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California Here We Come
  • Betty Foidart
  • Betty Foidart

California Here We Come

Una aventura de 93 días de Betty Leer más
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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Palm Springs

    31 de enero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Hotel prices were ridiculously high, $200 and up, but I finally managed to get a $125 Hotwire deal just hours ago. The Saguaro was a very, very colourful hotel but clean and comfortable. Alyssa blended in with the decor! Then it was off to the airport for a tearful goodbye.

    It felt very odd to drive back to the Carlsbad resort alone but I was familiar with the route having done it twice. I felt sad for a few hours and then forced myself to regroup. Is it possible to "regroup" a party of one?    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Del Mar

    1 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    My home for the next 2 weeks is the L'Auberge Resort in Del Mar, an affluent city with a population of 4,200. There are only 12 timeshare units here adjacent to a very posh hotel resort. The beach is a 5 minute walk. My modern, 1 bedroom corner unit is bright and airy with lots of windows. I'm going to be very comfortable here.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Del Mar

    2 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    There are 2 grocery stores, Vons and Albertsons, that are both a 6.5 km walk. It wouldn't have been a difficult walk but there was one very long, steep hill that had to be conquered. It was downhill on the return which I was thankful for as I had a very full, heavy backpack full of groceries. My goal is to take a break from all of the stressful driving.

    Typical of all oceanfront resorts, there is a train that runs between the resort and the beach. Fortunately they are short commuter trains and I got used to the rumble. I had a nice view from the balcony and could sit on my sofa in the living room to watch the sunset.    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Del Mar

    3 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    It's all about the beach in Southern California. The Del Mar beach is roughly 4 km long with scenic bluffs. I was surprised to see the black sand. I walked the beach almost daily but really had to pay attention to the tides. During high tide it was mostly impassable. Low tide....utterly peaceful.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Del Mar

    5 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Surfers. They come in all ages, males outnumbering the females. The one thing they all have in common is that they are all fit and firm! I enjoyed watching them, surf that is, but it seemed like a lot of effort for a 5 to 10 second ride along the crest of the wave!Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Encinitas

    9 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I had not set foot in the car all week but decided I should probably get out and explore the area.

    Last month as we were driving along the Coast Highway we came across a temple and wondered what it was. A clerk in the Art Gallery in Del Mar recommended that I go to see the gardens behind this temple, which was called the Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage and Meditation Gardens. It was a very peaceful garden with secluded areas where people were meditating.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    San Diego

    9 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Googlemaps predicted it would take 30 minutes to get to Balboa Park but the GPS took me straight through the city as I had directed it to avoid the I-5. An hour and 45 minutes later I arrived at Balboa Park! On the return trip I did take the I-5 and was home in 30 minutes. The traffic flow came to an abrupt stop just as I reached my exit. Happy to have avoided that.

    Balboa Park is described as "A landscape of arts and culture". Many of the buildings originated from the First World's Fair in 1915. It is home to 15 major museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo. Because it took so long for me to get there, I didn't have time to go inside any of the museums. It was crucial that I leave the city before rush hour.    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Del Mar

    14 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Although I had good intentions of exploring more, the trip to Balboa Park ended that endeavour. I spent the rest of the week much as I had the previous week....walking about town, to the farmers market, and along the beach. It was a perfect 2 weeks of stress-free living :)

    Look! See Betty read! Shocking, isn't it? :P    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Carlsbad

    15 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Moving day, a mere 25 km north to Carlsbad where I had booked a studio unit at the Hilton Mar Brisa Resort. What a major let down! A kitchen with only a microwave and bar fridge; no ocean view; paper thin walls; and noisy neighbours both beside and above me.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Carlsbad

    16 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The pool and landscaping at the resort is beautiful but the weather has been too cool for swimming (62 degrees). Next door to the resort is Legoland, an amusement park. GS would have loved this place 25 years ago!

    I attended the Manager's reception and won a door prize....a bottle of California chardonnay and a free appetizer at a local Mexican restaurant :)    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Carlsbad

    18 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    The past 2 days I've been exploring the neighbourhood. More big hills to climb but the area is very pretty. Costco is a l/2 hour walk, as is the Premium Outlet Mall. On my route was The Flower Fields, a 50 acre garden of Giant Ranunculus on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The attraction opens on March 1st and today it looked like they still had a lot of planting to do. One field has the American flag made with red, white and blue petunias.

    When I returned to the resort I joined a wine tasting event that I was invited to by the Reservations Manager because of a mix-up in my reservation. Saved me $8 and the small group of 9 was fun, even though I was the odd number!    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Carlsbad

    19 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today I walked to the nearby Museum of Making Music. It was founded by the National Association of Music Merchants so the focus was on the history of the manufacturing of instruments. Each of the 5 small galleries featured historic milestones, popular music and instruments of those eras. It was presented very nicely with lots of hands-on features. The admission fee was only $5 so it was an inexpensive way to spend a couple of hours.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Carlsbad

    20 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    On my walks I always passed a huge building with the name GIA that had security officers posted at the entrance. My curiosity led me to Google the name and I learned that it was the Gemological Institute of America. They offer free guided tours so I reserved a spot. The GIA developed the international system for grading diamonds. Besides being an education institution for gemologists, they also train the FBI on how to identify stolen jewels and they offer an analysis and grading service to the general public. It was very interesting. There were exhibits on gems, as well as a special gallery showing of agate sculptures by a world renowned sculptor.

    Then it was back to business as today was moving day. My next destination was Laguna Beach, 75 km north on the I-5. I dread driving on that highway! When Alyssa drove the I-5, I came home with a migraine. I watch the news every evening and I've begun calling the I-5 the "death-a-day freeway". The drive went smoothly though until I got to Laguna Beach and couldn't find the resort. My loveable GPS took me to Pacific Coast Highway North instead of South.    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Laguna Beach

    21 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    My new home is on the 2nd floor of an older building, as all are in Laguna Beach, but it has been well maintained. It's an unusual layout with a long, narrow kitchen, living and dining area. The dining table is collapsed against one wall as there is a murphy bed on the opposing wall. The location of the condo is great because it's in the centre of town except it's on a hill top.

     As expected, I was not assigned an ocean view unit as owners get priority. Instead I am facing the Pacific Coast Highway which has lots of traffic day and night. The speed limit is supposed to be 35 mph but that seems irrelevant to most drivers. I do have a huge balcony with a large BBQ that I may or may not use. Sitting on the balcony watching cars and trucks whiz by does not sound too appealing. I am in a corner unit so I do have a partial ocean view from one side of the balcony. It certainly isn't ideal but it is comfy.    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Laguna Beach

    22 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Laguna Beach is in Orange County, midway between San Diego and Los Angeles, and extends for 7 miles along the coast. The city is a mix of beach action, boutique shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

    There was supposed to be a craft sale by local artists at the main beach today but it got cancelled because there was a 50% chance of rain and the temperature was only 16 degrees. The locals had their jackets and toques on! There is a really nice 2 km boardwalk along the cliff overlooking the beach.    Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Laguna Beach

    23 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Laguna Beach is well-known as an artist colony. There are 3 or 4 fine art galleries in each block downtown. This one is on the main level of my building. Their love of art is evident everywhere I go. Hessler Park is along the beach walkway and has several sculptures and ceramics.Leer más

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  • Betty FoidartCalifornia Here We ComeViajero

    Laguna Beach

    23 de febrero de 2015, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    This morning I spoke to the condo manager about the noise level from the 4 lane coastal highway that runs mere feet from my unit. He said there was nothing he could do. But I've driven 2,500 miles to be near the ocean, I pleaded. Well…..he called me a few hours later to say it was my lucky day. Someone had cancelled and he was moving me to an ocean front unit. Yay!! Now the only sound I hear is the crashing waves. In the beach photo below, my building is the closest one with the palm trees. Couldn't get much closer to the ocean than this.Leer más

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