay.  We planned to stop for fish tacos at Aquarius Grill, but Charli’s Landing has opened in the Royal Rooster location.  Gotta try it!

The menu is pretty limited, but it had what we wanted … fish tacos!  With the choice of grilled or fried, grilled; choice of tortilla flour or corn, one of each; choice of red or green sauce, again one of each.

Next time it’ll be grilled on corn with red sauce. 

Monday we were off to Washington Dental in Tijuana.  It’s been awhile since we attended to our dental hygiene.  The Tijuana PedWest crossing is being used for migrant processing, putting a huge demand on the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing.  Wait times of 3 hours are not uncommon, so we just stayed put.

After reviewing Fran's the X-Rays, at Washington Dental, it was an easy choice for implants!  While I enjoyed a margarita at Tijuana Tilly's, the necessary preparation was done ... and I couldn't hear a single ouch from across the street :)  I watched the Padres game while Fran was put thru the process of extraction, bone graft and anchors.  Padres lost.  But Fran is going to have an awesome smile!

And Thursday Rufus was re-tired.  6 new Michelin Agilis Crossclimate replaced the old Michelin LTX, which gave a good 60,000 miles.  Hope these will do as well.

Where will you be for the April 8th fill eclipse?  We'll be traveling later this month for Ohio too share the experience with Fran's family there. We shared the previous full eclipse with my family in Idaho Falls.  That blog is HERE.

.