Yesterday we went to Sea World in San Diego. During the entire drive there was only one short stretch of about five miles that was not completely urban. I remember when there was land between the two cities....
We passed San Juan Capistrano, where the famous old mission is, and I decided to go take a look at it on the way back, in the evening when the tourists would be gone.
At Sea World, the entire province of Baja California seemed to have come up for a visit. The other 
people there were either Asian or extremely blond. Everyone was in bathing suits and shorts. I felt very overdressed in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. There were also a few stunningly obese Middle Americans. You don't see that much in Los Angeles.
The highlight of a Sea World visit is the killer whales (orcas), of course. The top predator of the ocean hurtles through the water and air right in front of you. I know there are people who think it is wrong to keep whales and dolphins in captivity. Maybe they are right but probably more people are touched by the animals this way, and want to help them afterwards.
At the end of the day we made our way to "Shipwreck Rapids," a whitewater-raft experience that is a clone of the River Styx at the Parc Astérix outside Paris. Having gone on a lot of raft trips, I think these rides do give you a good feel for the real thing.
One very American touch was that people watching the rafts can pay 25 cents and aim at you with a big water cannon as you pass. Somehow I don't think that would go over in France.
It was only 6:30 p.m., but the sun was going down! Oh no! We were still in our soaking wet clothes. Now I saw why everyone else was in bathing suits and shorts. It would be a long drive home, our backs steaming on the slightly heated seats.
When we passed San Juan Capistrano it was pitch black outside. I keep forgetting that the days are so much shorter here.
And that one stretch of open land between LA and San Diego?..it's the marine base. Otherwise it would have long ago been filled with houses.
Posted by: Dan | 12 January 2008 at 01:08