Having completed the full Transcontinental North Trek (NYC to LA) we began the other half with a trip down south to San Diego with Matt, our new Trek leader for the second half of the Trek. We said our good byes to 4 peeps doing only the northern Trek and the other group which had pretty much tracked us the whole way...
Not that long of a drive down to San Diego, which was a bit strange. So was the campsite - well city.... three pools, a jacuzzi, a beach! Crickey! It was more like a small town than a campsite. From there we explored San Diego in the afternoon, had our hopes built up about a baseball match, only to have them shattered when we arrived to find empty ticket booths which were completely sold out. Nevermind, off to Mexico instead. It's a tough life.
We crossed the border into Tijuana, which I can only describe as Liverpool.
The Mexican border. There could not be more of a contrast. You literally walk through two sets of metal gates (below). No immigration, no checks, nothing. It seems as though they;ll take anyone into their country. It's kinda pathetic that they don't care. Maybe it's because it doesn't matter who you are, or what you're there for, in their eyes anyone who comes might just spend...!
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The high security Mexican border! A metal gate. That's it.
Tijuana. There's actually people who live in that giant sewer. You can see them to the far left:
Tijuana must give a bad impression of Mexico. I mean it can't all be as bad as that. The level of poverty was pretty dire. I had a little boy, probably just 2, who clearly spotted me a mile off. I wasn't interested in buying his necklaces but he was pointing and tugging on my drink. All he wanted was a drink...
But if you see past the poverty, and the 1000s of drug stores there's definitely some character to the place. This picture probably comes close. Another pharmacy, a small girl trying to sell bracelets to the right, sombreros in the background and full on hustle and bustle...
(There are so many Pharmacies because so many tourists come across to buy drugs which you need a prescription for back in the US)
So after a few hours in Tijuana we walked back across to the States. Thought this picture told the whole story. Which way do you think is America?
Got back about 5 ish, went for an hours run around Mission Bay, back for dinner, then bed.
Next day...San Deigo Zoo. Supposedly the third best in the world. Loved the Polar Bears, the habitat and viewing was brilliant
And the Lions just woke up as I started to take pictures. Not sure if they liked the rock being hurled in though - just kidding
The gorillas sat with their backs to a viewing gallery, probably no surprise as a bunch of screaming American kids would be the last thing I'd want to look at all day. It was their hands that I noticed:
So human like
Took this picture of Hayley and Conor, both on our Trek. Think it is one of the top people photos i've taken on the Trek. Came out real well (I think anyway)
And so San Diego ended where it should. At the beach. Took a few hours of practice before we caught the perfect wave. But when you do, you know you have, it's like flying.....got to try full on surfing in Hawaii.
Full photo album here: http://dur.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2169883&l=db41e&id=61205739
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