Old Town will celebrate Mexican Independence Day in San Diego's Old Town this weekend. It celebrates their independence from France on the Fifth of May. Yesterday, truck loads of pinatas were unloaded in Old Town. Last year, over one hundred thousand attended this Super Bowl for Mexicans in Old Town. Mariachi music, Margaritas, and children hitting a paper animal filled with candy.
Last year, my biggest moment was to watch kids try to break a pinata attached by a rope tied to a tree's branch. It had the shape of a lion. Each time little five year old Jose batted it, a man that held a rope pulled the pinata higher. Finally, one good blow tore a hole in it and lots of treats fell to the ground.
On a bench I watched the event with Tonto, the wooden cigar store Indian. The parents looked more excited than their kids who picked up the candy like their life depended on it. I took a picture of two newly weds next to Tonto, and guessed the weight of a tourist from Ohio on an old scale. But back to this post on Old Town.
But before you pack up to leave for Old Town, let me provide a few tips to save money, time and stress. Never drive into San Diego unless you have reserved a hotel and its parking lot. Most hotels charge extra to park in their lot-like the old Horton Hotel in the Gas Lamp area.
You can reserve a hotel at any one of the thirty H and M's on Hotel Circle. These are located in the Mission Valley area off the 8 Freeway. The 5 Freeway will take you to the 8 and go east. Get off at the Hotel Circle off ramp on Taylor. A large number of Hotels and Motels will come up. The cheaper ones cost about $50 off season-but May is the beginning of San Diego's Tourists season. It means higher costs, mainly on the weekends. (To get to the 8, keep to the far right lanes or you will be on the 805.)
Hotels like the Town and Country are only a block away from the Green Line Trolley. They are on the north side of the circle. The Green Line Trolley goes both ways. From downtown San Diego, the Trolley also goes in the other direction, but still spills you out at the foot of Old Town.
The expensive hotels, like the Embassy charge a lot. but allow you to sleep up to six per room. The rates, change day to day so check Hotel's.com for the best deal.
Besides the Green Line Trolley, the number 88 bus services all the circle hotels. That bus is on the east side of the Old Town Transit Station. The beach buses can drop you off at Old Town. So if you come from OB, or Ocean Beach, PB, or MB. there are the 35, 30, and 28 buses that can bring and return you to La Jolla, Mission, or my favorite, Ocean Beach.
Take lots of water. Again, take lots of water and bag your lunches to save money. Before walking across with the light on San Diego Street, you might wish to take a bathroom break at the Old Town Deli on the north side of the station.
Also, there is a bathroom at the entrance of the park. there are bathrooms at the Old Town Deli on the North Side. It is a quarter, but if you wait, somebody will vacate it and you can enter free of charge. Try to go in the late afternoon to beat the heat and after the flowers bed down for the night. The Red Flag warnings should be over, but bring your puffers just in case.
Those who leave early can park at the Old Town Commuter Parking lot. It is free and safe for 24 hours. Perry's Cafe, across Taylor Street offers a fine breakfast and lunch at affordable prices.
My favorite place is ahead of you. It is the Wrightingham House. You'll see a grape arbor, fig, loquat, pepper, olive, and a bed of Roses in the inner back patio area. It is where
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