Friday, August 11, 2017 – Knoxville to San Diego
Tom and I flew out of Knoxville on United at 10:55 a.m. and had plenty of time during our 3 1/2-hour layover in Houston for a nice lunch at The Local at IAH Restaurant. The Alternate Universe beer, brewed in Houston by 8th Wonder Brewery, was excellent!
We arrived in San Diego at 4:45 p.m., with Carmen scheduled to arrive at 5:30. Brian and Mooney checked into the Airbnb at 3:00, giving them just enough time to unpack Mooney's pickup and shower before picking us up. Unfortunately, Carmen's flight was delayed, but they collected Tom and me on time, and the four of us drove over to the waterfront to wait, while enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather.
Welcome to California
We returned to the airport for Carmen at 7:00 and then headed to our Airbnb, seven miles away, at 4215 Cherokee Avenue, a small two-bedroom, two-bath house located in the Normal Heights neighborhood, near the more trendy North Park area. The place had a full kitchen, a cute living room, and a small back patio. The cost worked out to 50 bucks per person per night. It was great to have common areas where we could hang out together rather than staying in separate hotel rooms.
Our Airbnb
Tom relaxes
Brian unpacks
The Airbnb only came with one parking space, and since parking on the street was hard to come by, Tom and I didn't rent a car, and Mooney promised to chauffeur us around for the next few days – an offer she reneged on immediately upon encountering the San Diego traffic! It was a sucker promise anyway, and I don't blame her for changing her mind. But tonight she graciously drove the gang one mile away to the Blind Lady Ale House on Adams Street for beer and some fantastic pizza.
Mooney and Jana
Jana and Tom at the Blind Lady Ale House
Chris texted while we were out, and he and Kelsey met us at the Blind Lady for a quick beer. They've got a very busy nuptial weekend, with friends and family descending upon them from all over the country. They looked tired but very happy.
A few beers later, the five of us returned to our bungalow, where we enjoyed some blackberry-honey mead that Brian had brewed for the occasion, some of which will be gifted to the happy couple to enjoy on their wedding night. By tradition in many cultures, mead, said to increase fertility and virility, is consumed during the wedding celebration as a toast to the bride and groom. After the wedding, the couple continues the toasting for one month, or one cycle of the moon, hence the term “honeymoon.”
Mooney and Carmen behind the bungalow
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