From: jittlov@gumby.cs.caltech.edu (Mike Jittlov)
Subject: Re: San Diego and Mexico
Keywords: San Diego, Zoo, San Deigo Bay, Hotel, Sea World
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 20:56:37 GMT

my@laverde.nsc.com (Mike Yip) writes:

>Hello,
>	I will be visiting San Diego for two days.  I would like
>to know where is a good place to stay.  Should I stay in Downtown
>area, San Diego Hotel Circle, Mission Bay or San Diego Bay.  I 
>would like to be able to get back to the hotel in the evening and
>still be able to walk around.  (Is it safe to walk around at night?)

Be sure and visit Horton Plaza - a wild riot of architecture, this
shopping mall of many levels looks as though it were designed by
M.C. Escher.

It's safer than Los Angeles at night.  28 murders last weekend.  In
my neighborhood (Silverlake - between Hollywood & Downtown), you can
tell what time it is by counting the gunshots, and subtracting two.

Be a little wary.  In questionable areas, walk as though you have a 
solid purpose, grim determination - people will stay away from you.

	Also, I would like to get some info on day trips to Mexico
>from San Diego.  Is there any bus or train between the two places?
>Or should I drive my car down to Mexico?  Do I need to get insurance?
>(and how much will it cost?)
>	Thanks in advance for any advise.

Two days isn't enough to see much.  Certainly not both San Diego and
Mexico.  But you can enjoy several grand experiences, that will make
this a warmly memorable adventure.  This is one of them:

Take the inexpensive ($1.50 each way) San Diego Trolley, south to the
border (half-hour trip).  Then take the zigzag cement bridges to the
right, past the plummeting poverty, kids selling Chiclets and cheap
switchblades.  Go in the daytime, by the way.  And if you're light-
skinned, consider a hat or sunscreen - it really feels like you've
entered another reality, with a more intense sun. 

You have entered Tijuana.  Not Mexico, though.  This is a border-world,
in many ways.

Keep going fairly straight, along winding streets, past lots of shops,
drugstores - you'll see a few tourist-info centers, if you get lost.
But the town isn't that big.  Look and learn.

You'll soon be at the main boulevard, Revolucion.  Walk right, for
about 4 blocks, to calle 5 (5th street).  On the corner is the Caesar
Hotel.  Enter, and walk toward the dark glass doors at the back.  They
will be opened for you by the Matre D' of the Caesar Hotel Bar & Grill.

Order the Caesar Salad.

Because it was created here.

Because it is one of the most delicious salads you will ever have.

Because the Societe Epicure de Paris proclaimed it "the finest 
example of North American cuisine in the past 50 years".

Because, at $4.10, it is an unbelieveable bargain for such a rare
and relatively secret gustatory perfection, that few will ever
believe, let alone experience.

Bon apetit!  Savor!!  Revel!!!

This recommendation is entirely unsolicited.  (But if you leave a big
tip, be sure and mention my name.)

[Can't recommend anything else on the menu - I didn't try much else,
really.  Except for the taco &tortilla platter - which was "filling'
but paeled in comparison to the Caesar Salad.  By the way, the Bar &
Grill's business-card even has the salad's recipe printed on the back
- but it doesn't taste the same.  No fool, Caesar.]

If it's dark, consider a taxi back to the border ($4 tops).

(: Mike Jittlov - "The Wizard of Speed and Time", and global gourmet ;d
   Hollywood, USA - Complaints/comments: jittlov@gumby.cs.caltech.edu 

Newsgroups: rec.travel