When we decided that we were moving to San Diego, there was one friend that came to mind that I just knew would visit. Sure enough, before we had even moved from VA, Meredith had booked her visit to sunny San Diego. Last Friday she arrived around 8pm and we really had such a fantastic weekend! Meredith is just plain fun to be around and she never has a shortage of hilarious stories that keeps everyone laughing!
Saturday we had a low key day- working out, riding bikes around the neighborhood, lunch in La Jolla and just a little bit of shopping. It was just so great catching up with her- take me back to my 1101 days in college.
On Saturday evening- Meredith and I embarked on what would become a real life video game challenge (think the Sims or Super Mario Cart) of sorts to get to the Civic Theater downtown to see the Lion King. “You know how to get there because you went to see Wicked there, right?” you may ask. It is true that I have in fact been there- but I can tell you I had no idea how to get there- not a shocking surprise to anyone who has been exposed to my abysmal sense of direction. Not to mention that this place is the most confusing place on earth to find. I watched the clock tick anxiously as it grew closer to the start of the opening number as we dodged various obstacles (again, we were in a video game) and drove around for what seemed like forever. Finally we found it. We got parking and raced to the ticket collector. One problem…wrong theater. So off we ran, in our heels and dresses down the street overshooting our destination by about 3 blocks, as a nice police officer kindly told us.
So now we are running back and FINALLY reach the Civic Theater. We were unable to go in because the opening number had begun so we were forced to wait patiently until the theater worker told us we were able to go in. Finally, we were able to enter the dark theater as Zazu the bird enters the stage and the play was continuing on. I’d seriously been grasping to the tickets we needed to get in for the last hour and sure enough, as soon as we stepped into the dark theater- I couldn't’t find them. I’m was dropping things out of my purse on the floor, eventually finding the tickets to stand up just in time to see some random woman taking the Playbill out of Meredith’s and asking if she can have two. She definitely thought Meredith worked at the theater. The look on Meredith’s face was priceless. After crawling over people in the dark, we finally got to our seats and enjoyed what I think is one of the most imaginative and well done plays I’ve ever seen.
On Sunday, Meredith and I jumped on the highway and started driving North- our destinations: LA, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. We shopped like the stars (Kitson, Tory Burch) and ate like the starts (at The Ivy) and with “Pretty Woman” playing in our heads, we drove down the fabulous Rodeo Drive. I shouldn't forget we also made a pit stop for the yummy Pinkberry!
Mimosas and $20 eggs at The Ivy. Such a cute place!
Hollywood was like nothing I’d ever seen (well, except probably Times Square in New York). There were so many people there- tourists, street performers, impersonators, weirdos, etc. The ultimate people watching spot. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum was so much fun. We couldn't’t get over how real they looked! It was kind of freaky!
Mere and George snuggling
Hanging with the Fresh Prince
Brit from the VMAs- the start of her triumphant comeback
On Monday, we made a visit to the San Diego Zoo. It was awesome! I can’t wait to take my little nieces when they come for a visit. They animals all seemed reasonably happy (compared to those at the National Zoo in DC) and we saw everything we wanted to see. I think our favorites were the rhinos that chased each other around, the pandas, the giraffes and probably the cute meerkats. I can’t wait to try the Wild Animal Park too!
It really was a great visit. The best part is Meredith is already talking about her next visit. Just what I like to hear!
