Hello hello hello friends and family (you all fall in to one of the two categories…even those of you I haven’t met).
I am here in San Diego with a nice cool breeze at my back and an adventurous spirit in my heart. I am amazed…AMAZED at what a good bit of travel has done in the last 24 hours to bump up my life to the next level.
We touched down in San Diego at approximately 9:30 last night (California time). Julie and her mom were taxed, but I was still indeflateably giddy. As we stepped off the plane and into the gate, the same thought was running through my mind: “I never have to go back to Maui again”.
Those of you who have a particular interest in Maui or Hawaii as a travel destination (and in fact, I hope you do, as I have a number of articles to post about finding your way around on Maui) don’t be offended. It is simply that Maui is like a small hometown to me. Everyone must leave sometime. The feeling of stepping away from my hometown, and, for the first time in my life, not needing to go back, is like steroids from the mind.
The actual “arrival” was somewhat anticlimactic (as many are when you arrive at night). It was dark, and in general, we were fatigued. We loaded our MANY bags into Julie’s Mother’s friend’s vehicle (my singular 28 liter backpack…and their 8 suitcases) and rode to the friend’s apartment.
The apartment was small, but homey. The only uncomfortable factor was the impenetrable scent of tobacco. There was a little dog running around with long shaggy hair, he had a ponytail atop his head, evidently to keep the excess hair out of his eyes, secured by a hairband. I forget his name.
After a quick, very brisk walk to Jack in the Box and back, I unstuffed my sleeping bag, layed down on the couch, and that was that.
I awoke at roughly (apparently I don’t think to look at clocks when I’m so excited) 5:3am. The house was quiet. As my brain came to conciousness, I remembered: I have a mission. The mission, in short, was to get up, pack my sleeping bag back into my pack, and walk out the door.
Julie had pointed out the bus stop I should go to to get me started the night before…and I blearily made my way there. I probably looked a bit like a lost puppy this morning, stumbling and tripping on cracks in the sidewalk, looking around with a general awe.
It is not that I hadn’t seen a city before. I’d spent time in many. I am, at heart, a city boy. It was the thought that I could stay here…spend all my time here…make use of the efficient transit systems. This is such a new concept for me.
Back to my story…
While I was tripping, and staring, moving my way quickly down the sidewalk…I remembered that the bus fare probably wasn’t $1 like all the bus’s are in Maui (which is what I had in my wallet at the time). This predicament was quickly remedied by a stop in to 7Eleven’s ATM. I also (not knowing what the prices would be like “downtown”) purchased a Turkey sandwich (the premade kind) and a bottle of water (armed with this, drinking fountains are my personal water dispensers).
I made my way to the bus stop and sat down.
As I sat there, the weight of what I have done with my life came to me. This was incredible. It is incredible-I thought- that I could be sitting in San Diego right now, with a nearly full day of play ahead of me. I smiled the widest smile I have ever smiled. I finally felt free.
The sidewalk seemed to crackle with life beneath my feet. The air was making wooshing sounds…but not like it did back in Hawaii. That was wind, or breeze, that (in my gel wearing days) used to mess up my hair and blow my homework away. This was energy…life flowing through the air.
The bus arrived and I got on. When asked about monthly bus passes, I was told to go “downtown” to purchase one. This seemed to be all the information the driver felt comfortable volunteering. I thought about pressing the issue-but at the end, I opted against it, deciding I’d just figure it out on my own.
I must have stayed on the bus for about an hour, staring wide-eyed at the sights outside. They were normal city sights – Skyscrapers, homeless people, pizza shops, internet cafes. They had new meaning for me now.
When I got to Broadway (the street I assumed to be “downtown”) I got off. I wandered for a considerable amount of time, enjoying the walk.
As I turned the corner, my eyes focused on the sign I was staring at: “The Transit Store” it read. “Bus Passes, Monthly Passes, Weekly Passess…” I had found “downtown”!
By this time, it was about 7:15am. The shop was closed, and wasn’t opening until 9:00am. I figured I’d go look for the hostel.
I still hadn’t looked at a map since arriving, and wasn’t about to either. My will for adventure seeking and my mind had been arguing over taking the cellphone out and looking at google earth or not. Thankfully, princible won out, and I skipped the digital assistance.
After a good half-hour of walking around, an unbelieable image appeared in front of my eyes. It was a gaslamp. I had…through my own wanderings through “downtown”, found the gaslamp district.
This was, apparently, where the hostel was.
Once again, I fought the impulse to call google 411 for the address. I did some more wandering.
After about 4 blocks, the word “Hostel” came into view. My heart did a few thuds, but I quickly realized that this was USA Hostel. This was not the hostel I was staying at, but was close (according to a map I had looked at before I left). I was looking for “Hostel International” and after another couple of blocks, I found it.
I decided, even though it was early, to walk in.
I was helped at the door, and, though my room wasn’t ready, I could pay for it. I decided to pay so I wouldn’t have to worry about it later. She said I could go hang out upstairs as much as I wanted until the check-in time in the afternoon. I had plans to head over to The Transit Store for my bus pass soon, but decided to walk upstairs to check it all out just the same.
My review so far, would be great. The paint-job is the most striking thing. Purples, oranges, and white make you feel as though you are in a friendly and fun environment. A TV room, a kitchen/dining room area (where I happen to be sitting, writing this post), and some stuff I haven’t even checked out yet. Lots of young, friendly people so far, smiling and talking cheerfully.
I am going to enjoy myself for the next year…I can feel it.
I am going to wrap this up, and head over to The Transit Store. The next post will probably be tomorrow. Hope you are enjoying my updates. Feel free to post any comments you have!
Talk to you all later!
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Great post. Really enjoyed it. The pictures add hugely to seeing both your mood and your new environment. Looks very nice. And very exciting. Thanks for letting us enjoy your adventure vicariously. You deserve it all. You earned it. XOXO, Dad