San Diego's Sticky Secrets & Slightly Soggy Socks
okay, so, like, i’m pretty sure i’m running on caffeine and regret right now. san diego. it’s… a thing. i landed yesterday and the air was thick, you know? like, humid but not in a good way. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the temp is 11.22, feels like 9.62, min 10.48, max 13.08, pressure 1014, humidity 47, sea level 1014, ground level 961. seriously, that’s a lot of numbers. i’m not even a math person.
my mission? find the weirdest taco truck and maybe, just maybe, not completely lose my mind. i’m a touring session drummer, so my usual is chaos and questionable hotel rooms, but this place… it’s got a vibe. a slightly unsettling vibe, honestly.
first things first: gear. let’s talk gear.
drum kit (obviously): the ‘thunderclap’ - it’s seen better days, but it still hits hard. i’m pretty sure one of the heads is cracked. don’t ask.
*metronome: a battered old Casio. it’s more of a suggestion than a guide.
*noise-canceling headphones: essential for surviving airport security and overly enthusiastic tourists.
*camera: my trusty Sony a7iii. i’m trying to capture the ‘essence’ of everything, which mostly involves blurry shots of seagulls.
*notebook & pen: for documenting my descent into madness.
*emergency snacks: trail mix, gummy bears, and a half-eaten bag of pretzels. priorities.
*socks: i’m already regretting this choice. they’re damp.
i stumbled upon this place called ‘El Fuego’ - it’s a taco truck parked behind a laundromat. the guy running it, Miguel, looked like he’d wrestled a badger and lost. he didn’t speak much english, but he served up some seriously intense carne asada. someone told me that the salsa verde is made with ghost peppers, and i’m not exaggerating when i say my eyes watered for a solid hour. i heard that the owner used to be a competitive chili cook, which explains the intensity.
i spent the afternoon wandering around Balboa Park, which is massive. like, seriously, you could spend a week there and still not see everything. there’s a Japanese garden, a Spanish architecture building, and a whole bunch of museums. i checked out the Natural History Museum - it was… informative. i also found a street artist doing some amazing murals - really vibrant stuff. i snapped a few pics, but my camera battery died. classic.
i overheard some locals at a bar - a dive called ‘The Rusty Mug’ - talking about a hidden beach called ‘Sunset Cove.’ they said it’s only accessible at low tide and that it’s haunted by the ghost of a lighthouse keeper. seriously. someone told me that the keeper lost his wife at sea and now wanders the beach, searching for her. creepy, right? i’m not sure i’m brave enough to check it out.
i also checked out Yelp for some recommendations. apparently, there’s a great brewery called ‘Stone Brewing’ - i’m planning on hitting that up tonight. i’m hoping for something strong and dark.
if you get bored, La Jolla* is just a short drive away. it’s got beautiful cliffs and tide pools. i’m thinking of checking it out tomorrow. i also saw a really cool vintage clothing store downtown - i’m on the hunt for some 80s band tees.
honestly, this whole trip is just… a mess. but a good mess. a slightly sticky, slightly sweaty, definitely chaotic mess. i’m going to go find another taco. and maybe a stronger drink.
check out TripAdvisor for more San Diego adventures: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g33986-San_Diego_California
and for the best local eats, head to Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/san-diego-ca