Old Town

Old Town is what remains of the original San Diego, the first European settlement in California. The first mission was established there in 1769 on the site of a Native American village. There’s a state park, with some original buildings, and plenty of Mexican restaurants. We’ve had some great Mexican food while we’re here, and we had another good meal in Old Town. I had what I think is the best mole sauce I’ve ever tasted. They even had an old guy with a guitar going around to the tables offering to serenade for tips. Philip was able to translate the song. It is fairly touristy, but you can still see some remnants of the original architecture of the old San Diego. Nearby is the Heritage County Park, which has some wonderful examples of Victorian homes that were saved from demolition and restored. Each of the buildings was relocated to this park and restored. They are now open to the public and are used for different purposes: one is a bed and breakfast, one offers high teas and one has shops. Also in this park is Temple Beth Israel, which was built in 1889 and was San Diego’s only synagogue until 1926. It’s a beautiful, simple building in the classic revival style. It was built as a Reform synagogue, so men and women were seated together and a balcony was installed for organ music and a choir. As coincidence would have it, one of the six prominent San Diegans who founded the congregation was Adolph Levi, the grandfather of our friend Don Levi.

High above Old Town are some of the most gorgeous homes in the city. The road winds up into the hills, where there is a beautiful park overlooking the city. Around the park are small side streets with huge homes. Some of them are Italianate villas, and some are really wonderful examples of mid-century modern architecture and Art Deco. There was one very modern home that had all glass on the side facing the view over the city.