The San Diego Urban Exploration Meetup Group

Jill http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/member/8/a/2/4/member_6935364.jpeg http://www.meetup.com/san-diego-urban-exploration-group/members/7493260/
Member

The San Diego Urban Exploration Meetup Group http://www.meetup.com/san-diego-urban-exploration-group/ http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/5/6/5/global_50301861.jpeg 20040623

San Diego, CA 92101

Location:

San Diego, CAUSA 92110

Member since:

November 22, 2008

Has attended:

4 Meetups

Introduction

I've lived in San Diego for 20 years now, and I still can't believe all the new, quirky spots I am discovering. Just looking for some cool things to see.

What kind of urban exploring do you enjoy?

I'm interested in abandoned/newly emerging historic sites--detritis of our culture, like abandoned shopping malls, old military sites, or new spaces like the maquiladora regions on the border. I'm interested in the ways people re-create these abandoned spaces through art and living-- I'm just as interested in the people as I am in the places.

Got any favorite locations for exploring? (around San Diego or can be anywhere on the planet)

I love looking at graffiti in East LA, Tijuana generally, and most recently I have discovered a colonia on the southern outskirts of Tecate--amazing people rebuilding a space for themselves used by the city as a garbage dump.

Are you a leader or a follower?

Right now, I'll be a follower.

Enjoy hiking?

Absolutely.

Got any urban exploring or just plain exploring stories to share?

Not exactly urban but . . . Among my top five exploring experiences was a trip to northern Guatemala--I was living there in 1993, and decided to jump on a bus to travel north from Xela through Huehuetenango to the end of the road in the northwest corner of the country. A trip that I was told would be 6 hours, turned into 4 days. . . .miles of lonely walking, meeting amazing people, then back on the bus again. At one point, near midnight on the bus, a woman travelling with her 6-year-old daughter whispered to me, asking me if I spoke Spanish. A resident of Barillas, she longed to talk to someone on this long trip--everyone else in the region spoke Mam, the local indigenous language. As we bumped down the narrow, winding road, she explained how the military had still been warring with guerilla groups in this area, and we could see marks on the landscape--the govt had leveled thousands of trees on both sides of the road for miles and miles, to smoke out the guerilla. We finally arrived in Barillas, she invited me to stay at her house, and after a couple of days I was back on the road going south again.

Link

San Diego Border Observer

What Jill is saying about this Meetup Group

Because we are a crazy, fun group of people!

Robert Rael

Thanks for hiking with me, I know I am slow.. It was lots of fun, can't wait until I see you hiking again!

Jul 03, 2009 2:29 AM
Jay

Hi Jill! I can't believe you guys went that far on the other side of the dence! Cool pics though. :)

Jun 26, 2009 2:51 PM
Nicole

Hey Jill - good pix! Oh, and you did tag the wrong Nicole, but she's cuter than me so maybe we should keep it that way! ha ah hahaha

Jun 22, 2009 2:36 AM
Nicole

Hey Jill. I had so much fun with you in Tecate. I am looking forward to our next adventure!

Jun 22, 2009 2:31 AM
Travis Ray Bicycling the Roads and Trails of San Diego

Critical mass!
It's going to be lots of fun like always. I'll be by the steps of the natural history museum waiting for it to start with my old steel frame, forest green, Trek Multi-track 7200.

Feb 27, 2009 11:52 AM
oscar

Hey Jill, it was nice meeting you at nunu's, hoping to seeing you many more times!

Jan 02, 2009 5:14 PM
Jon

Hey Jill! Great to meet you at Nunu's last night! I never got to ask -- What are you a professor of? Was it UCSD (forgive my aging brain -- it lacks any significant memory!)?? Hope you have a great new year's!!

Dec 31, 2008 1:08 PM
Pete Masiel Bicycling the Roads and Trails of San Diego

Welcome to Bicycling the Roads and Trails of San Diego.
~Pete

Dec 17, 2008 3:26 AM
Vicky Davis San Diego Music Lovers Group

Hello Jill, Welcome to the SD Music Lovers Group! I would love to hear your suggestions for experimental noise/ambient music!

Dec 07, 2008 1:19 PM