La Jolla

The locals are fond of saying that the name is an English corruption of La Joya which means The Jewel in Spanish, but it is just as likely to be a Spanish corruption of the native name for the place which meant land of holes, possibly a reference to the sea caves found along the coast here.

The area has been part of San Diego since California became a state in 1850 but wasn't surveyed and subdivided until the 1880s.  It didn't get it's first stop sign until 1944, and up to the 1960s was noted for its isolation and exclusivity.

Though no longer isolated, it is still an expensive place to live.  Coldwell Banker's annual survey for 2008 and 2009 said La Jolla had the most expensive home prices in the nation.   One of John and Cindy McCain's many homes is here.  Mitt Romney owns a $12 million vacation home here, as well.

La Jolla is also home to The Salk Institute, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and the University of California, San Diego campus.  It's not your average seaside resort community.

Despite this, the beach for several miles is open to the public and with just a few exception is bordered by public parks.  Out of it all, our favorite spot was La Jolla Cove at the southern end of La Jolla Bay, which, by no coincidence, is also a favorite hang out for dozens of sea lions and hundreds of sea birds.

Though I took lots of pictures, both here and elsewhere along the shore, my favorites all seem to involve birds.  Here are a few.

Day 124
Bonita, CA

Daily Mileage:  0