Yup, you read that right. I am kidnapping all of my friends and forcing them to come to San Diego with me. Recently, I went on a short vacation to San Diego in order to attend my new student orientation. I brought one of my best friends along with me and having her there made me realize not only how much I love my friends, but also how much I love San Diego. I just kept thinking, "Gosh I wish all of my friends could be here with me right now." The city is so overwhelming with its sights and energy that I couldn't stop myself from wishing my other friends could see it all, too.
The closest thing I can compare it to is falling in love. When you fall in love, you want everyone else to see that person through your perspective. You want everyone in your life to love that person just as much as you do. Now this might be considered seeing the world with rose-colored glasses on (which I own and wear faithfully), but I can't help but feel that way. I fell in love with San Diego, and I want everyone else to as well. So friends, family, loved ones — get ready to be absolutely infatuated with the city I will soon call home.
1. Food. Food. Food.
I'm not sure if my opinions on San Diego's cuisine are entirely accurate considering I only ate burritos and ice cream during my trip, but that was enough to win me over. The last time I visited California, I immediately became aware of the Mexican restaurants on every corner; it was all I wanted to eat. Entire days were planned around what little taco place I could stop at for lunch. Also, being a vegetarian was really a financial advantage on my vacay because I could get a bean and cheese burrito the size of my head for about four bucks.
La Playa Taco ShopNatalia Carbuccia
2. "You haven't seen a sunset until you've seen a Cali sunset" - My best friend.
This one might be a little cliché, but there is just something about being on vacation that makes you appreciate the little things. Not to brag, but San Diego has some of the most spectacular beaches and palm trees that make the views more than breathtaking. Sitting on Pacific Beach and watching the sunset is one of those moments that a picture simply can't capture the beauty of. You have to be present in that exact moment to feel the energy that San Diego exudes.
Sunset at Pacific BeachNatalia Carbuccia
3. There is art EVERYWHERE.
I only have a few photos of the dozens of murals and paintings I saw during my visit because every time I turned my head there was something to look at. The city itself is one giant art piece that breeds culture and creativity. I can't count the number of times I stopped dead in my tracks to stare at the someone's work on the side of a building. Even the alleyways were lit up with artistry. It's another one of those things that a picture can't do justice because no camera can illustrate the feeling of turning a corner and not knowing what you'll find.
Street art in Pacific Beach Natalia Carbuccia
4. "We don't remember days, we remember moments" - Cesare Pavese.
The entire trip is kind of one big blur. I can't pinpoint what I precisely did on each day, but I can pick out the exact moments I thought to myself, "I can't wait to tell so-and-so about this!" I went paddle boarding, saw sea lions and while I enjoyed every bit of it, a part of me felt selfish to have all this joy for myself. There were so many exciting experiences and an overflow of emotions that I just wanted to share them with everyone I love.
Paddle boarding on Mission Bay Natalia Carbuccia
San Diego has already made such a huge impact on my life. It's allowed me to chase my dreams and get one step closer to the person I want to become. San Diego is my hidden treasure. It's my winning lottery ticket, and I can't help but wave it around and chant "look what I've got!!" Not in a bragging sense, but in the same ideology that occurs when you find a really good restaurant and want everyone else to know how good it is, too.
I spent my trip absorbing as much of San Diego as I could before coming back to the East Coast. I sent my friends countless pictures and called my family every time I wanted to share something with them. Of course, I can't actually kidnap them all and bring them with me, though I wish I could. This article is just a glimpse of what San Diego looks like through my own rose-colored glasses, but hopefully, one day, I'll be able to share with both my friends and family, the city that has brought me the closest to happiness I have ever been.
