We wanted to visit San Diego on our honeymoon roadtrip, however we just couldn't fit it into our schedule! So for our first anniversary we returned to California for a ten day break taking in San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert and the southern end of the Pacific Coast Highway up to Los Angeles.
In this flashback photoblog we retrace our trip with some of our favourite captures.
Day 1 - Amber's longest birthday!
Saturday 5th October 2013
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The blog starts at London Heathrow whilst waiting to board our brand new British Airways A380 for the flight to Los Angeles. It was Amber's birthday, so with the 8-hour time difference between the UK and California she was able to celebrate for a full 32 hours, although over 11 of these were on the aircraft in economy!
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Day 2 - San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Sunday 6th October 2013
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We had pre-booked a Caravan Tour to feed the giraffes and rhinos at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This was a great way to get up close and personal with the animals.
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A giraffe!
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Amber confidently feeding the giraffes...
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... Matt wasn't so sure!
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Posing for a photo and letting Amber hold the food.
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Feeding the rhinos by throwing apple into their mouths!
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Elephants.
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Looks like one of the tours didn't make it back!
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A large gorilla going for a walk.
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Day 3 - Anza-Borrego Desert
Monday 7th October 2013
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Another excursion that we pre-booked before our holiday was a private Anza-Borrego Desert tour with California Overground. It was a great day out exploring the desert in their bright yellow open-air Jeep.
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The Anza-Borrego Desert is a mix of large rock formations and sand.
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One of a number of anticlines, where layers of stratified rock bend downwards in opposite directions from the crest like a rainbow.
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One of the many viewpoints.
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Back on the Jeep ready to explore further into the desert.
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Searching for the fossilised footprints of a mammoth and prehistoric coyote... we didn't find them!
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Driving through a Canyon.
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Final stop of the day, Font's Point for sunset.
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Thanks to Johnny our tour guide and driver for the day!
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Sunset at Font's Point.
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Later in the evening attempting a photo of the night's sky from the darkness of the desert.
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Day 4 - Anza-Borrego Desert
Tuesday 8th October 2013
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Dennis Avery, land owner of Galleta Meadows Estates in Borrego Springs envisioned the idea of adding 'free standing art' to his property with original steel welded sculptures created by Ricardo Breceda. There are 129 metal sculptures located in Borrego Springs but don't worry we haven't put up photos of all of them! We start with a photo of the Camelops.
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Grasshopper and Scorpion.
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Harlan's Ground Sloth.
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Serpent. The body crosses the road.
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Matt having a nice chat with the serpent...
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... or maybe not!
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Sabertooth Cat.
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Wind God Bird (Aiolornis Incredibilis).
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Amber dancing with a Velociraptor.
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Spinosaurus.
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Don't eat me!
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A raptor creeping up on T-rex.
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It was soon time to make the drive to San Diego and we finished the day taking a few night shots across the bay from Shelter Island.
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Day 5 - San Diego
Wednesday 9th October 2013
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The Old Town Trolley, took us for a tour of San Diego before we explored Old Town.
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Old Town Historic Park - A few of these are original buildings, but most are reproductions to give a feel of how things were back in the early 1800s.
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The old school house where we got accosted by an old dear in period costume who didn't want us to leave!
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Old Town Market.
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Some of the many items on sale at the Old Town Market.
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Day 6 - San Diego
Thursday 10th October 2013
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For our second day in San Diego we went to explore Balboa Park.
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The original Apollo 9 re-entry capsule in the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
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The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.
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The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.
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Having a break by the Lily Pond in Balboa Park.
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The Old Globe, Balboa Park. Where we saw 'The Last Goodbye' which is basically 'Romeo and Juliet the Musical' with all songs provided courtesy of Jeff Buckley's repertoire.
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Day 7 - San Diego
Friday 11th October 2013
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HMS Surprise. A replica of an 18th century Royal Navy frigate featured in films such as 'Master and Commander' and of course 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.
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Not your typical harbour boat trip, the Patriot Jet Boat.
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All dressed up in our disposable macs and ready to go!
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Yes, you do get wet!!
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All aboard the USS Midway.
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F-8 Crusader of Vietnam War vintage.
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Unconditional Surrender. The replacement bronze statue for the original temporary plastic installation.
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Day 8 - San Diego
Saturday 12th October 2013
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Our final full day in San Diego started local to our hotel in Little Italy at the famous Farmer's Market.
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Some of the fresh produce on sale.
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Breakfast!
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Pacific Beach.
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Pacific Beach.
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Belmont Park, we loved the old wooden coasters!
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Our hotel in the centre of Little Italy.
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Gesso Italiano, on the street right outside our hotel.
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Gesso Italiano.
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A selection of the Gesso Italiano artwork.
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This was Amber's favourite, and it also won!
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Day 9 - La Jolla
Sunday 13th October 2013
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Our 1st wedding anniversary gift to ourselves, a fragrance making experience at Tijon in La Jolla.
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Smeling good.
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Having a break for a glass of bubbles.
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Paper and Paperboy, our finished fragrances. The names were a nod to the traditional 1st anniversary gift.
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La Jolla Beach.
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Lots of very smelly sealions.
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Day 10 - Laguna Beach
Monday 14th October 2013
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Our final two nights were at the lovely Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa, at Laguna Beach. Breakfast was rather impresive!
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The main beach, at Laguna Beach.
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Having a relaxing day.
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There are lots of rockpools on the beach.
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The view from Recreation Point.
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Day 11 - Laguna Beach
Tuesday 15th October 2013
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We spent our final morning at the secluded Victoria Beach, 10 minute walk from our hotel.
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Coming back from a paddle!
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Stopped off for a quick Bubba Gump in Long Beach on the drive back to LAX.
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