Travels Near & Far: QUICK TRIP TO SAN DIEGO

Last week we took a short trip down to San Diego for a visit with Lou's Aunt Ella who is 88 years young and still going strong. I adore spending time with Ella and she can usually run circles around me when it comes to being active. She is a world traveler and still loves to get out and do things.

Ella and Lou in front of the famed (and expensive!) Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island. We headed across the water to take in a play that had been recommended to Ella called "Million Dollar Quartet". It is the story of one day back on 1956 at Sun Records when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together for a jam session. The music was great and lots of fun but no photos were allowed. By the end the small crowd was on their feet dancing and singing - so were we!

A local sandcastle artist and his current creation.

"The Del" as the Hotel del Coronado is lovingly referred to by SoCal locals.

Another angle of the ocean view rooms at The Del.

Lots of beautiful flowers. This hibiscus reminded us of Hawaii as we relaxed before our play.

I didn't even take my camera so most of these photos are Lou's including this bird of paradise. I did take a few with my phone.

The next day we headed to Balboa Park. Lou took in the Model Railroad Museum while Ella and I strolled through the Photography Museum then sat and talked over lunch at one of the many outdoor cafes.

The entrance to the Model Railroad Museum. I had been there 30+ years ago when Darrin was hot and heavy into model railroading.

One of many layouts in the museum. There is another layout copying the Tehachapi Loop where real trains go back over their selves as they climb the grade.

The horticulture building with a water lily pond in front.

More of the ornate buildings in Balboa Park.

Another of the 17 museums in the park. Flowers were in bloom everywhere.

More of Balboa Park. Ella loves it even though she has been there often.

We have all been there numerous times but always seem to find something we haven't seen. None of us had visited the Automotive Museum and it turned out to be loads of fun.

The entrance to the Automotive Museum. It was a small museum but packed full of cool cars.

The Ghostbusters car. Being in Southern California there are lots of TV and movie vehicles. We don't know if they are real or replicas. Either way the memories they brought back were great.

Just some old, colorful cars from yesteryear.

Mater from the "Cars" movies - this is for Charley!

The General Lee from "Dukes of Hazzard" - this is for Darrin!

Red Ferraris - for me!
That's a 308 in the foreground.

This DeLorean wasn't one of the ones actually used in "Back to the Future" but it was there so everyone young and old could climb in and enjoy "the ride".

We waited patiently for the kids to clear out. Then I nudged Ella and said, "You want to sit in the DeLorean? I'll drive." She immediately said "Yes" so here we are.

Two old ladies playing in the classic movie car. Fortunately, Lou didn't film us getting out of the thing.

Lou had to get in on the fun after he saw us enjoying ourselves. He said he'd have to leave the door open or cut a sun roof in the top if ever drove one.

Our final day before flying home, we met Ella's daughter and granddaughter (who works at the sandwich shop) for lunch at Pacific Beach.