This morning we went down to San Diego to do a “tourist” day. Just on the northern outskirts of the city is the Old Town, a very Mexican-flavoured tourist trap that walks a very acceptable line between authentic and tacky. Having most of the shops and market stall run by Mexican and South American stallholders certainly helps. A little girl’s birthday party being serenaded by a mariachi band singing “Happy Birthday” as we walked by was a pleasant surprise.
Just outside of Old Town is a park in which there are half a dozen authentic buildings and a Jewish church that have either been preserved in place or moved there to create the feel of the turn of the Century San Diego. It is beautifully done.
Inside are market stalls and shops selling all manner of goods as well as authentic Mexican cuisine. There was even a lady playing guitar and singing AND taking requests. She did a more than acceptable rendition of my choice, James Taylor’s “You’ve got a Friend”
I can certainly recommend that you visit Old Town if you happen to be visiting Sand Yego. I am not really a “tourist” person but I really enjoyed it. Mind you, helping Natalie wrangle her three was a struggle at times.
Civilization would probably not have made it as far west as San Diego if it had been left to these two!
News through from my “boss’ Jim Race at MotoPod that he had secured media accreditation for me for the Rolex Monterey Festival of Motoring on my last weekend here in America has just added to the highlights of this trip. The chance to see classic and unique racing cars from the last 50 years is just too good to pass up.