A few months ago, I had a chance to spend some time in San Diego, CA area. It came highly recommended from people who’ve been there before and who couldn’t wait to move back. I, myself, is a big fan of Pacific Coast Highway, but I never made it south of Los Angeles.

I spent the first few days in San Diego attending a work conference by day and exploring the city by night. Truthfully speaking, I wasn’t impressed. It seemed eerily deserted. But then I guess any city would be comparing to New York. I visited Marina, Balboa Park, the Old Town; had a couple of good meals at Gaslamp Quarter and spent every break lounging by the hotel pool.

What did impress me… was how sunny it was all the time. There was no hiding from it… the expression “sunny California” coming to mind. Also, how fresh and sweet (from flowering trees and bushes) the air smelled. So as soon as the conference ended, I packed myself into a cute-as-a-button rental Fiat (very appropriate, I thought), rolled my windows down and left the city heading north, in the direction of Del Mar.

I spent the next few days crawling through miles of endless coastline, thankful for off-season calmness. From Point Loma known for Cabrillo National Monument, Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the highly visited tide pools, I climbed the Sunset Cliffs and treacherous paths to Ocean Beach, picnicking at La Jolla Cove cliff on the freshest catch from El Pescador Fish Market, watching the surfers do their thing and then finally making it to my base in the sleepy Del Mar, where I became a regular at Cafe Secret, famous for their peruvian ceviche, but my personal fav was their key lime pie. The next day, I explored the nearby Torrey Pine State Park with hiking routes through canyon-like hills and access to the warmest beach of the trip, then driving further north through Encinitas and as far as Carlsbad, stopping to watch impressive parakiting at Cardiff Beach.

In other words, a short break full of sun, ocean, and wind through my hair.. achieved!

For more pics, visit my San Diego set on Flickr.