Where in The World: San Diego, California

By George Fontana

Well-loved Key West ex-pats Kathey and Mike Fatica (Peppers of Key West) were on hand to greet us as we docked in San Diego. Now living in Rosarito, Mexico, a 45 minute drive from San Diego, the Faticas assumed guide mode as they escorted John and me around Balboa Park and Coronado Island to visit the iconic hotel of the same name.

Balboa Park is an urban treasure. Seventeen elegant Spanish Colonial structures were constructed for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915, an event held to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. Today the Park is the cultural hub of San Diego. The well-preserved buildings house the San Diego Natural History Museum, Rueben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego Museum of Art, and San Diego Model Railroad Museum, at 27,000 sq. ft. one of the largest model railroad museums in the world.

After lunch in the Park, we drove over the elevated Coronado Bay Bridge enjoying sweeping views of downtown San Diego and its expansive harbor. With its distinctive turrets, cupolas, conical towers, balconies and dormer windows, “The Del” (Hotel del Coronado), built in 1888, is the largest all-timber “railroad depot” resort still in existence in the USA. The interior features acres of polished wood conjuring days of old when the wealthy flocked to the seashore for rest and recreation. Best known to many as the setting for the 1959 movie “Some Like It Hot” which starred Marilyn Monroe, The Del continues to cater to a moneyed clientele.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]