Tourist In My Own Backyard

San Diego is a multi-faceted town, it's a family town, a college town, a military town, a sports town and yes... a lover's town. The city itself, is a picture of romance and idealistic tourism. Oh I know I sound like a travel agent, but I can't help how much I love this city; full of lights, laughter and love. Where dolphins sometimes surf the waves alongside you and you can spend the entire day just lazing at the beach under your beach tent reading a book or spending one on one time with your kids at Sea World.

Sometimes it can be so easy to forget what an amazing place I live in... so on occasion I just have to grab the hubby off we go. Tonight's destination was the waterfront. Hand and hand we stroll past the ships, along the boardwalk with the colorful pedi-cabs cruising past. Some giving tourist information (Catering to "The Family"), some blaring their "hip" tunes (Catering to "The Party" class) and the wiser ones playing the kind of classics (like Frank and Dean) that slide into your heart and nest there (Of course catering to "The Lovers"). I would have to say that "The Lovers" are my favorite, because you can imagine the most romantic tales for each couple with very little effort.

I know that if I chose to, I could also be very cynical and instead make assumptions of one-night stands, torrid affairs and all other sorts of infidelities, but alas, my heart would never survive that type of cynicism so the romantic in me prevails. For me, it's the walk itself that is incredibly dreamy, the sun is setting and a light but brisk wind picks up, giving you the very valid excuse of cuddling closer as you walk, occasionally stealing a quick kiss or two. It's the perfect night, the perfect walk with the perfect man.

So we wander into the night, knowing that we can never repeat this moment so we try to fully appreciate it. The lights dance off the water and against the backdrop of city lights, ships slip almost silently along the water. As George Strait would put it:

Life's not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

Tonight? Tonight was a moment that took my breath away.

Cafe Carpe Diem

It's a smooth kind of place, where urban couples slide in to get their morning wake up and old retirees ease the day in slowly like greeting an old friend. Not overcrowded but a steady stream of faithful patrons; who greet each other with familiar smiles, and a beckoning welcome to the curious new comers.

Warm colors, delicious coffee smells and smokey Jazz wrap itself around you, coaxing you to let go of the tension that is already pulling at your mind; and you find that time slowly eases to a stop. The soft mummer of voices only serve to enhance the culture that is being created and you can almost imagine poetry readings (but not quite as it would be an invasion on its smooth steady heartbeat).

Maybe it's not for everyone; the impatient would most likely wait for a few minutes and then hurry off to a more "commercial" alternative, more fitting for their uptight personalities. But for those who feel and understand the rhythm, it's like coming home. The young barista is exquisitely beautiful and deliciously foreign of perhaps Italian or Greek decent. Between flirting with patrons, making delightful coffee creations and serving pastries, she sneaks out for the occasional drag on her cigarette, which rather than detract, makes her all the more charming.

It is the type of place where creative freedom begs to be set free; A place where a writer's soul can be reborn and nestle down safely into the nurturing atmosphere. Where you begin to reach deep down and explore the hidden secrets of the dreams you thought were long forgotten.

The name? Cafe Carpe Diem, "Seize the Day" but it coaxes you to do so slowly, gently; not like a battle to be won, but rather a lover's gentle caress. To charm from it every delicious moment it has to offer rather than demand it to be given. To embrace your day and everything it has to offer, and there, amixed the rich robust smells of coffee lies a little bit of paradise...