Vacation... Could be a cruise or building a campfire.  I know people who take vacation time so they can putter around the house.  My idea of a vacation is adventure, planning for serendipity.  Open to new people and new places.

So, this time, and for the first time in a long time, vacation is an adventure.  Few people to please, flexible and active.  These are the rules:  Hotels are reserved and paid for, Maps are important, Bucket Lists are respected.  Many ideas and few appointments.  Adventures begin promptly at 9 am.  Absolutely no slow starts in the morning.

Today, we started right after I finished work.  My travel buddy is Emily.  When she was still in high school we talked about going on a road trip.  I needed the time off, and fortunately for me (I wish it was different for her) Emily is between jobs and has some available time.

So, off we go.  Josh drove us to the airport by way of Spice Monkey for dinner.  You have to try Spice Monkey.  They have gluten free and vegan food, but also some very gluteny meaty hamburgers, and they know their way around the spices and peppers. Yum.  Em had a fish sandwich, I had the best turkey burger ever (no bun), and Josh had the Sherpa'd Pie.

OK, so off to the plane in plenty of time.  Used the passport for the first time as ID.  We sat next to a very sad, drunk girl who broke out in a crying jag after an additional half bottle of wine (pretty lit when she showed up).  Many sparkly geodes and the Spirit of St Louis in the airport, then off to the car rental place.

What is this car?  It's a Dodge something or other that looks like a Magnum Lite.  I paid for the economy car, and this thing is midsized and squashed like a gangster car.  We parked it in the free parking and The Night Clerk, who we are under strict orders not to shank, warned us not to move the car, ever, or we might not be able to park ever again... oooooooh, scary..... 

The hotel is nice and clean, but probably old and recently remodeled.  We can hear the ocean from our room and see the barflies hanging out in the lounge. 

Time to fall asleep to Letterman, and Sea World in the morning.  It is decided.  Tomorrow night, we do have an appointment at the Old Globe Theater. 

First Day!  We've only just begun.