San Diego, Part 2

I added pictures to Part 1.

Here are some pics from the rest of my trip, along with a few comments:



That's my view of Natalie Portman at the V FOR VENDETTA panel. Their were over 6,000 people there in Exhibit Hall H, a massive auditorium with rows upon rows of folding chairs and very high ceilings. She was projected on at least 3 giant tv screens. This is the one closest to me. She was a very gracious celebrity guest, doing her best not to offend anyone while still answering the question (considering the subject of the film -- terrorism in a police state -- she definitely could've ruffled some feathers). The first question she was asked was "Can you give us an original moment?" a la GARDEN STATE. She answered by basically doing the same dance her character does in the film. Before she came out, they showed the trailer for "Vendetta," and having not read the book I couldn't really get into it. It looks hokey and superficial to me. Somehow I doubt the book is that way. I wonder what Jude thinks of the trailer (now online), since he just read the graphic novel. Much to the crowd's enjoyment, they were each given a plastic mask like the one V wears in the movie:



The next presentation was for HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. The trailer was introduced via video by the director, MIKE NEWELL. Aside from a few unfinished FX, the clip was pretty exciting. The Potter fans in the audience cheered, and as soon as this presentation was over, a lot of them left.

Next up was DARREN ARONOFSKY and RACHEL WEISZ (and HUGH JACKMAN via video) to introduce THE FOUNTAIN, which looks incredible, if somewhat indescribable. They presented the trailer and the film's first 10 minutes. I really hope they put this footage on the internet so that the film can garner some more support. Aronofsky mentioned that the studio has no idea how to market it or when to release it. Jackman looks terrific in the film, as does Weisz (the movie is kind of a love story), who looked stunning up there on stage, way better than I've ever seen her in a movie. Aronofsky wisecracked most of the time, commenting at one point that he was through with "lap cam" shots made so famous in "Requiem for a Dream."

After the Comic Con, Josh and I walked to SEAPORT VILLAGE, browsed around a bit, got some ice cream and then sat on the rocks and enjoyed the view. This is where I got most of my sunburn, I think.

We took the trolley back to the apartment and then bummed around until heading out to see BATMAN BEGINS, which Josh hadn't seen yet. I didn't like or dislike it anymore than I did the first time; my problems with the film haven't changed. Josh seemed to like it quite a bit, although neither one of us could figure out why the batmobile has that crawl space feature that necessitates the driver to lie down while firing a missle from the front. Can anyone explain that?

Saturday was Zoo day. The SAN DIEGO ZOO is part of (or near) BALBOA PARK, a very large park with trails and what not, but also museums and theaters. It's neat. The Zoo itself is world famous, and I'd say it met my expectations, with the exception of the Panda exhibit, which on the day we went only had one panda. But other than that, it's an excellent zoo and a place I would've loved even more if I were a kid. Most of the animals were out in plain sight -- the elephants were throwing dirt on themselves, the giraffes were running around (yes, running), the hippos and polar bears were playing with their toys, and the jaguar was pacing. Very cool. Too many hills, though. I got tired.



I can't remember what day it was we went to LA JOLLA (pronounced "la hoya"), the ultra upscale section of SD that contains a really nice beach area called the COVE. Josh told me that the town created on the beach an artificial pool for children to learn how to swim in, but it taken over by seals. How cool is that? Fuck children. Seals rule.



On Sunday we wanted to attend the National Sandcastle Contest on IMPERIAL BEACH. Long story short, that's easier said than done.

We took the 45-minute trolley ride to the station closest to the beach, thinking it couldn't be more than 15 minutes away. HOW WRONG WE WERE. Turns out, it's like 10 miles away. Josh and I end up walking at least an hour and a half through not-too-safe hispanic neighborhoods (you know, the ones with bars on the windows) in order to get to the prized Imperial Beach. We joke around by rationalizing our safety -- "Well, at least we both have dark hair, so maybe at first we look hispanic" -- and I continuously comment on the aching pains on my feet thanks to a pair of VERY uncomfortable flips flops. We follow all the signs for Imperial Beach, finally arriving at the town center (after humorously being asked for directions by a couple older folks); but which way is the ocean? We try one direction -- nope that's not it -- then the other, and when we finally see other people walking in the same direction, we're a little more confident. We FINALLY arrive at the beach and.... it kind of sucks. And, worse than that, the best sandcastle sculpure in contention was this one:



Big fuckin' deal. We soon realize this so-called "National Contest" is just a community day sort-of-thing in a community we couldn't give two shits about. Sure, I praise its diversity -- whites, hispanics, blacks were all co-mingling gracefully -- but it was jerky of them to advertise on the internet to San Diego visitors that this is some kind of once-in-a-lifetime tourist event. At least we didn't have to pay to see it, then I would've been REALLY pissed. Anyway, Josh and I ride the bus back to the Trolley station, enjoying the company of a couple fat pumpkin-ass skanks who couldn't shut up to save their lives. As soon as Josh and I open the door to the apartment, we both crash on the couches.

But not for too long, because damn if I was gonna let my last day in San Diego be a big giant waste of time (it was all my fault really, since I was the one who found out about the sandcastle contest). So we head out to MISSION VALLEY to visit BELMONT PARK, home of the GIANT DIPPER (or something like that), one of the 3 oldest wooden rollercoasters in the country, and to see the FLOWRIDER, a continuous wave of water built for surfing/boogeyboarding training. The Dipper was a blast, rickety as shit, and very well-designed. The FlowRider section of the park was closed off by the time we got there, even though there was still a shitload of people inside -- this was my first & only taste of California arrogance. But I snuck a peak from afar and got the gist of how cool this thing was. It's the only one like it in the country right now, and I guarantee you it'll be all over the place 5 years from now.

So that was the weekend, pretty much. Josh and I also went to Jamba Juice, where you can buy many kinds of smoothie/juice drinks, and argued over the merits of Lucky Charms vs. Fruit Loops. I think they're both terrible sugar cereals (ie, GREAT), but Josh thinks Lucky Charms is disgusting -- but not Fruit Loops. This makes no sense to me. They're either both delicious or they're both gaggy. Which it is? Huh? WHICH IS IT?

Anyway, I flew back on Monday, two completely uneventful flights. The movie was "Fever Pitch," which I enjoyed with no sound. I got in around 11:30pm, was at my house by 12:30am, and couldn't fall asleep until 3am. I went to work the next day because I felt fine, but on Tuesday it caught up with me in a major way.

Coming back from Vacation is hard. Thanks to Josh for making it worth my while and for getting a chance to see some very cool (and not so cool) parts of San Diego. I'd go back in a second.