Fleet Week San Diego
April 2008
The San Diego Traveler: 
The flagship event of San Diego’s salute to the military is the Fleet Week Sea & Air Parade. Your U.S. Navy will parade down The Big Bay to display the various types of ships and aircraft that comprise the world’s mightiest Navy.
The tentative list of participating ships includes a Guided Missile Destroyer, Guided Missile Cruiser, Frigate, Amphibious Dock Landing Ships, SEAL Support Boat, and other small craft. Don’t miss out on the Navy’s LCAC, Landing Craft Air Cushion, demonstration and an exciting mock gun battle between the tall ships, Californian and HMS Surprise.
The general public can view this truly spectacular parade and participate in the Fleet Week festivities from many spots along the waterfront. Last year’s parade was viewed by more than 100,000 spectators - this year’s promises to be even better! The best viewing will be from Shelter Island and Harbor Island.
To see the parade up close, travel aboard the Hornblower Fleet Week Brunch Cruise, where you’ll enjoy a champagne brunch and buffet, then move to the sun deck for the full show. Hornblower Spectator Cruises will also be sailing (sans brunch).
Other upcoming Flagship Events include:
Port of San Diego Sea & Air Parade
Bands and Booms
Viejas Fleet Week Concert
Fleet Week Padres Baseball Game
Wounded Warrior Luncheon
Star Spangled Salute
Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve Luncheon
Coronado Speed Festival
U.S. Navy Ship Tour
The SeaWorld Enlisted Recognition Luncheon
The MCAS Miramar Air Show
Operation Liberty Call
MCRD Boot Camp Challenge
San Diego Gas and Electric All Enlisted Golf Tournament
Fleet Week Golf Tournament
Navy Birthday Ball
Fleet Week Football Classic
Fleet Week Foundation Breakfast
MCRD Colors Ceremony
MCRD Recruit Graduation Parade
Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista Barbecue Lunch
Tags: bands and booms, chula vista barbecue lunch,…
Hôtel Saint Dominique
April 2008
The Paris Traveler: With gas in my neck of the woods reaching $3.75 a gallon today and our currency worldwide devalued to the point of making travel, even on a budget, an extravagance, I am continuing along the line of ways to see Paris on the cheap(er).
Hôtel Saint Dominique is a delightfully charming 2-star hotel located in the 7th arr. on rue Saint Dominique. This is a bustling street filled with fun clothing shops, coffee shops and fast food-ish restaurants (if there is such a thing here) as the surrounding area is home to a large population of foreign students (mostly American) attending AUP (American University in Paris). If you don’t mind the pace and perhaps late night noise, this would be a great home away from home that won’t break the bank.
I would think that waking up in this tiny, yet charming guest room with a sunny courtyard right outside my window a most pleasant way to start the day. There is a recently re-decorated dining area that serves buffet breakfast which looks out onto the street that reflects picture perfect “French-ness”. My experience with 2 star hotels has been a bit sketchy–this one is as nice as any 3 star you might find, and they too can be run the gamut from “we need to leave this place immediately” to opulent. It’s weird to me how they came up with their rating system as my daughter and I never knew what to expect when we checked into hotels around Europe. There are many fabulous and funny stories as a result! 
Location could not be more perfect as the hotel is sandwiched between the Eiffel Tower and Esplanade des Invalides, the grassy park area that extends from the Quai d’Orsay to Les Invalides, an old soldiers home built by Louis XIV,…
Ridiculous apples
April 2008
Noodles and Rice: 
Tonight my wife and I took on the biggest apple that I have ever seen. In the real world it looked even bigger than the photo. It was a genuine family sized apple and was probably destined to be a wonderful gift rather than simply being snapped up by hungry Australians to eat at home.
Japanese fruit shops will often have a section reserved specifically for these super fruit. Super sized, super quality or super out of season but always with a super price tag. These guys weren’t too expensive at about 150 yen each ($1.50) but it is not uncommon to see apples , citrus, stone fruit or melons for exorbitant prices. They are grown and transported with special care to become perfect gifts for those that you want to honour. Gifts giving is truly an art here.