Down in Old Town

With 3 days left till Christmas, and the weather in London looking rather dreary, my family and I decided to go to the sunny state of San Diego. On arrival, we headed to Downtown San Diego to check into our hotel. However, filled with excitement, I wanted to go and explore the area. So I went down to the lobby, and asked where the rather quirky looking receptionist recommended. "Old Town. No doubt about it. It's a quaint little town which is hard to get to, but it is really worth it my dear. It's very scenic and there are so many areas to explore".
Walking through the streets of Old Town, I learned that there was a lot more to this place than first met the eye. Sometimes we forget about the little things, and don't bother to think about the history behind things. And that's what I loved about the place. There was so much history, and everyone was more than happy to share.
Now, I'm not quite sure when, but I know I took a wrong turning somewhere, but my mistake ultimately led to the discovery of Old Towns Market. It was snuck away, hidden behind a row of houses, and I could immediately smell the fresh aroma of home cooked food, and alcohol. There was rows and rows of stalls, each filled with their own speciality - no two were the same. Whilst I was observing my surroundings, I heard the sound of live jazz echoing through the streets. Intrigued, I decided to follow the noise, and see where my feet would take me. This turned out to be the best decision I made that trip, as I found an opening with an old man and his granddaughter playing the saxophone and the clarinet. Whilst I was shocked at the 96 year old man playing the sax as if he was 21, I was more stunned by the sight which lay behind him. There was a large glistening lake, which lay beneath a wooden shack. It seemed to be made out of wood and straw, and looked as if it should be in a Wild Western movie. The man could see I was clearly in awe, and told me that I could go inside and observe the collected antiques. He explained that for generations, his ancestors had collected antiques, and they were all on display in this little mud shack. Now I don't know what was more beautiful. The lake, or the antiques. Nonetheless, the man offered me an 'Old Town Special' and he told me of the history behind this place. With music in the background, and a drink in my hand, it really did feel like home.