In March 2016, Debra and I cruised along the Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez aboard the Ruby Princess. We visited five ports - San Diego, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Loreto, and La Paz. We had a wonderful time from start to finish!
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our Mediterranean Holiday.
This story, part of a series, is about our day in San Diego.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our Mediterranean Holiday.
This story, part of a series, is about our day in San Diego.
Debra and me in Little Italy
San Diego, California (March 1, 2016) Although I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve traveled to San Diego, I well-remembered many of the things we did, to wit: we explored sprawling Balboa Park, home to the world-famous San Diego Zoo; toured the USS Midway, an aircraft-carrier-turned-museum; visited Coronado Island, which boasted vibrant beaches and historical landmarks; and shopped in Seaport Village, with its unique boutiques and lovely views of the harbor.
And since we’ve already seen many of the city’s major attractions and landmarks, it was easy to make good on my promise to Debra to “keep it simple” that day.
And since we’ve already seen many of the city’s major attractions and landmarks, it was easy to make good on my promise to Debra to “keep it simple” that day.
“Let’s take a cab to Little Italy,” I said to Debra over breakfast. “We’ll have lunch there and do a bit of window shopping. We’ll be gone a few hours at most.”
“That sounds great!” Debra replied, relieved that I hadn’t suggested an intensive outing.
It was late morning—half past 11—when we disembarked, and most of our fellow passengers had long-since left the ship. So, we didn’t have to wait long for a cab.
“Were to?” our cabbie asked.
“Little Italy, please,” I replied.
Less than 10 minutes later, he dropped us at the Little Italy landmark sign—an iconic arch over India Street that was first lit in October 2000 during the Little Italy FESTA!
(You can see this sign in the photo at the top of my story.)
There weren’t many people milling about. Not enough to do here on a weekday for most tourists, I thought. Perfect!
India Street, which runs through the heart of Little Italy, was home to many of the most popular restaurants, cafes, and shops in this vibrant and historic neighborhood.
We passed a few restaurants as we strolled north. Debra shook her head “no” when I gave her an inquisitive look…until we got to Mimmo’s Italian Village. I gave Debra my questioning look and…she nodded “yes.”
“We’d like a table on the patio,” she said to the hostess.
I think that was the clincher for her—outdoor seating on a picture-perfect day. Or maybe it was the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering marinara sauce that wafted through the air!
We perused the menu, which included appetizers, Italian subs, pizza, and freshly made pasta. So many choices, and each sounded amazing...
It was late morning—half past 11—when we disembarked, and most of our fellow passengers had long-since left the ship. So, we didn’t have to wait long for a cab.
“Were to?” our cabbie asked.
“Little Italy, please,” I replied.
Less than 10 minutes later, he dropped us at the Little Italy landmark sign—an iconic arch over India Street that was first lit in October 2000 during the Little Italy FESTA!
(You can see this sign in the photo at the top of my story.)
There weren’t many people milling about. Not enough to do here on a weekday for most tourists, I thought. Perfect!
India Street, which runs through the heart of Little Italy, was home to many of the most popular restaurants, cafes, and shops in this vibrant and historic neighborhood.
We passed a few restaurants as we strolled north. Debra shook her head “no” when I gave her an inquisitive look…until we got to Mimmo’s Italian Village. I gave Debra my questioning look and…she nodded “yes.”
“We’d like a table on the patio,” she said to the hostess.
I think that was the clincher for her—outdoor seating on a picture-perfect day. Or maybe it was the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering marinara sauce that wafted through the air!
We perused the menu, which included appetizers, Italian subs, pizza, and freshly made pasta. So many choices, and each sounded amazing...
…but none more so than homemade pasta with Bolognese sauce, a classic meat-based sauce that originated from Bologna, Italy.
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With that, we ordered two salads, two bowls of pasta, and glasses of wine—Pinot Grigio for Debra, Chianti for me. The pasta was fresh, and the sauce was divine!
We visited Rome—The Eternal City—last year, and if my memory served me well, I thought Mimmo’s pasta tasted as good as was served in a ristorante in Rome. As testament to how good it was, we talked about our dining experience—a wonderful memory—long after it ended. |
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Afterward, we did a bit of window shopping on India Street—but window shopping was as close as we got to making a purchase.
Thirty minutes later, Debra announced, “I’m ready to reboard the Ruby.” I flagged down a taxi and we headed back to the port. “Thank you, hon,” Debra said as we relaxed in deck chairs near the pool. “That was the perfect way to spend a few hours in San Diego.”
Happy Wife, Happy Life!
Early that evening, with three long blasts from its horn, the Ruby Princess set sail for Cabo San Lucas, a city known as “Land’s End.” And as we sailed away, Debra and I watched the setting sun cast a multicolored fireball—red, orange, gold, and yellow—on the western horizon. It WAS an awesome sight!
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