Round The World and other travels

Today got off to an excellent start, as Bruce went to the trouble of cooking a delicious, but not overwhelming, full American breakfast. Suitably fortified for the day's events, we set off in the car to Balboa Park, and specifically the part of it devoted to museums, theatres, etc, all created in a magnificent, Spanish-style architecture. First priority was to secure tickets for a play that we hoped to take in that afternoon. The original plan had then called for a visit to the Museum of Photographic Art, but as there was a temporary and highly popular exhibition of Annie Liebovitz's photographs, we decided to visit that instead. We then strolled around the area, and I was able to take some pictures of the various buildings, which looked stunning in the strong February sunshine and cloudless blue sky.

After a quick sandwich lunch, it was time for some theatre, and a performance of The Four of Us at the Old Globe, which was an entertaining study of the tensions, jealousies and ultimate incompatibility that tested the friendship of two young writers. We both thoroughly enjoyed it, although I needed to keep my wits about me, as the story unfolded through time in a decidedly non-sequential fashion.

After that, we drove the short distance to the city's hip and happening Hillcrest neighbourhood for a quick drink and a visit to a quite superb 'whole foods' market, where it was possible to buy top-quality, fresh and wholesome ingredients for dinner. I've already mentioned my host's expertise in the kitchen and tonight's dinner was the pièce de résistance, an absolutely delicious meal based on pan-fried scallops.