Well, I could have entitled this post, "Balboa Park, part 2" but I liked playing off the 1987 John Hughes classic, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles"....(I don't really consider that movie a "classic", but I really wanted to say, "the 1987 John Hughes classic"). Ok - I'm tired....so, I'll be brief if that's possible.

Today we hit Balboa Park again for "free Tuesday" - we all got into the Ruben H. Fleet today w/out paying. That always feels good! Of course, the problem with free is that everyone loves a bargain - especially people with large, large groups of unruly children. So the whole "hands on" experience today was not as appealing. Gotta love some kid that picks his nose then reaches for the "Make a Watt" lever. Anyway - Abby, Mike and Grandaddy were busy taking in all the exhibits. However, oddly enough, Steve and I found ourselves pulled as if by some unknown magnetic force to the coffee shop area....then, and even weirder, stronger pull that could not be fought forced us outside, away for the mass of screaming children, in the 70 degree sunshine to sit by the fountain. We got to hang out and have a little sibling time....I'm not sure how long we ended up out there, but it was long enough for 2 drawing class students sitting about 20 yards away to sketch us (for real! Steve saw the drawings w/ his own eyes). Anyway, we made our way back in just in time to find 3 exhausted family members all "exhibited" out and ready for an IMAX movie.

We headed over to the theater and saw, the IMAX film "Dolphins" - it was spectacular. For those of you that aren't familar with the Fleet space theater, it's actually a dome, so the IMAX movie is projected onto this dome - you really have to lean back to enjoy it. And, depending where you sit (top, middle or bottom) you get an entirely different feeling from the movie. We sat just below middle, so we had a perspective more like being under water. Those at the top of the theater had a different feel to the movie. It was a really neat movie and the dome experience made it great. Abby really enjoyed the show - I looked over at her a few times and she always had this look of wonderment on her face.

After the IMAX show, we headed over to the Model Railroad Museum to look at 28,000 square feet of toot tootin' fun. The place had some amazing setups...the detail was incredible - down to the most minute little thing.


After the train museum, we were pretty much ready for a meal...so we had a late lunch at the Old Town Mexican Cafe which is another family fave. The tortilla ladies make 7000 tortilla's a day - homemade and fresh. The place has been around as long as I can remember....on special today was the baja fish taco which each of us had with our meal....de-lish.

These are a few of the highlights from today. See - I told you I'd be brief! It's really not so much that I don't have more to say, but I'm tired!!

We still have 3 more full days here in SD...stay tuned for more adventures.




love & bean dip.
k