Pomegranates

OK, I do not have a photo of a Persimmon from the Farmer’s Market in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego.  I am really sorry about that.  Because today I tasted my very first Persimmon.  And liked it very much.  Wikipedia explains that is known as the “fruit of the gods”.

After Christopher’s girlfriend arrived from one of those LA suburbs, we traveled downtown Sandy Eggo  (that’s what my friend Margo calls this fair city) and cruised the Farmer’s Market.  I have never seen such exotic fruits,vegetables, pesto, olives, fish…anything in the world one might imagine.  Our markets in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula look very tame and ordinary compared with this.

Anyone ever heard of Turkish eggplants? 

Yep, Turkish eggplants

I am still in shock at the rapid uploading-speed of these photos.  You reach for a sip of your pumpkin pie spiced latte.  Just one sip.  And the photo is uploaded before you finish sipping.  Where am I?  Does such a place exist in the Internet world that embraces such a possibility?  I may never want to go home.  You can do the dishes in the time it takes to upload a photo at times. (OK, a slight exaggeration…)

Little girl in pink with flowers

A man with a trumpet played Christmas carols for us as we wandered among the booths.  There were free samples at almost every booth!  Oh did we sample.  The kids even bought a few specialty items, including pesto and hummus which we munched with pita bread for lunch. 

The kids up ahead

They have everything in San Diego.  I kid you not.  Even…doggie playgroups???  Really???

Too bad we didn't have a dog.

After a stop back at the apartment for lunch we drove up to La Jolla and walked along the ocean.  I wanted to see the seals.  Chris’ girlfriend said the seals were not too exciting.  They just lay there.  Didn’t move.  Not too entertaining. 

“I still want to see the seals,” I assured her.  “We must have seals for the blog!”

The Pacific Ocean

We walked along the hard-packed sand above the beach.  This is not like ordinary sand.  It feels hard, like concrete.  I have never seen sand like this before.  Hundreds of people walked along above the ocean, looking down.  Dozens played in the surf.  Some lay on blankets on the ground, sunning.  A beautiful 65 degree day for visiting the beach. 

Family by ocean

Finally we saw them.  High excitement!  The seals.  There they were…or were they?  Were they seals or motionless rock-like lumps on the horizon?  We approached them from the causeway which provided tourist-like views above their heads.  Yep, sure enough.  The seals of La Jolla.

Seals!!

And more seals sun-bathing atop large rocks.  We waited eagerly for them to move.  There!  One stretched.  One curled up a bit.  One scratched his friend’s back.  (Yes, I swear this happened.  And I have at least one witness.)  We ooohhed and aaahhhed as one seal dove into the water and swam around.

Seals on rock

It was very exciting.  But then we had to go home and nap.  You know how it is on vacation.  You taste persimmons and watch seals and nap.  This is the LIFE!