Hotel del Coronado

We drove over to Coronado crossing the bridge to the peninsula high above the sailboats and water view of San Diego to see the waves at the beach today.  This is a must-do trip whenever we visit San Diego.  We park at the Hotel del Coronado, which has been enthralling visitors since 1888 when it was built.  At that time it was the largest resort hotel in the world.  The waves were indeed worthy of the trip-not astounding but certainly pretty late in the afternoon with the sun to the west creating a silver sheen on the surface of the water mixed with the frothy white of the breaking waves.

We poked around in the tidal pools after crossing a sandy section of the beach where multiple people were settled on blankets, a towel or merely the seat of their pants.  Seagulls were patiently awaiting potential food from their beach co-inhabitants.  No matter that the surf was up and the water is cold, children run to and from the water’s edge with endless energy.

Someone has constructed a sand castle for Cinderella and her prince and now lies beneath a beach umbrella while those passing by circle his creation photographing it and admiring his three dimensional talent created over nine hours.  He has plied this trade or hobby for 26 years and a tip jar is offered up for spectators so inclined to reward his efforts.

 

Up in front of the hotel the staff is preparing for an evening, outdoor gathering.  White tablecloths cover long tables with plates, flower arrangements, and candles with seating arrangements consisting of cloth ottomans set upon the grass at the edge of the beach.  Is this a wedding reception or a business conference buffet?  We have no way of knowing.

The hotel ground floor opens to the beach onto patios from a restaurant, a Starbuck’s coffee stand and a bar.  We choose comfortable cloth lounge chairs around a table inside the bar with the same view and enjoy a snack of roasted pecans, cashews and almonds, each with a different spice flavoring.  Guacamole, salsa and chips along with a chocolate éclair finish off our selections turning our stop into a British teatime of sorts.  Well, I had hot tea to complete the effect while Teri and Jim enjoyed soft drinks.  We “people-watched” leisurely while the sun slipped down into the silver sea beyond.

Driving home past million dollar plus homes on Coronado Island and parks with people still outdoors enjoying the mild weather convinces me we are indeed fortunate and possibly on the edge of Heaven.