San Diego rests as a place of conflict. The junior of San Francisco and Los Angeles; the city cannot be called a metropolis, but it also cannot be held in rank with its sun-belt neighbors. Symbols of peace, love, and progressivism are abundant throughout its streets, yet it maintains one of the largest military presence in the country, proudly hailing its illustrious defense tech sector. The sandy beaches and cool weather invites relaxation, but exuberant housing prices and high costs of living almost necessitate hustle. 

Despite this, San Diego is not confused in its identity. Its culture is definitive. Let it be in waxed surfboards brightly contrasted against deep blue rampant waters. Observe it in Spanish tiles over stucco frames. See it in grandiose works of graffiti underneath overpasses.

We’ve been across the country, from our homebase in the Bay Area to Seattle to New York, but San Diego has always been a particularly intimidating destination for Caravan. When traveling, there is comfort in following a narrative -- the fabric of San Diego challenges this prerogative. San Diego has a resistance to myth. It obliges by no label. On its own, the city tends toward entropy, but it is structured when contextualized through the eyes of the beholder. 

Therefore, our notes and documents of San Diego are not only repositories of our travels, but of the different ways the city molds with our life experiences. We hope that as you read through this magazine, you not only walk away with our takeaways, but with how the chaos of San Diego materializes into substance for you.

Safe Travels, 

Aldrich Gwynne and Shivani Dodamani