California 2009

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Trip to California, April 2009

Beckman

As is my dreaded annual duty, I glumly made my way to California for our board meeting in Irvine. Much as I deprecate the meetings, the facility itself is lovely--the wisteria was in bloom along the long colonnade that lines the inner courtyard, and bougainvillia in bloom everywhere. Food pretty good too. But lord, the meetings are tedious.

Wisteria in BloomPatio Bougainvillia

Train to San Diego

Once the weary business was done, I rushed to the train station, and boarded the big old double decker train to San Diego--$19, and a lovely ride down the coast, with the ocean on one side and the hills on the other.

Train to San Diego

View from train-Ocean side

View from train-hill side

San Diego--Visit with Faith

Faith picked me up at the station (a lovely place, on the waterfront), and we had a few drinks to celebrate my sucessful arrival in San Diego, the brilliant weather, being sisters, Faith's new grandson, and whatever else we could think of. Then we made our way to Faith's house, which has a fine view of the hills.

San Diego Train Station

View from Faith's house

pizza

Then Becky and John came over with the new baby, and we went out for a pizza, meeting Jeremy there.

Becky and Baby John

Faith and Baby John

John and Baby John

Balboa Park

The next morning, Faith and I had a lovely lunch, and then rambled about Balboa park--the place was blooming...

blue and white flowers at the same time

Bird of paradise

Rose garden

Bird of paradise

Lawrence arrives!

Lawrence flew in on Thursday evening, and Arabella and I picked him up at the airport.

Lawrence and Hope

Arabella

The next day, Arabella took us around the city, including a splendid ride on the ferry over to Coronado Island. San Diego is a major naval base, and we saw some enormous naval vessels.

ferry view

navy war ship

ferry view

ferry view

ferry view

Sailor statue

Arabella and Lawrence on Coronado island

Lunch in La Jolla

We met Arabella's roomate Gina and her parents in La Jolla --streets festive and shops bustling--and I loved the amazing red bottlebrush trees)for a fine lunch, after which we climbed down the pirate stairs in the little shop on across the road, to the secret cave below the street.

Red bottlebrush tree

Bottlebrush flower

Mysterious tunnel

Cave

Arabella and Gina

Family Party at Arabella's House!

Faith, Jeremy, Becky, John, Baby John, and Arabella's other room mate joined us for dinner on Saturday night.

Arabella's House

Baby

lawrence and baby

Lawrence and baby

Lawrence and baby

Baby

Faith and Jeremy

And the next day,back to DC first thing of a Sunday morning. A fine visit!

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