San Diego, California

We flew into San Diego from Atlanta in between Pacific storms hammering the California coastline. We ubered to the Marriott Renaissance Downtown as we had points and just needed to flop before going more upscale to our pre-cruise hotel. There was a brewery around the corner where we ate dinner. Who knew that San Diego is second to Portland for beer culture?

We were fortunate to have flown in when we did as the next day there was horizontal rain and howling, gale-force winds from Los Angeles to San Diego. We managed to stagger around after checking into the US Grant Hotel which was part of the pre-cruise package. The US Grant is a vintage old dame, holding on to the glamor of a bygone era. The rooms are a bit small but posh, comfortable, and quiet for being in the center of the city. The best part? I noticed Itzak Perlman checking in! I gushed like a groupie, and, thankfully, he was very gracious.

What can I say about breakfast at the Grant Grill? Usually this is a throw away meal with your standard fare. Not here! Imagine.....Roasted Cauliflower Quiche (marble potatoes, stilton blue cheese, melted red onions, pine nuts, rosemary cream). Or, imagine this.....Tart Cherry Ricotta Buttermilk Pancakes (muscovado ricotta impastata, oatmeal crunch). Yes, I'm obsessed with food. In my younger years, I read cookbooks for fun. Now I read food blogs!

Fortified after our robust breakfast, we rushed to Macy's when it opened in order to get some cold weather gear. We had packed for the South Pacific not anticipating COLD San Diego. This was prescient as the first four days of the cruise continued to be cool and we needed every layer we bought.

At 11:00 we met our fellow travelers in the lobby for our transfer to the cruise ship. The problem? This was the day of the National Women's March and the start of the march surrounded the US Grant Hotel. I have to say it was exhilarating. This was peaceful protest at its best and I was proud to take it all in.

Our coach finally made its way through the throngs of people and we headed the short distance to the port.

Of course, the march went from our hotel to the port. The bus maneuvered around and finally the driver realized that there would be no positioning us near the ship. We trudged for several blocks, weaving through the crowds, before finally arriving, checking in and being greeted with a welcome glass of champagne.

Best friends ready for our adventure to begin: