First day in San Diego

After taking some rest and not waking up that late (6am first, then 9am) and finally getting up at 10am, I am taking my first stroll in the city. That's a cultural change for a parisian people! Streets are wide, clean, people are frienly and cars do stop when you're about to cross the street.

A hop to the city transit to get my bus day pass for $5, and off to the gaslamp area to check out things. A lot of bars and restaurants, some fancy hotels and the convention center just across the street. At least I know my way for the next days! And here is also the baseball stadium, the first I am seeing in my life (I saw some baseball fields in japan, but never a real NLB stadium, impressive.

As for luch, I would like some sushi. But without any advice, I decide to go to this ceramic shop which does import from japan and ask the nice owner lady about my craving.

Once spotted as a stranger (I accidentally mentioned - with the proper japanese accent i.e. without any - the tanuki greeting the customers), she sends me across the street to this nice sushi restaurant. As the food is close, it is easy to get anything you want. They even got aji, which I did not eat since 2005! After my ritual negitoro maki, I ordered some, and a couple of anago as well. Very tasty, and so different from unagi! (unagi is clear water eel, whereas anago is sea water eel)

I then get a call from fellow travbuddy Elise, and off we go to meet at Ocean Beach. Riding the 923 bus is pretty convenient, and I am there 20 minutes later. The streets behind the beach are what I would have dreamt of California: long stretch of road with palm trees, low houses and small frontyards.

Waves at the beach are perfect for younameit-surfing, and I even lost my earplug in the action!

A beach towel and a new piercing later, we are back on the highway to downtown (pretty cool ride as well, first time on a US highway, that is worth mentioning). I get my badge for SIGGRAPH and Sandbox events, and we are going for a drink and light dinner. How cool!

I really like the life here - within 24 hours, I can tell you, for sure - anyway I have always liked the idea of city life with the beach or moutains around (sea being my preference). Just thinking about going to work with a surf board in the trunk gives me chills...

Off to bed for the first serious part of the trip by tomorrow!