With only a couple of days remaining in San Diego, we agreed to dedicate this day to the Horton Plaza, a unique 5-floor shopping mall in the Gaslamp District. To spice things up, we surveyed the mall and asked San Diegans a few questions about Comic Con, Battlestar Galactica and Bear McCreary. It started out pretty well, but curiously enough, it ended with us purchasing nail polish and aftershave for a hundred bucks. Yeah, read on…

As we arrived at the Plaza, we immediately indulged ourselves in a tiny shopping spree, grabbing with us, among other things, a couple of shirts, t-shirts and a lid. The stores here are large in number and more than enough to cover your needs. The architecture of the entire location is chaotic, yet orderly—strange, yet very beautiful.

The Horton Plaza.

After a couple of hours, ambling out the last store of interest, we felt the hunger coming and started looking for a place to get some food.

The food shops were as varied as the rest of the stores. (Although, considering what most of them were selling, I’m beginning to understand why obesity has become such a big issue in the States.) This time, we both appreciated a meal of Indian tradition: chicken curry! Yes, I know; it fits so well with the fact that we’re in the States. Blame globalism!

Adam can’t wait to dig it all in.

As we sat down with our Indian food, we realized that a shopping spree wasn’t exactly the most interesting thing to write about on a blog. We needed something that could pep up our blog entry. We soon came up with a pretty cool idea. Why not talk a bit with the people on the street and check if the Battlestar Galactica vibe actually exists among the San Diegans?

We liked the idea, and so, immediately after gulping down the last chunk of chicken, we went to Starbucks, bought two small (which translates to XXL in Norway), regular coffees and started scratching down questions that we could use in our “interviews.”

Finally agreeing on which questions to ask, we left the coffee shop and, stepping into the roles of two rude and curious Norwegians, we started intercepting passersby. All in all, we had time for five quick interviews, the last one turning out to be with San Diego’s own version of Battlestar Galactica’s Number Six! Let’s just sift through the interviews in chronological order, shall we?

*** INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN ***

The first guy we snatched. Unfortunately, this fellow didn’t want his picture taken, but he seemed like a cool person. Everyone who likes Battlestar Galactica is a cool person.

- Are you going to Comic Con?
- Yes, I am.

- Have you heard of the sci fi TV series “Battlestar Galactica”?
- Yes, I have. Frak, yes!

- What do you think of it?
- It’s awesome. Fortunately, I haven’t seen the ending yet. That’s what I’m looking forward to right now.

- Have you heard of Bear McCreary?
- Mm, the music.

- What do you think of the music on the show?
- Awesome. I’m not much of a music critic, but yeah, it works with it.

- Would you be willing to give away your Comic Con tickets for free?
- No.

(Dang! Anyway, we hope you have a great time at Comic Con, Martin!)

*** INTERVIEW WITH THERESA ***

- Are you going to Comic Con?
- Yes.

- Have you heard of the sci fi TV series “Battlestar Galactica”?
- I’ve heard of it, yes.

- What do you think of it? Have you seen it?
[Thinks] – I think I’ve seen tidbits of it.

- Have you heard of Bear McCreary?
- … What? [After repeating the name.] No.

- If you knew a bear that could play music, what instrument would you want it to play?
- A panpipe!

(Thanks for the interview, Theresa. You should definitely check out “Battlestar”!)

*** INTERVIEW WITH PETER ***

- Are you going to Comic Con?
- I am.

- Have you heard of the sci fi TV series “Battlestar Galactica”?
- No, I haven’t watched it. And it’s not really on my priority list.

- What is your favorite bear?
- Bear?! Uuuuh, Yogi.

(Thanks for the interview, Peter! “I’m smarter than the average bear!”)

*** INTERVIEW WITH PHILLIP ***

- Are you going to Comic Con?
- Yes.

- Have you heard of the sci fi TV series “Battlestar Galactica”? And if you’ve seen it, what did you think of it?
- Yes, I have heard of it, but I haven’t seen it yet.

- What is your favorite bear?
- My favorite bear? It has to be the Grizzly.

(Well, Phillip, thanks! Be sure to check out “Battlestar Galactica” asap!)

*** INTERVIEW WITH YANA ***

The last person we interviewed was more coincidental than anything else. On the plaza ground level, we passed this stand with a big, white banner saying “Seacret Spa”. Instead of us snatching a person for our next interview, a man stepped in our way and insisted that he show us something, nodding at his booth. We thought, “Sure, why not?” Curious of what it was, I came forward, and he asked me to show him my hand. We didn’t catch the guy’s name, so to make things easier, let’s just call him Richardo. (If you don’t like the name, Richardo, just mail me and I’ll change it!).

Richardo is not proposing to me. I think.

He used several tools and instruments on my fingernails—tools which I honestly, and proudly, can tell you I don’t know the name of. After a couple of minutes of brushing and skimming, Richardo was done, and he let me view my fingernails in the mirror. They were as shiney and reflecting as the mirror itself (Okay, not really. I’m just being nice here.)

It was just when Richardo was about to offer us his product that his curvaceous manager strategically approached us. At first, we were just mildly laughing off their offer, but in some way or another (don’t tell me how), we ended up with an easy deal: We would each buy one of their products if we could interview Yana, the manager. In retrospect, I can’t really see the balance in this deal at all, but it was a fun experience notwithstanding. And hey, we at least did get to buy our mothers a great and expensive present from San Diego! We had this in mind all along, of course.

Now, as for the aftershave we bought, that cost almost as much as the two other products put together, I shall raise my hand to your face, look down upon you, and in an angered fashion say “No Comment.”

- Are you going to Comic Con?
- What …? Oh, shit, no. I’m working!

- Have you heard of the sci fi TV series “Battlestar Galactica”?
- Yes… No, just kidding! [Laughs] This is too complicated. I’m not from America, speak slower!

- Okay, sorry.
- I’m Russian jew.

- Oh, really? Anyway, I’m guessing all these other questions are “no, no, no.” “What did you think of series? Have you heard of the composer?” etc.
- Oh yeah, sure! Been there, done that!

- Can I have your number?
- My number? Don’t have one. It’s a material world. I don’t like cell phones. I have Facebook, though.

- Okay, can I have that?
- Sure! When and where?

Richardo immediately interrupted the interview, flashing a white smile as he blurted out: “Adam! You have a girlfriend soon!”

Richardo is pleased with our deal.

After we got Yana’s full name and her e-mail address, we bought the two nail polish kits and the aftershave. While Adam was paying his share, Richardo came over to me, still beaming, and said in a low voice and chuckled: “Two kits… The Facebook of my manager… VEEERY good!”

Yana said we had to promise her to add her on Facebook as soon as we got the chance. We promised, and then we left the Horton Plaza with our two nail polish kits in hand and a hundred bucks poorer than when we got there.

Semper Vigilans!