Famous author Mark Twain and several literary friends visited San Diego today. They arrived at Heritage County Park for a very special event.
TwainFest 2022 welcomed some of the world’s most celebrated writers, delighting everyone who attended the outdoor festival. The free, family-friendly event is put on every year by Write Out Loud.
Mark Twain himself greeted visitors who wandered about…
I don’t know whether Twain realized he was standing only a block away from the house where humorist Squibob lived while in San Diego.
When I asked him, Mark Twain wouldn’t clearly acknowledge that he was inspired by Squibob. Historians say he probably was.
But we can all agree Twain’s novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic of American Literature. The esteemed author must’ve been pleased when TwainFest visitors cheerfully whitewashed a fence, much to the consternation of Aunt Polly.
Soon Twain was joined by three other notable writers. Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Emily Dickinson.
Yes, a fine summer day filled with imagination–another chapter in our own never-ending stories…
Out of the blue, a friendly Charles Dickens came strolling along through Heritage Park. The author confessed that one of his favorite works was A Christmas Carol.
In another area of the park, the Red Queen of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was playing croquet. I didn’t see Lewis Carroll, but he must’ve been nearby.
In the sunny Author’s Salon, Edgar Allan Poe was talking about his life–what he remembered of it.
Then Poe began his emotional recital of The Raven.
A few steps away, what were these smiling TwainFest visitors observing?
Tinker Bell and Peter Pan!
And that scoundrel, Captain Hook!
And what was going on over here?
Alice, the White Rabbit, the (Mad) Hatter and smiling guests had assembled for a quite unique tea party!
The Dormouse made a surprise appearance at the Mad Tea-Party as well!
And who is this fine fellow over here reading a story about gallant knights and noble acts of chivalry?
Don Quixote! (And his squire Sancho Panza.)
For his first big adventure, Don Quixote encountered a terrifying number of large fearsome giants who looked strangely like windmills…
Thank you, Mr. Twain, for the twinkle in your eye and your timeless humor.
And for bringing so many literary friends to San Diego!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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Hello: I am a journalist in San Diego seeking some info about:
Do you have any info or can you verify this? Especially about Mt. Soledad and Muirlands?
Remnants of WWII remain scattered throughout La Jolla (and all of San Diego; especially atop Cabrillo National Monument). During the 1940s, there were several military bases scattered from the coast all the way inland.
During these years, the military and many local citizens were preparing for a possible Japanese invasion of the coastline. Cement-encased bunkers were built all around Mount Soledad, where they stood for several years.
Almost all these WWII bunkers, including some in the Muirlands, were destroyed or removed over the years, though some say there are still fragments here and there on the hill.
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I visited one of the bunkers at Cabrillo National Monument some time ago and blogged about it here: https://coolsandiegosights.com/2018/11/27/photos-inside-a-world-war-ii-bunker-on-point-loma/ I’m afraid I’m not an expert, just a curious guy walking about with a camera. I’ve never heard about WWII bunkers in La Jolla, but it makes sense there probably were, at intervals up the coast.
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