going downtown in San Diego

When San Diego was constructed, the managers decided to make city blocks shorter than usual. Actually what's a city block in most places is cut into quarters in San Diego - so there are more corner stores! A corner store is more valuable as it gets traffic from two directions - hence higher rent.
So, walking in San Diego means crossing more streets, but arriving at your destination faster than you'd expect.
I went to Denny's for breakfast - I can order from the "senior" menu, less food, less cost, good deal.
I first went to visit the Natural History museum in Balboa Park. There was a special show about Pompeii. The show cost $22, but there was an IMAX about Pompeii and lots of photos of volcanoes, so I was happy with that.
Then I stopped downtown to a mall I really enjoy walking through (Horton Plaza - see: http://www.sddt.com/Community/cityinfo.cfm?ParentCommunity_ID=172&Com_ID=202&Cat_ID=5). It has various levels within its 5 storey structure - there are steps, ramps, elevators and escalators to get you from one place to another.

I checked out Sharper Image - going out of business - they didn't have the watch I wanted - the atomic one that resets itself daily. I wandered into B.Dalton bookstore - took down the titles of books I'll request from internet exchange sites...
As I was wandering, I got caught up in a hard sell for a cell phone. It's a Sprint phone, so is a nationwide business. Since I was on vacation I didn't have all the necessary documents with me. I have to search my wallet and see what I have with name AND address on it - let's hear it for modern technology and the fax machine. I was thinking to get a phone soon as I'll be out and about more and will not be able to access a work or home phone as readily. It's PINK and very beautiful - and until they get my paperwork I cannot use it... I'll have to check to see what IDs I have to send off.
I was able to get a one-day transit pass for $5 (they're $7.50 in NYC), and was on and off buses, and trolleys between my mother's home and downtown. Not a bad deal.
It was actually the only day I went downtown - the rest of the vacation I stayed close to "home".