A view of the San Diego skyline as the sun sets. - Photos by Barbara Ellington

There are many beautiful attractions for the visitor to San Diego, California, to enjoy. A ride across the beautiful Coronado Bridge is exciting (if you are not thinking about the possibility that it could break in two while you are still on it).

The navy warship that sits in the bay is a must-see and the surrounding skyline and high-end condos are also pleasing to the eye.

And, if you are lucky, you could even run into a retired war veteran, eager to make friends.

Merck Sharp & Dohme recently hosted its sixth annual workshop on health in Latin America and the Caribean for journalists and on a sightseeing visit, what held most interest for me was the picturesque La Jolla Cove.

The development into a first-rate tourist attraction was immediately obvious and brought into sharp focus what a waste is being made of Kingston Harbour, Jamaica. Here are some highlights.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

Somewhere in the hills overlooking the ocean and above the Scripps Pier, residents of San Diego allege that pop icon Michael Jackson took up residence during his much-publicised court battles some years ago. However, word of his secret hideaway got out and the paparazzi descended to the city in droves, causing him to make a hasty exit.

The La Jolla sunset may be beautiful, but nothing com-pares to our Negril sunset.

La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California, is pretty much like our Kingston Harbour. To see the attraction is to immediately become very angry if you are the sort of Jamaican who is tired of the plans, the talks, the fund-raisers and other unsuccessful efforts to properly develop our uniquely natural downtown harbour for the country's use. Among the activities at the harbour are space to sit and view the bay, bathers and seals, hand gliders at play, a green area where couples come to take wedding pictures, numerous restaurants, lovers walking and holding hands, families having a picnic on another grassy area, adequate parking, shops, hotels and yes, houses and apartments!

The water at La Jolla, California, is not as warm as it is in Jamaica, but surfers and swimmers don't mind and make use of the final days of summer.

At the Scripps Institution for Oceanography in La Jolla, California, scientists carry out research in biotechnoloy and biomedicine as they try to find new antibiotics to cure diseases.

The Scripps Pier from which scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography depart to explore marine activity in the ocean. They gather data for the marine biomedicine by exploring the bottom of the ocean - the foundation of marine medicine. Scientists go to depths of 7,000 metres to gather samples of bacteria from which many potent antibiotics are found in the molecules. At present, there are 15 new antibiotic materials being studied and one of the new compounds is now being tested on animals.

This section of the La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California, was originally intended for the children to play and swim, but the seals took it over (lying on the rocks to the left of picture), and now it has been designated as a spot only for the seals' use. Persons who visit the area get a good look at them every day, but it's best to view them through a pair of binoculars.