The House of Czech and Slovak Republics, a long-time member of Balboa Park’s International Cottages, hosted their annual cultural lawn program today!
I happened by while walking around.
Shortly after 2 o’clock, everyone on the lawn enjoyed an excellent performance by the acclaimed Czech group Mladá muzika Šardice. I see from the event flyer that after the youth brass orchestra was finished, more music and dance would follow!
Sausages with a roll and pickle were being prepared inside one large tent. Almost forgot the pastries! A nearby fundraising table offered crafts for sale, including traditional corn husk dolls (slaměné panenky or panenky z kukuřičného šustí).
The Czech and Slovak Republics cottage was open too, with numerous beautiful displays to be seen, including costumes, dolls, ceramics and art.
The cottage is almost fully recovered from its unfortunate collision with a falling eucalyptus tree. Looks great!
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If you’ve wondered what it was like to sail into San Diego Bay on a Spanish galleon back in the 16th century, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing experience!
San Salvador, the seaworthy replica galleon built by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, sails out of downtown San Diego a couple time a month, taking visitors on a memorable adventure on the water!
San Salvador, a full size replica of the Spanish galleon flagship used by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the California coast in 1542, was built by the museum back around 2015 on the shore of Spanish Landing. You can see photos of its construction here.
Today, passengers board the ship at the museum and typically enjoy a four hour sail off Point Loma. That’s what I did yesterday!
The trip was nearly a sell-out, so between passengers and about a dozen crew members, the galleon was quite lively. It really became lively out on the open ocean, when the round hulled galleon really rocked and rolled! (If you are susceptible to motion sickness, take a Dramamine in advance of your journey, and keep your eyes on the horizon.)
One cool aspect of the trip was everyone learned a lot about the history of Cabrillo’s exploration, Spanish conquistadors, and San Diego as it was many centuries ago.
During the sail, I recommend hanging out on either the raised foredeck or quarterdeck, where you have the best views and can watch the dynamic crew working the sails and yards.
After Captain David briefed the passengers on safety, we were on our way through San Diego Bay using San Salvador‘s two diesel engines. Because galleons are square rigged, you can’t sail into the wind. On the way back into the bay from the Pacific Ocean, we sailed with the wind and didn’t taken our sails down until back near the Embarcadero.
Okay, let’s see some photos!
We are ready to pull away from the Maritime Museum’s barge…
Here we go! I started out by standing near a foredeck ladder looking back at the shrinking San Diego skyline.
I climbed up onto the foredeck…
Crew members getting to work…
I shifted my position to the quarterdeck. You can see the whole ship from here and observe the captain, who was standing near me.
That guy in the open window is the helmsman. From a sheltered spot he can observe the sails and way forward, while manually steering San Salvador under orders from the captain. He uses a vertical lever whipstaff to move the tiller, which turns the rudder.
A sail is being readied from the foredeck.
There’s Spike Africa! The schooner participated in last weekend’s Schooner Cup race, which I enjoyed from aboard Bill of Rights. See those photos here!
Heading out to sea down the channel, with North Island on our port side. A sailboat was watching us! Captain David is still using the diesel engines.
Almost out into the Pacific Ocean. That’s the New Point Loma Lighthouse down by the water.
Shortly before, we saluted Cabrillo National Monument by firing one of the galleon’s swivel guns. Fingers in ears can’t hold the camera!
It turned out to be a perfect, partly cloudy day.
We’re starting to roll! Hanging on!
Many hands raising the galleon’s sails…
Now I’m looking rearward from the quarterdeck.
Some folks headed down to the lower main deck where the rolling is less severe.
Lots of exciting action closeby!
A sailboat ahead requires a steering maneuver.
A NOAA research ship was also heading down the channel away from San Diego.
If you want, you can train to become a volunteer crew member on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s amazing tall ships!
We’re being slowly propelled forward by wind power! Galleons aren’t terribly fast. We managed 3 knots. (That’s about 3 1/2 miles per hour–the speed at which I walk!) Imagine being an explorer in the 16th century rolling about on the open ocean moving at this quite modest speed!
There are various places where passengers can safely sit during the voyage.
After we tacked and began sailing back toward Point Loma, I headed to the galleon’s beak.
I turned around…
We are under sail almost all the way back to the museum. Once we enter San Diego Bay, it’s much smoother sailing! This is the life.
Now I headed once more to the foredeck…
Looking down at the beak as yards are squared to capture the wind from our rear.
There’s Spike Africa again, off of Harbor Island!
We all raise a lusty cheer for Spike Africa. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
After a few moments, they return the cheer!
If you’d like to enjoy a similar adventure, check out San Salvador‘s webpage by clicking here!
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Did you know San Diego has a professional ultimate frisbee team? They’re called the Growlers! And they play fast-paced, super exciting games that will have you stomping your feet and cheering!
This evening the Growlers played at their home stadium–Mission Bay High School’s football field. I simply had to go check it out. I’d never been to an ultimate game before.
Ultimate is played with a frisbee and has elements of both soccer and football. Speedy athletes run about the field, trying to pass a frisbee between team members without it dropping or being intercepted. Catch in the end zone, win a point!
The games, played in four quarters, are easy to follow and wildly exciting. Huge breakaway throws into the end zone are like soaring Hail Mary passes! One scoring catch was made with 1.3 seconds left in the first quarter!
Most of the team members are college age and come from local schools like SDSU and UCSD. The game involves constant running, twisting and diving. You’ll see amazing athleticism.
I loved how kids in the stands were having a blast, banging their thunder sticks and having fun with Growler the mascot. Growler would stomp his feet on the metal floor of the stands when our team was on defense. Fans would join in. Boom, boom, boom!
During halftime, kids were invited onto the field to attempt long, running catches!
It was also cool to see how, during a meeting of the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), Growler was awarded best team mascot! I snapped that last photo as he was presented with a trophy!
Interested in going to a game? Check out the Growlers website here! This is their eleventh year in San Diego.
Most of these photos were taken before nightfall and before the game started. The stands would eventually fill up with a large number of cheering fans!
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There’s a special garden in Balboa Park you might not know about. It’s located outside the WorldBeat Cultural Center. Those heading along Park Boulevard can glimpse the greenery just south of the circular WorldBeat Cultural Center building.
Known by several names, including the Healing Peace Garden and Children’s Ethnobotany Garden, this green oasis can be visited by appointment or on special occasions.
Fortunately, the garden was open during the Global Earth Day festival last weekend. Having never stepped inside, I took advantage of the opportunity!
When I entered the Healing Peace Garden, I did feel at peace. The nearby street and urban surroundings seemed to vanish. I had entered what felt like a wholly natural place–a world of deep green, full of life and living.
Several footpaths pass shady nooks–places for mediation and contemplation. There are bits of art among the trees and plants, including a seating ring where people can gather to talk, create music, or simply absorb the surrounding beauty.
I was interested to learn the award-winning garden is considered the first sustainable, edible garden in Balboa Park, as well as a monarch butterfly waystation certified by Monarch Watch, and a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.
The garden is used as an outdoor classroom, too. This webpage explains: The unique organic herb, fruit, and vegetable garden honors the memory of George Washington Carver, and is dedicated to teaching young people about the role of plants in society. Gardening classes are available to schools, youth programs, individuals and families by booking a workshop or requesting a docent at the WorldBeat Center.
Now let’s enter the garden and walk around…
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Last weekend, while walking around the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista, I stumbled upon these three very beautiful murals. They’re located near the water park at the southwest corner of the resort, next to the roundabout at the end of H Street. They decorate a small plaza.
The artist of all three murals is Lauren Elyse S. According to information beside each mural, she’s a San Diego interdisciplinary artist who loves the medium of paint and how brushstrokes communicate mood and energy. You can see her love for nature in the images she created!
I’ve noticed the Gaylord Resort has also placed informative signs about our natural environment in various spots near outdoor walkways. Very cool!
Lilac, Pine, Cypress, Sage by artist Lauren Elyse S., 2025. A painted landscape, inspired by the radiant light in Chula Vista.Spilled Honey by artist Lauren Elyse S., 2025. Inspired by spring plant life in the mountains of Chula Vista.Coral Hour by artist Lauren Elyse S., 2025. Depicting the trees of Chula Vista Bayfront Park, with the Coronado Bay Bridge in the background.
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Many improvements are currently being made to the Escondido Creek Trail!
An effort is being made to make the trail more inviting to pedestrians, bicyclists, and lovers of the outdoors.
New landscaping is coming, as evidenced by many flags in bare dirt. There are new shade structures and seating, and winding side paths. There is new paving, signage, bridge-spanning art, an exercise area, and even attractive brickwork that is being installed at one intersection!
Here’s a City of Escondido webpage that describes what I saw. It explains: This project aims to encourage safe and healthy lifestyles through an improved sense of security, enhanced street crossings, fitness and play amenities, native and CA-friendly landscaping, and further opportunities for walking and jogging in addition to improvements to the bike path. The goal is to revitalize the Creek Trail Corridor through enhanced activities and partnerships with local businesses, artists, schools, and other organizations.
My photographs were taken along a relatively short section of the Escondido Creek Trail, between Juniper Street and Fig Street…
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Two days ago the Escondido Creek Trail Outdoor Art Gallery made its official debut!
Having missed the ceremony, I headed up to Escondido today to enjoy my first look.
Congratulations to ESCO ALLEY ART, the community organization that presented these six murals to the City of Escondido. To learn more about their ongoing efforts to beautify Escondido, visit ESCO ALLEY ART’s website here.
These half dozen murals each measure 15 by 10 feet, depict local flora and fauna, and were transferred onto Aluminum Composite Material. Their super shiny surfaces made photography without reflections nearly impossible. I did my best!
The murals are located on the Neighborhood Healthcare building at 460 North Elm Street. They face the Escondido Creek Trail–a pedestrian and bike path that is presently undergoing improvement. (I noticed some of the improvements during my walk and will blog about that coming up.)
Curious who the mural artists are? Check out the captions of my photographs…
Nature Watching by artist Laura Green.Coyote by artist Berthis Myers.Wildlife in the Poppies by artist Joanne Sullivan.Aspire by artist Kat Furrow.Tunas Doradas by artist Andres Marin.California Dreaming by artist LaRetta Small-Zamora.
This ESCO ALLEY ART webpage links to information concerning each artist!
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Huge, super colorful murals are being painted in downtown San Diego. Once completed, there will be four murals, one on each side of The Torrey’s new high-rise. The Torrey is located at 1200 Front Street, where the north part of the old downtown courthouse used to stand.
This morning during my walk I noticed two artists working on the east side mural. I’d stumbled upon Australian husband-and-wife visual artists who go by the name DABSMYLA. They’re out of Los Angeles. Here’s their website. That’s them in the above photograph!
Two murals are finished, they’re now working on the third, and I was told a fourth will be painted on the south side of the building, once the old courthouse bridge over B Street is demolished.
Super cool!
These first photos show the mural they’re working on presently, on the building’s east side. All of their artwork is full of bold imagery from nature, including San Diego’s beautiful coast.
On the north side…
And on the west side (where there’s some new, interesting stump art on the sidewalk which I’ll blog about)…
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Organizations and businesses who support the environment were lined up behind the center, while vendor canopies and diverse cultural entertainment took place on the open grass nearby. Inside the WorldBeat Cultural Center there was more life to experience, including the rhythms of San Diego Taiko that I enjoyed. Visitors could also walk through the center’s lush Ethnobotany Sanctuary Garden. (I’ll be blogging about the garden later.)
There was plenty to see and do!
Behind the WorldBeat Cultural Center’s building, several canopies were set up for Earth Day. This is where visitors could enjoy most of the environmental activities and education.The San Diego Bird Alliance was showing how to mix clay and seeds to make seed balls that melt in the rain.Local native seed libraries can be found all around San Diego County. The San Diego Beekeeping Society was present with a contained hive for the purposes of demonstration. They are working to save bees.People visiting the Global Earth Day Festival could pot a plant!There were opportunities for swapping seeds, purchasing plants and composting!Books celebrating diversity could be found here. Sitting at the table is author JohnnieRenee Nelson!Books promote positive values of African American families.Lots of smiles at the KNSJ community radio station tent!Inside the WorldBeat Cultural Center people listen to a performance by San Diego Taiko.Some of the vendors on the grass near Park Boulevard.Many people come together in beautiful San Diego. WorldBeat Cultural Center hosts their 34th Annual Global Earth Day Festival!
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San Diego Taiko performed today at the WorldBeat Cultural Center’s 34th Annual Global Earth Day Festival. I happened to arrive when they were drumming. Perfect timing!
I happen to love Japanese taiko drumming. If the powerful, deep beats, and the stirring complex rhythms don’t accelerate your heartbeat, I’m not sure what will! Taiko gives me a feeling of uplift and joy. The smiling performers were obviously loving it, too!
Many in the audience stood up and joined a dance!
The WorldBeat Cultural Center vibrated with percussive energy!
I see the group has taiko workshops and welcome people who’d like to learn the art.
On their website, there’s also a section about the Folk Club of San Diego. Members study traditional Japanese folk songs that feature song, dance, taiko, and other traditional Japanese instruments.
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Cool San Diego Sights! 