Coronado

Hotel del Coronado

Coronado, once an island but now connected by a long spit of land stretching north from Imperial Beach and by the Coronado Bridge into SD, includes the historic Hotel del Coronado, an upscale community, thriving shopping district, a naval base, as well as beautiful beaches, bayside parks, and bikeways.  During our second week in SD we peddled to the trolley, rode into SD, took a brief ferry ride over to Coronado and biked home along a great bikepath (18 nice flat miles in all).  We returned several times to bike, paddleboard, walk the beach, enjoy outdoor music, great meals and SD’s skyline. 

Hotel del Coronado's Crown Room is home to a famous Sunday brunch.  At $80+
a pop we passed in favor of a sunset drink on the patio.

Sunset over Point Loma from Coronado beach

Wonder how long this took.  On another day we saw sand roadster (about half scale)

View across SD bay on an active sunday

SD night coming to life

Nancy, Bert, and I came across this budding star, Nilaja Gardner, filming her first musical video, when walking along a Coronado beach walkway waiting for sunset.  She was standing on some rocks, sunset at her back, swaying to an ocean breeze, and singing to her music which was blaring from their vehicle a few feet away.  Skeptically, we stopped.  I never know what to make of guys with rapper hats and pants belted at the top of their thighs.  I was sure they were safe enough as they'd probably trip over their pants if they tried to run.  Turns out that they were extremely pleasant, gracious and thankful that we could stay and be the live audience, all 3 of us.  The film crew was one guy, obviously a friend, who filmed with a handheld SLR but it looked like he knew what he was doing and she was charismatic.  Our photo taking was welcomed.  We took this one, but Bert, being the professional photographer that he is, easily outdid us.  Somehow thru his use of strobe and technique mastered over a gadzillion photos brought her to star status.  She glowed and leaped from the background while the scarf took on an iridescent life, quite a shot.  He emailed her a copy and I'm wondering if he'll get a response, it was that good a shot.  She came over after and asked us where we were from and was sweet and gracious as could be.  We hope that she "makes it".