Santa Monica Visit in Summer 2016
Happy New Year Everyone! Sorry that I haven’t written in quite some time. Life has been agonizingly busy, and I say agonizingly as you wouldn’t believe what I just went through – one of the worst moves of my life. I will leave this story for another day, but needless to say I was not happy about moving – I also had to downsize, and pay double the rent! 😦
Anyway, onto happier memories from last year….and hoping this year will be better for me and for all of you. We visited Santa Monica last summer, and I have had so much happen that I couldn’t even post my pictures until now. Well, it’s better to do it now than deciding to do it five years from now.
We loved Santa Monica, it’s quite close to Los Angeles, and we were just in Santa Monica for a day, but in the Los Angeles area for nearly three days. Isn’t it amazing that I live in San Diego, but don’t get up to Los Angeles that often any more, and that I have never visited Santa Monica until last year – and I’ve been in San Diego for almost 19 years!
Well, without further ado, here are some of my pictures:
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica Pier, CA
Santa Monica, CA
This last picture is of main shopping street that is a block or two away from the beach. I will share more of these pictures another time. Well, that’s it for now, I hope you liked my pictures, and that you are already having an amazing year!
Lovely La Jolla
Lovely La Jolla, what more is there to say. This place which is just a 12 minute drive for me going south, or a 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego is spectacular. The scenery is amazing, and the wildlife is abundant.
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Wildlife at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Most of the time, the seals like to laze on the beach, and don’t move much at all, but all of a sudden, a few of them got up to take a dip in the ocean!
Sea lion at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Look at this one! Doesn’t it look like a cross between a sea lion, and a tortoise?
Half sea lion/half tortoise at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
The Seals at La Jolla Cove, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
We walked away from the ocean onto Prospect Street, and Chandra got to play with a massive globe that was a water-fountain feature. Oh, she rolled and rolled the globe around. She was enchanted!
La Jolla, San Diego
Afterwards, we went for a treat to the Living Room, a really wonderful coffee house, that has wonderful pastries, and sandwiches. I got Chandra two macaroons, which she devoured before I got to take photos of them, and I also did the same with my pistachio baklava. Chandra then eyed my coconut mocha, and oh my gosh, it was delicious – it was made with low fat milk, and extra hot. I left a tiny bit of it for Chandi to try, as she really should not be drinking coffee at her tender age of 7! She loved it, well….it was delicious!
Then she got some gelato from a place called Gelateria, across from the Living Room, and again, I didn’t take pictures – but this was Chandi’s treat as mine was the coconut mocha. Then, it was time for a few more pictures.
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
This last picture was from a previous visit to La Jolla
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
I hope you liked my pictures of La Jolla. It really is a nice place to visit. I really enjoy it there, and I think I would like to say it is one of my favorites in San Diego.
The Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach – Antalya. It will Astound You.
I think you will be astounded if you go visit the Delphin Imperial Resort. When I think back to our vacation in Lara Beach which is in the Antalya region of Turkey – I have good memories. My kids loved it there. They loved it because we went with our family from England – so there was a large group of us. Holidays are always better in large groups. I think back to the luxurious inside, and the exquisite outside of the hotel, and just have to share some more pictures with you.
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The Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
The Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
The Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
Movies Playing At the Delphin Imperial, Lara
At the Delphin Imperial, Lara
Food at the Delphin Imperial, Lara
Delphin Imperial, Lara
Delphin Imperial, Lara
Also, this hotel is walking distance to the shopping mall
Walking Distance from Delphin Imperial, Lara
Walking Distance from Delphin Imperial, Lara
Delphin Imperial, Lara
At a shopping mall near Delphin Imperial, Lara
First time for my kids on a camel! They loved it.
Walking Distance near Delphin Imperial, Lara- camel time!
The restaurants are rather elegant at the Delphin Imperial
Restaurants at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Did I tell you that they have really well-kept grounds? They also do not have a mosquito problem, which is really refreshing.
Swimming Pools of Delphin Imperial, Lara
This resort is overlooking the ocean and has its own beach!
The Beach at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Beach at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Delphin Imperial, Lara
Swimming Pools of Delphin Imperial, Lara
There are at least 7 or 8 swimming pools and a massive water slide at the Delphin Imperial.
Swimming Pools of Delphin Imperial, Lara
Swimming Pools of Delphin Imperial, Lara
Swimming Pools and Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara
Kids Swimming Pool At Delphin Imperial, Lara
At the Shops At Delphin Imperial, Lara
Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Beach At Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Beach At Delphin Imperial, Lara
I think the grounds are ever so scenic.
Swimming Pools And Grounds At Delphin Imperial, Lara
Swimming Pools And Grounds At Delphin Imperial, Lara
Swimming Pools And Grounds At Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Chandra loved the Kids Club, she had so much fun there, and attended a birthday party on the same day that it was Luca’s birthday. But this party was for someone else, and Luca did not attend the Kids Club as now he is a teenager, and it’s not the kind of thing teenagers want to do!
Kids Camp, Delphin Imperial, Lara
My son Luca, got to celebrate his birthday in Turkey. Here we are on his special day, about to have dinner at Lalezar Restaurant which is a specialty restaurant there – but it is included, and it’s nice to try a different venue, especially for a special occasion like this.
Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
I love baclavas, and fortunately tonight we got this for dessert too – as well as birthday cake. Lalezar is more of a traditional Turkish restaurant, and tonight we had Turkish food which I found to be really yummy!
Delphin Imperial, Lara – Antalya
Lalezar Restaurant, Delphin Imperial, Lara
There is a stunningly beautiful Spa at the resort, which is massive, and so relaxing!
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Fish Tank in the Spa at Delphin Imperial, Lara
The Swimming Pools and Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
The Swimming Pools and Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds and Outdoor Dining of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds of Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Kids Camp/Kids Club at Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds at Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds at Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Swimming Pools at Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Grounds at Delphin Imperial, Lara Beach
Beach at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Beach at Delphin Imperial, Lara
Beach at Delphin Imperial, Lara
I included some pictures here of the food, but if you want to see more – take a look at my video. You will surely get hungry!
Well, that was a lot of pictures. I always intend to share just about four or five, but never manage to. Next time, I might do my post on old Antalya, which I was so fortunate to have visited – when I ventured away from the resort on August 4th. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my post and I hope you can see that the Delphin Imperial is an astoundingly good resort.
Swami’s Beach in Encinitas
Swami’s Beach in Encinitas, is a beach you should visit.
Let’s do the 5 w’s:
What? A beautiful beach situated in a
seaside town.
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Where? Swami’s is on Coast Hwy. 101 in Encinitas, just 25 minutes or so north of downtown San Diego – about an 8 minute walk from the Lumberyard which has an array of pubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants at the intersection of Coast Hwy. 101 and K Street
The Lumberyard, Encinitas
Why? Why would you not want to? You can see beautiful spiritual places such as the buildings and amazing grounds of the Self Realization Fellowship
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
When? Go there anytime you want fresh air and beautiful surroundings.
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Who? Encinitas is for everyone, but truth be told…..I think surfers like it a lot.
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
What makes me think that? Well, take a look at these pictures – there’s memorials to surfers.
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
(Okay, this one is upside down and since I’m posting from my phone again, I’ll have to correct it later).
Chandi likes to think she’s surfing!
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Lastly, there’s stairs down to the beach
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
There’s even a road crossing sign that says Swami’s Pedestrian Xing
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
If you see this house with the beautiful garden, you’ll be close by
close to Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Last look at Swami’s
Swami’s Beach, Encinitas
Don’t forget to visit Swami’s!
Paradise at Del Mar
Have you ever envisioned paradise? How would it look?
Swinging overlooking the ocean?
Children’s Playground in Del Mar
Seeing the ocean through tropical landscaping?
Seagrove Park, Del Mar Beach
Seeing two trees growing side by side in Paradise?
Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar
Seeing beautiful sights to behold
Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar
Seeing beautiful sights again and again
Powerhouse Beach, Del Mar
Seeing a playground for your kids to play in while you bask in paradise
Children’s Playground, Del Mar Beach
Somewhere to chat with your friends while your kids played close by?
Powerhouse Park, Del Mar
Seeing ocean water that is nice and blue, and waves that call out for surfers to ride on them
Del Mar Beach
Seeing a place where people want to picnic, that becomes so colorful that you can’t help but gaze at the scene in front of you
Powerhouse Park, Del Mar
Seeing trains come by where people stop to stare and wave as the trains go by
Train track at Del Mar
Seeing the scenic Coast Highway 101 and pass such beautiful places like Del Mar on their journey through California
Coast Highway, Del Mar
Seeing a place that looks so tropical and colorful, surely it must be Paradise?
Tropical Del Mar
Last picture, then you have to see it for yourself!
Seagrove Park, Del Mar
I hope you got a taste of Paradise! Paradise is in Del Mar.
A Little Bit of Paradise At The Hotel Del, Coronado
I love to go to the Hotel Del – that place is just what the doctor would order or should order for anyone to get away from it all! It makes me feel content and serene and as though I am on vacation. Yesterday, on November 30th, we finally got to go and visit this beautiful place again. My heart had been yearning for the Hotel Del. I was so excited to go and visit it again.
On the way to the Hotel Del, there are many picture taking opportunities:
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
Don’t park in the hotel grounds as you will have to pay for parking, and it isn’t cheap. There is plenty of free parking by the beach on the main streets. We had to park about a ten-minute walk away from the hotel, but it’s such a lovely place to take a walk. Just take in the surroundings all around and you won’t be disappointed.
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
People just love to gaze at the Hotel Del, well……it’s so swell!
near the Hotel Del, Coronado
Coronado near the Hotel Del
Finally, we got to the Hotel Del. The ice-skating rink is now open for the holidays and I could just stand here for hours taking in the happiness of everyone and the beauty all around.
I couldn’t decide if I wanted pictures with the hotel in the background
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
or without it
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del
Hotel Del Ice-Skating Rink, Coronado
Hotel Del Ice-Skating Rink, Coronado
You might want to start with taking a break, just to take in the surrounding beauty while you have an ice-cream from Moo-Time Creamery or grab a cup of coffee or a cold drink – this area shown in the picture below is a self-service area and it is ever so relaxing and a great place to sit.
Hotel Del, Coronado
Moo-Time Creamery, Hotel Del, Coronado
There’s plenty of shops and places to get treats
The Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Then, you’ll want to go and see the lobby and the Christmas tree, and some more of the grounds of the hotel
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
This tree is located where the Sheerwater Restaurant is and close by to where the self-service coffee shop is located
If you go through the lobby and past the tree, then you can exit from the other side and wander out into the beautiful garden
Hotel Del, Coronado
This area shown below is a restaurant with out-door seating and a prime view of not just the ocean, but people-watching
Hotel Del, Coronado
We ended up staying for several hours, and got treated to a nice sunset.
Hotel Del, Coronado
Feel like some hot chocolate out by the ice-skating rink? Then you should try Coffee By The Sea
The ice-skating rink is now bathed in a beautiful sun-set
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Then the sunset became even more spectacular, but how could it be other than spectacular in this beautiful of most beautiful places?
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Last, but not least…..this place is just where you have to come to get into the holiday spirit! It looks like a holiday bonanza, and it is so festive and elegant here that I can’t describe it accurately enough.
Hotel Del, Coronado
Did I tell you that I loved the Hotel Del, did I tell you it is so so swell? It is beautiful and I highly recommend that you visit.
Where’s This Beach…Hope It’s Within Reach! It’s in Oceanside!
Where is this beauty of a beach?
Oceanside, CA
Is it Tenerife?
Oceanside, CA
Is it Majorca?
Oceanside, CA
Is it Sicily?
No, well, I think you know it by now, as I put it in the title and in the captions……it’s in Oceanside, California, which is just 45 minutes north or so of downtown San Diego. Oh, this beach is so stunning and one of my latest joys and discoveries. You can live by a place, but not even visit it or know of it’s beauty, until one day you stumble upon a part of it, and instantly think, wow, this is so beautiful, how could I never have visited this place before, or even known how beautiful? So, now, I go back to this beautiful beach as often as I can. Here are more pictures.
Beautiful park by Paradise on the Beach (that’s just my name for it) – it’s actually called Tyson’s Park – I believe.
Oceanside, CA
A bit of color by the beach
Oceanside, CA
Take a walk along the Pier
Oceanside, CA
Especially on a day that’s perfect, and the sky is clear
Oceanside Pier, CA
Okay, the sky may not be that clear, but the day was perfect.
Oceanside Pier, CA
Here’s a view from the Pier
A view from Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, CA
Another view from the Pier
A view from Oceanside Pier, Oceanside, CA
Back to the beautiful Pier
Oceanside Pier, CA
More of the beach
Oceanside Beach, CA
Guess what? There’s a restaurant on the Pier, and it was fun eating there, it almost felt like being on a cruise!
Ruby’s Restaurant, Oceanside Pier, CA
Ruby’s Restaurant, Oceanside Pier, CA
Okay, so I had to take a picture inside Ruby’s where we enjoyed lunch, but this one didn’t come out great, I wanted to show the view through the window
Ruby’s Restaurant, Oceanside Pier, CA
Back to the outside world and lovely Oceanside Pier again! Here’s someone else enjoying the view from the Pier.
Oceanside Pier, CA
Here’s someone taking a break from fishing on the Pier
Oceanside Pier, CA
Here’s more people enjoying the view from the Pier
Oceanside Pier, CA
What a beauty of a beach!
Oceanside Beach, CA
What nice waves you have!
Oceanside Beach, CA
What nice trees you have!
Oceanside Beach, CA
Chandi loved visiting Oceanside
Oceanside Pier, CA
I know these people loved the beach
Oceanside Pier, CA
Oceanside Pier, CA
I think anyone visiting would love this place
Oceanside Pier, CA
Life’s more fun with a visit to the beach. I hope the beach is within reach for you
Oceanside Beach, CA
No matter which angle you view it from, Oceanside Beach should be within your reach
Oceanside Beach, CA
Shade or no shade, tents or not
Oceanside Beach, CA
This beach sparkles
Oceanside Beach, CA
Where is Oceanside again?
Oceanside Beach, CA
It’s part of sunny San Diego, just 5 or 10 minutes away from Carlsbad, and 40 or 45 minutes north of downtown San Diego.
Oceanside Beach, CA
Oceanside Beach, CA
Oh, it’s so Oceanside!
Oceanside Beach, CA
By the way, Happy Labor Day!
Staycation in San Diego
I love traveling, but unfortunately can’t get away this year – it’s a far cry from last year when I went to Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and then on a cruise on the Enchantment of The Seas to Bermuda.
However, San Diego is a place where you can enjoy living, and vacation here every day of the year with the right mindset. This is not just home, but a vacation paradise. This year, instead of renting out my timeshare at the Grand Pacific Palisades, I took a working holiday – we stayed at the Palisades for seven days even though I had to work – but I was on holiday in the evenings! My kids were on holiday all day long – after all it’s their vacation from school. By staying at this resort (only twenty minutes away from my home) it mostly gave my kids the chance to get away from our house, and have a change of scenery and experience the swimming pool every day, and feel like we were on holiday.
Sometimes, you just have to stay at home or near home.
The view from the balcony in the evening:
View from the Grand Pacific Palisades, Carlsbad
I came home from work and took my little girl to the swimming pool
Kids Splash Area at the Kids Pool, Grand Pacific Palisades, Carlsbad
It’s a pretty place for a walk in the evenings
Carlsbad in the evening
Then there’s neighboring Oceanside to explore (only ten minutes north of Carlsbad):
Oceanside Beach
Life’s just a beach!
Oceanside Beach
Then on the weekend with Legoland just across the street, who could resist, and guess who loves Legoland?
Legoland in Carlsbad, CA
Keep dreaming of holidays during your holiday when the Taj Mahal presents itself to you at Legoland!
The Taj Mahal at Legoland, CA
Fancy going to India to see this beauty? The one and only time that I went to India – I was mesmerized by the real Taj Mahal, it’s no wonder it’s one of the seven wonders of the world! it really is breathtaking, and it’s also a beautiful sight to behold at Legoland.
The Taj Mahal at Legoland, CA
I just have to show the Taj Mahal at Legoland again to you – can you believe the creativity?
The Taj Mahal at Legoland, CA
Now, we were transported to Australia! We were on a boat ride and I didn’t get a very good picture of the Sydney Opera House, but here are two of them:
The Sydney Opera House at Legoland, CA
The Sydney Opera House at Legoland, CA
Next, we were transported to Paris, France!
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France at Legoland, CA
Next, we were presented with images of Egypt……don’t say Legoland is not worldly!
Legoland, CA
What’s not to like about staying in your own home turf once in a while and vacationing at home? San Diego is a great place to staycation. However, if you don’t live here, it’s a really nice place to vacation.
Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside – In Oceanside, CA
What’s better than visiting a beautiful seaside or should I say beach on a beautiful day in San Diego? Oceanside, which is about 40 minutes north of downtown San Diego has spectacular beaches. Here’s a few pictures.
The beach at Oceanside (San Diego)
Life’s getting really hectic, so I’m bringing you this really short post with just a few pictures. Until next time!
San Diego Sunset Picture (Of Coronado) Will Be In Get Away San Diego’s Next Issue
This is a first for me – to have my picture be selected in a contest – I am so excited! Granted, mine was not the best picture, but my picture made it as one of the top ten!
Coronado, San Diego
I entered a competition that Get Away San Diego posted on their Facebook page, just out of curiousity. My picture shown above of the sunset near the Hotel Del in Coronado is the reason I just had to write today! My photo will be published in the next edition of Get Away San Diego . I don’t think my picture is as good as the other nine that made it into the top ten, but all ten will be shown in the next issue. However, since this is the first time for me that I have won such a contest, I am ecstatic! If it’s good enough to be chosen, it’s good enough to be happy about.
If you want to see the other pictures in Get Away San Diego’s Album, you can take a look right here Get Away San Diego’s Photo Contest Winners.
My whole family loves the Hotel Del, and Coronado. Here is my little Chandi on the beach at Hotel Del.
Hotel Del – Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
So for anyone who wants to wine a bit, I have a picture for you – it’s also taken in Coronado.
Wine Styles, Coronado
And for all those who would love to see what’s so great about the Hotel Del, here’s some more pictures.
Hotel Del, Coronado
Marilyn Monroe shot one of her movies here “Some Like It Hot”, and this tree is famous partly because of that movie, and Marilyn Monroe.
Hotel Del, Coronado
People love to visit the Hotel Del, and many weddings and parties take place here.
Hotel Del, Coronado
The grounds of this hotel are absolutely stunning! Do you know you can spend an entire day here, and not be bored? There’s the beach, restaurants galore, tennis, a swimming pool and of course shops, and the hotel lobby to look at.
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del, Coronado
Hotel Del’s Lobby Chandelier, Coronado
Of course, my little Princess belongs here, that’s why I like to bring her time and time again!
Hotel Del, Coronado
Don’t forget that Coronado is just a 15 to 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego, or just a boat ride across – here are some useful tips on how to get around.
I may have said this before, but the Hotel Del is swell! I am so glad that one of my pictures is going to be published, and I’m glad that it was taken in beautiful Coronado.
On another note:
Lately, I have also been toying with another idea….to enter one of my videos into a competition or to make a new one – perhaps of San Diego. I decided to not enter the competition or attempt making a new video for it, because I can’t go away for 6 months and leave my kids, neither can I take them with me (two of them can’t take six months away from school, and it wouldn’t be fair to take just the youngest one) – so this kind of competition is not meant for me. Want to know which competition I am referring to? It’s this one: http://www.mydestination.com/bbb/competition#faq1 and if you want to know who has my full support in this particular competition, it’s Lesley Carter from Bucket List Publications: http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/if-you-could-make-someones-bucket-list-dreams-a-reality-would-you/
luchanik 