SAN DIEGO - August 2020 🌴 🧡

San Diego - Blog

My first ever solo trip - San Diego, La Jolla, Ca

San Diego was my first solo trip that didn’t include meeting up with family. While I didn’t have any plans to meet up with anyone, my cousin was nice enough to ask her friend (who resides in the area) to show me around. He showed me around and helped me enjoy San Diego to the fullest! Plus no Uber costs. 😂 I guess that’s why I would truly consider NYC my first official solo trip- where I didn’t meet up with anyone and did everything “solo”.

Before going on this trip, I remember I was extremely stressed with school, as I was taking 18-21 hours (21 hours for a couple of months) during the summer.

I ended up moving out of the dorms, got an apartment, and got in a car accident. A lot happened in such a brief period and it made me realize that hard things will always happen in life, but how we choose to respond to them can help us navigate it more effectively and help the overall process of overcoming “growing pains” and maturing emotionally.

During this time I also was doing well in my side hustle companies. Specifically, Orozco Graphics. My friend was nice enough to refer me to her aunt who gave me business in creating her business cards and website for her church. With some of the money I made, I decided to go on a trip to San Diego, California as the flights were extremely inexpensive and I was able to stay in a 4-star hotel for a very inexpensive rate (Less than $200.00 a night). Right now the prices are sitting at the $320.00 (per night) for August- the same month that I visited. I forgot how much it cost per night but maybe I mentioned it in my YouTube videos you can watch it here. https://youtu.be/hN2oTIxuuXs

I decided to take a 3-day solo trip to San Diego. I’m grateful for my roomate at the time who told me to make sure to be safe and aware of my surroundings. To not trust anyone. While it did scare me, it made me realize I needed to be very cautious of my surroundings- especially when you’re solo traveling.

Solo Female Safety Tips- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.heyciara.com/blog/safesolofemaletravel%3fformat=amp

Day 1 *ೃ༄

On the first day, I took an Uber to the hotel. Checked in, took a nap, and decided to walk around the local area. I stayed in a pretty safe area close to many touristy and local spots, La Jolla Cove, Children’s pool, where the seals are, etc.

My cousin’s friend took me to Little Italy for dinner with his friends.

I forgot to mention we also went to different beaches, one with his other friends (and OH MY GOSH- one of the guys was so cute but he was just an acquaintance of the friend’s- friend. See how confusing? He was so cute and I saw him staring, but that’s about it.

Maybe it’s just me but Cali boys are very handsome and the adventure vibes of these boys are just a vibe in itself. 😍

Day 2 ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

On day two I went surfing and included kayaking and snorkeling- as it was a package deal. I booked the experience so it came in a bundle. I chose Everyday California.

They also give you an extra free 1 hour with the board if you book a surfing lesson with them!

The main priority for me was surfing. I have ALWAYS wanted to surf as a child. I remember going to Virginia Beach with my family and never going surfing. I was so close at one point but my family kept telling me it “wasn’t worth it” so I left with the longing. I told myself I wanted to go this time- and I believe that is why I decided to go to San Diego, to go surf! La Jolla is known as one of the best places to learn how to surf.

Day two was one of the best days of my life! Ever since I was little, I remember I always wanted to surf. I’m not sure if it was because of the surfing videos I watched as a child or my love for the beach (which I rarely enjoyed because we never lived near the beach- that will be changing soon 😏).

Anyways, when my body finally touched the board, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. And maybe it’s because the instructor was great at telling me how I needed to hold my stance, in order not to fall off the board 😂 but, I felt like I was finally doing that “missing thing” that I’ve never done but somehow was always in me - getting abstract here. What I mean is something I enjoyed and was told wasn’t that important, but to me it was very important- trying out something new, fun, safe, and something that looked enticing.

My family never cared for it or has even cared to surf before, so it doesn’t run in my family to surf or go to the beach. It felt like a special moment and even to this day, I love surfing and try to go every time/anytime I go to the beach.

It feels like I finally have something for myself, it feels great.

I also work out a lot - consistently at least- and at the time I did a lot of workouts that require balance. I think that helped me improve my balance on the board.

Workout progressions/workouts that might be helpful:

One-legged squats
Squatting
Any balance workouts
Mobility/Flexibility or simply stretching.

I did a lot of Chris Hería workouts. And this isn’t to tell you, you need to do these or else!! But to give you an idea on potential workouts you can do or simply just workout, I think anything is effective as long as it is practiced consistently overtime (the power of habits, consistency, and compounding).

By the way, my instructor was cute and was my age. I wasn’t expecting that. But I think I was praying for God to send me a cute instructor that way it could be like the movies, etc., etc. 😂😂

While I did have a group class, it ended up being just me and one kid who didn’t end up surfing much, so it was me and my instructor (at least that’s how I saw it). I caught two waves and my instructor said I did pretty good for the first time.

For being very young, he was a very good instructor. He mentioned his grandparents lived in San Diego, so he comes out in the summer and decided to get a job as a surfing instructor and tries to catch waves in the mornings. Interesting.

He was going to school in Arizona.

Anywho, he was pretty chill. After that, we ended up talking a bit, not too much. And he told me since I booked a lesson I could have the board an extra hour for free- but instruction wouldn’t be included.

I was really scared but I decided to keep the board for the extra hour and go in alone in the water. I think I caught one wave or no waves and I decided to stay close to the instructors who were teaching the children. I was praying to God that a shark wouldn’t come out of the water- one of my biggest fears.

After that... I took the board back to Everyday California, it was about a 5-20 minute walk (yes I know a long gap of time).

I’m short, so here’s a tip, if your short/have short arms, it’s easier to carry the board on your head vs. on the side, especially if your arms are short.

After this, my cousin’s friend picked me up, and the time worked out well. He took me to Coronado beach, Windansea, and then we went walking around the area.

Coronado beach- majestic. It reminded me of Mary Poppin’s time and the architecture was very old, southern- slightly creepy, but still beautiful, with a dash of an old fair - from Mary Poppin’s vibe.

Windansea- it was beautiful to see people surfing. However, it was mainly A LOT of people taking professional photos. It seemed more like a spot for wedding/engagement photographers

Day 3 ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Packed and back to home. ❤️

So guess we can say a 2-day solo trip? ❤️

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YouTube Video~ https://youtu.be/hN2oTIxuuXs

Graphic Designs ~ OrozcoGraphics.com

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Question of the day ~ Have you taken a solo trip. If not have you been wanting to and what’s stopping you? ❤️

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