A Weekend of Chai Lattes and Saltwater

Sand in your toes with the ocean breeze blowing through your hair. To me, there’s nothing better.

San Diego is one of my favorite places in the world. Now that I live in Phoenix, any trip to the ocean and this classic beach town is perfect.

This time I would be going with my young adult group from church to San Diego and we would also be visiting Coronado Island. Although I’ve been to San Diego many times, I had never ventured across the giant bridge before, but that wouldn’t come until the day after I arrived.

When I got into San Diego that Friday I was excited to explore. Our hotel was just outside the Gaslamp District and Little Italy. It sat right on the bay with a view of the bridge to Coronado Island. I knew from the second I signed up for the trip where I would be going for lunch that day. Parakeet Café to get my coconut yogurt bowl and cacao chai latte with oat milk.

I embarked on the walk not knowing what to expect but being pleasantly surprised. I found Seaport Village that had Spill the Beans coffee shop and Crazy Shirts, a place I hadn’t seen since visiting Hawaii. I saw the USS Midway and a Disney Cruise ship, both of which were the biggest boats I’ve seen.

While venturing around in Little Italy, I did get a little lost and began going around street blocks not knowing which way was North and which was South. And then having to stop at Rite Aid to get Band-Aids because I got blisters on my feet from my sandals. But alas, after a bit I finally made it to my glorious yogurt bowl.

That evening I was supposed to go with one of my friends to dinner. Unfortunately, she got caught up with another one of her friends and I was stuck not knowing what to do. It was dark outside and I couldn’t walk anywhere alone due to safety concerns. I ended up getting a smoothie bowl from a restaurant downstairs just outside the hotel lobby (this was after having a breakdown and calling my mom in not knowing what to do). I’m not going to lie, I was surprised at how good the bowl was. Was the situation ideal? No. But I had to make it ideal and say to myself that it all turned out fine because it did.

I’m an early riser. I like waking up and getting my day started, especially with a nice bowl of oats. For this trip we had been told we had $10 to spend at the hotel Starbucks each morning to get breakfast. I walked downstairs and got some oatmeal and a refresher (that I didn’t drink, I was just there for the oats). I walked outside to the cool bay air and found a spot to watch the sun finish rising and eat. I went for another walk this morning and saw more of the USS Midway and more of the pier that I hadn’t seen the day before just taking in the morning sun rising over the water.

My visit to Coronado Island was interesting to say the least. Our group had a spot set up and we were ready to go. My friend and I threw our towels down and got to sun screening. Then we went into the water and got splashed by the waves coming over our heads. Later we ventured inland to get lunch (again at Parakeet Café) and visited a small bookstore where I of course did not leave empty handed.

I read on the beach some more before the sand kept getting in my face from the wind starting to blow. My towel would not be found without sand and it started to get everywhere. And then people got stung by stingrays. Four people in a matter of hours. Luckily they all ended up alright, but it was scary seeing people in pain from them.

Pizza on the beach for dinner and then a drive across the giant bridge back to the hotel to get ready for a night session. A session that calmed everyone after a busy day in the sun and sand.

Never drive into Little Italy at lunch time on the weekend. Ever.

I woke up with the ambitious idea to go to Little Italy for lunch to you guessed it, Parakeet Café. This was after walking to the coffee shop and getting a chai and some oatmeal for breakfast.

Some tears and $25 later, I was parked. Let me tell you, parking in this little community is not fun. Especially at the height of the weekend lunch crowd. But at this point it didn’t matter. I was on a one-way track to yet another yogurt bowl and cacao chai. That is what would fuel me the 6 hour drive home.

When I returned home to Phoenix I immediately missed the beach. If you know me, you’ll know that I’m a water child at heart. I love the beach. Being able to spend time in a city I loved was amazing and I also connected with new people along the way. Yes the trip had its ups and downs, but doesn’t every trip?

All in all, I’m thankful for the experience and everything I learned. I definitely walked away a different person than who I was when I pulled out of my parking space that Friday morning.