A Few Great Hidden San Diego Restaurants, According to a Boston Restaurant Reviewer

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So it looks like another weekend of heavy rain in Boston.
This is, what, the 7th or 8th weekend in a row with rain? I
love Boston, but this is ridiculous.

With the rain, my daydreams of San Diego, CA, seem to
keep popping up more and more (call it California
dreaming). The other night, I was listening to a great rock
station from Encinitas on Internet radio. It got me to thinking
about Encinitas, where my cousins used to live before they
moved up the coast to La Costa.

One of my favorite restaurants in Encinitas is the 101 Diner.
Located about 4 blocks from my favorite beach in the world
(Moonlight Beach), the 101 Diner has everything, from great
breakfast and lunch entrees to outdoor seating to a friendly,
all-around nice guy of an owner. Almost as good, and just
down the street, is Kim's Restaurant, which has terrific
Vietnamese food. Better yet, neither of these restaurants is
well-known (if you have looked at the site I founded,
Boston's Hidden Restaurants, you would know I have a
thing for great restaurants that haven't been discovered).

Heading south toward San Diego, another memorable, but
little-known, restaurant can be found in beautiful
Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Pipes Cafe is a breakfast spot that is
mainly frequented by surfers and Cardiff residents looking
to show up late to work (word is, Trevor Hoffman, the great
reliever for the San Diego Padres, is also a regular here).
Pipes has fantastic breakfast plates, and the dining
outdoors on the patio is a must.

As you continue down the coast, you come to artsy Solana
Beach, home to Fidel's, which is fairly well-known, and for
good reason; Fidel's may be the best Mexican restaurant
north of San Diego (though I have my personal favorite,
which I'll mention in a minute). Fidel's is tough to find, since
it's hidden in a neighborhood away from the ocean, but
worth seeking out.

Just before you reach San Diego, you hit La Jolla, a tony
community that seems to have more investment places
than restaurants. I like La Jolla, though, with its spectacular
downtown park above the ocean cliffs, and its narrow,
crooked lanes. Just south of the center of La Jolla is a little
restaurant called Bahia Don Bravo. The owners of this
authentic Mexican restaurant have a few branches in San
Diego, but this one is special, since you can order the food
to go and walk a few blocks down a side street to one of the
most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean that you will
ever see. And there is even a bench where the view is, so
you can eat in relative comfort. Bahia Don Bravo has the type
of Mexican food that you just can't find in Boston. I always go
there when traveling to San Diego, and always miss it when
I'm back in Boston.

Finally, you reach the wonderful city of San Diego. Where to
go for food? Well, there are too many great places to
mention here. A couple of standouts are Point Loma
Seafood, with its memorable view of the city across the
harbor, and the Coyote Cafe in Old Town. But my favorite is
a little hamburger joint in Ocean Beach called Hodad's,
which is where I had the best cheeseburger I have had
anywhere in the country (and I've had a lot of
cheeseburgers!). Juicy, thick, hearty, and smothered in
cheese, the burgers here are impossibly good. Hodad's is
truly amazing.

Well, I guess my daydream of eating my way through San
Diego is about done. As I look out my window and see the
skyline of Boston, I realize that I do live in a great city. I just
wish it wouldn't rain so much.

Copyright © 2005, Boston's Hidden Restaurants. All Rights
Reserved.

Boston's Hidden Restaurants is a restaurant guide that features top little-known dining spots in Boston and New England.

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Tent Camping Tip's Last Minute Checklist

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With every big trip there is a good amount of planning and forethought on what to do, where to go, and all the other logistics. Nevertheless, it is always good to have a checklist nearby before you head to make sure you have not forgotten anything. Here, is our list:

1. Backpack

a. Check to make sure the pack is secured snugly to the frame. If there are any broken parts, get them fixed before heading into the field.

b. Bring a small repair kit into the field for the pack. (This should include twine, duck tape, and some additional clamp pins).

2. Sleeping gear

a. Sleeping bag: Check the bag to ensure there are no holes. Ensure it is covered securely by a container and an additional trashbag to keep it protected from water, especially if crossing a stream or river.

b. Air Mattress or Cot: Make sure these do not have any holes and are in working order. (Always bring some duck tape to help patch any holes).

3. Tent

a. Check to ensure you have all the parts to the tent.

b. Check to make sure no holes are in the tent.

c. Determine if additional padding needs to be included for weather conditions.

4. Knife

a. Make sure the knife has a sharp blade and its locking mechanism works properly.

b. It also pays to have two knives. One should be a multi-function knife like a swiss army knife and the other should be a strong single blade. Both come in handy in the field.

5. Hand Axe

a. Make sure the hand axe is sharp and has an appropriate sheath that is fastened securely. Bring a thick towel in the field. This can be used as a substitute sheath if the other sheath breaks down.

b. As a matter of practice, a full sized axe is usually unnecessary. However, if you are planning on building lean-tos or other types of large sleeping structures, this will be the better way to go.

6. Clothes (The actual amount should be adjusted for length of camping trip)

a. Long sleeve shirt. It should have a durable fabric that can breathe fairly easily.

b. Long sleeved pants. These should also be of a durable fabric that are designed to go into the brush. These pants should stretch all the way down to your boots.

c. Additional layering, such as long johns or thermals should be used when appropriate.

d. Underwear and undershirts.

e. Sleeping gear: In the summer, some shorts and a t-shirt will be fine; however, in the winter a pair of pajamas will be better.

f. Socks: Have two kinds one that is a basic insulator and then have wool socks covering them.

g. Hat: Essentially you want a hat that is unlikely to get caught on brush and will provide some sun protection for your face. A baseball cap will work fine in the summer although a wool cap would work better in the fall and winter.

h. Poncho or rain jacket: This can also double as extra padding for your sleeping arrangement or used as a tarp for the fire.

i. Belt: Should be a durable belt that is in good working order.

7. Shoes:

a. Hiking boots. Bring a durable pair that are waterproof and have a good rubber sole intact.

b. Running shoes. Bring a durable pair to that is easy to slip on during the night to use the restroom or to wear around camp.

c. Extra pair of shoelaces. Bring an extra pair of laces for both shoes.

8. Canteen:

a. Should be able to hold at least 2 quarts of water and provide either a strap to sling over your shoulder or a clip to attach to a belt.

9. Compass, GPS and map:

a. Make sure both items are in working order.

b. If GPS, needs additional batteries or will need to be recharged, plan accordingly to take this into account.

c. Map should be the most recent version you can find and should accurately show changes in topography.

i. Make sure you understand how to read the map prior to going into the field.

ii. Know where the nearest hospital is on the map.

iii. Have pre-established boundaries in your camping area that will let you know if you get lost. A stream or road can work very effectively as a boundary point.

10. First Aid Kit:

a. Should include bandages, band aids and some medical tape.

11. Flashlight and Lantern:

a. Basically you really only need two sources of light.

i. A small flashlight to be able to look through your park in the dark.

ii. A large flashlight that can be used for walking at night.

b. A Lantern can be used for camp if needed.

12. Other Items:

a. Bandanas or Handkerchiefs. These can double as bandages or slings.

b. Bug repellant and a fly swatter. The fly swatter may come in handy at the campsite as flies are attracted to grease and cooked food.

c. Sunscreen.

d. Binoculars.

e. Strike anywhere matches in a water proof case. It is still a good idea to include a strike box and to divide the matches into two areas so to prevent the likelihood of water damage or losing all your matches.

13. Cooking Equipment: The amount and supplies will vary depending on your needs. Here, are the essential items:

a. Frying pan

b. Large pot

c. Plate and bowl

d. Fork and spoon

e. Small pot to boil water, tea, coffee, etc.

f. A basic boy scout mess kit will cover all of these items except the large pot.

14. Food:

a. Cooler: Will store food and keep ice cold. The type of cooler and amount of ice will vary depending on your cooking needs.

b. Water. Even if you are getting your water from a water source, it is a good idea to bring some water on hand.

i. Determine if water purification tablets will be needed.

c. Water jug. This can be used to house water at campsite. It can be propped on a stump or secured to a tree with rope.

d. Weight of Food Concerns. When selecting food supplies take into account their weight in choosing supplies. If weight is a concern, try to choose foods that have the water already taken out of it including dried fruit, drink powders, boxed foods.

e. Garbage bags. These will be used for waste and rain protection.

15. Repair Kit: This should include twine, duck tape, and a needle and thread.

16. Toiletries:

a. Wash cloth

b. Toilet paper

c. Baby Wipes: Can be used to clean hands and face.

17. Cell phone:

a. Bring one that has a great range for the area that can be used if an emergency phone call is needed.

This list is comprehensive by design. With experience as a tent camping, you can add or subtract from this list. However, it is good idea regardless of your experience, to test all new equipment. In fact, it is a good idea to also check the older equipment to make sure it is still in working order. With this said, the list above should put you in real good shape for camping supplies.

Jeff Marshall is an avid tent camper and former Boy Scout. To read more tips and advice like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.goingtentcamping.com/Tent-Camping-Tips

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Bug out Bag 2009-9-13

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Stormy Weather: Rainy Season in Oaxaca, Mexico

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From May until well past summer's end, Oaxaca can be subject to extreme weather patterns. While we've all
experienced torrential downpours and damaging winds, here in southern Mexico the region's utility delivery systems ---which at the best of times have lacked quality control and are now (mostly) outdated---make for storms which affect most of us in ways we have seldom if every experienced. Whether you're at an internet café, in the comfort of your hotel room or home, on the road or in a restaurant, Oaxaca's meteorological marvels will impact you in new and different ways.

Rainwaters may wash out roadways in lower-lying areas, and as a result you may experience traffic delays. Road closures and virtually impassable conditions may dictate that you make alternate plans for or perhaps just delay a couple of days that anticipated trek up to the Sierra for a weekend ecotour. The sheer volume of precipitation flowing down steep inclines in a brief period of time coupled with the clogging effect of debris are contributing factors.

Depending on wind direction, occupants of homes, offices and retail establishments may find themselves mopping up. The use of weatherstripping is the exception rather than the norm. So be patient if the level of service you expect is not forthcoming when climatic conditions curtail the ability of your waiter or salesperson to attend to your needs. Oaxacans tend to "go with the flow," after having endured months of draught and the resultant periodic shortages of water for daily predominantly commercial consumption, and challenges to maintaining crops and gardens. It's part of the cyclical nature of life, and we quickly become stoic about tolerating and adapting to such temporary natural occurrences...even the minor earth tremors (something different to tell the folks back home).

But it's the impact that the storms have on electricity that is stunning, both while the skies are thundering and for perhaps 12 hours after the last bolt of lightning has illuminated the cerros. One television may be out of commission while another in the same household may be working, but without sound. The computer may not come on after the fireworks have subsided, yet the lights are on. Some bulbs may be operating at full capacity, while others are not...they may function at a reduced candlelight level, or may simply flicker. One phone may work, another not. The refrigerator may be operating but not the microwave. Causes? For one, Oaxaca lacks a sophistocated regulatory framework which might otherwise control matters such as gauge of electrical wire and overloading of circuits. While "obra suspendida" notices (stop work orders) are not uncommon, they result more from a failure to submit basic drawings to the authorities, than from the substance of the construction.

Your reward for tolerance and understanding is the knowledge that soon all will return to normal, and when you are able to get out on the road you may be blessed with a triple rainbow...it's all part of the magic of Oaxaca. The city will appear fresh, ultra clean, and have a green tinge to it, many buildings having been constructed of pale green cantera stone mined from local quarries, the cantera taking on deeper tones after a rain. Oaxaca has been called the City of Jade because of this phenomenon.

Rains and their temporary effects on services ought not to put a damper on one's Oaxacan travel plans for this time of year. The color of the hills and mountains changes from nondescript beige to brilliant green, the temperature range is pleasant at both extremes, and the fiestas are plentiful and filled with unmatched pageantry. Keep your vacation itinerary in tact and you won't be disappointed. For $1 you can always pick up a rain poncho on the street. Most of my pre-residency Oaxaca travel experiences were throughout the summer, and yet here I am, a Oaxacan looking forward to whatever comes my way.

Alvin Starkman, M.A., LL.B., is a resident of Oaxaca, Mexico, and together with wife Arlene operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast, a unique bed and breakfast experience in the heart of Southern Mexico (http://www.oaxacadream.com).