As I stood at the edge of San Diego Bay late Sunday afternoon, Californian returned across the water to its home at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Californian, official tall ship of the State of California, floated into a world of magical light.
Yesterday I had a chance to go aboard Polynesian canoe Hikianalia, which was offering tours to the public over the weekend. The traditional voyaging canoe will conclude its environmentally themed ocean journey and return to Hawaii later this month.
I added lots of cool photos with an update to my original post here!
It’s hard to believe this silly blog has now surpassed 3000 followers. Thank you for coming along on my walks!
The human world is complex. I suppose that’s due in large part to the contradictory impulses and plasticity of the human mind.
A big city like San Diego is filled with this often disconcerting complexity.
My walk around downtown today was a little more interesting than usual. Cowboys, symbols of rugged individualism and freedom, had gathered in the Gaslamp Quarter for the annual Fall Back Festival, an event that celebrates the Old West and early history of San Diego. Meanwhile, 6000 neuroscientists attending the big Society for Neuroscience conference at the convention center were sharing sidewalks with San Diego’s large homeless population.
Seeing that particular combination all together–cowboys, neuroscientists and homeless people–fired up a few billion neurons in my own mysterious brain. And stirred emotions.
So many human values, often in conflict.
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Every so often a small work of fiction bubbles out of my brain.
The Quartyard in East Village has moved to this new location at the corner of Market Street and 13th Street.
During my walk around East Village yesterday I swung by the Quartyard, a cool container park where neighbors can gather to eat, drink, talk and enjoy live events.
About half a year ago the unique container park moved a couple blocks east from its old location, to the corner of Market Street and 13th Street. While the new space is a bit smaller, it’s a friendly, cozy nook just perfect for neighborhood gatherings.
A bit of colorful artwork can be seen inside Quartyard. I learned more art is planned for some of the surrounding containers.
In addition to Burgers and Bites by the small live event stage, Quartyard features picnic tables and this outdoor bar.Colorfully painted utility boxes just outside Quartyard.This small fenced area in one corner of the container park Quartyard is perfect for dog lovers who live in the neighborhood.A beautiful mural by local artist Gloria Muriel just inside the entrance to Quartyard in East Village.A quick snack or drink can be purchased at the Seahorse Coffee shack out on the sidewalk.Look at the super friendly people you’ll meet!
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
The final words of the famous poem Invictus, painted near the entrance to Invictus Fitness. I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.
I enjoyed an aimless walk around East Village on Saturday. My camera found a variety of cool sights! Some old and some new!
As you can see, there are all sorts of new high-rises under construction in this dynamic part of downtown San Diego.
I walked past the Quartyard at its new corner on Market Street. It’s a couple blocks east of where it used to be. I’ll be posting those fun photos shortly!
Colorful banners along the side of Urban Discovery Academy in East Village.Abstract cat on a sidewalk chalkboard.A cool new mural by Michael Brooks Chandler on the side of a building at 13th Street and J Street.The 23-story K1 San Diego luxury apartment building is currently under construction just east of the downtown Central Library.Mission Brewery has been located in the old Wonder Bread Building for years now.This unusual, humorous mural has been on the north wall of the building at 1400 L Street for many years, too. I know nothing about it!The recently completed Pinnacle on the Park rises above the south entrance to Fault Line Park.New residential buildings rise beyond reflections in one of the silvery spheres at Fault Line Park.A blonde peers out from a shop window in East Village!
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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!
A cat waits in a window near the uniform of a service member.
Four stories are being told on the south wall of the The Salvation Army Boutique Family Store in East Village. These Window Stories concern the lives of ordinary, everyday people.
Come walk with me down the sidewalk and let’s sneak a peek through the windows. Maybe we’ll see a little bit of ourselves…
Window Stories is public art designed by POP/ARCH and created by Urban Interventions.Standing beside the south wall of The Salvation Army Boutique Family Store at the corner of Park Boulevard and E Street.A bright red bird visits a lone person sitting at one window.A child in the arms of a loving adult in another window.A couple enjoys a romantic dinner in another window.
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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!
A small sign with an ostrich welcomes those walking up Park Boulevard in University Heights.
Last weekend I walked along Park Boulevard in University Heights. I headed north from El Cajon Boulevard to Adams Avenue, then back south on the opposite sidewalk. I saw all sorts of fun art during my journey!
Why so many ostriches? University Heights has adopted the ostrich as a unique and memorable symbol. Back in 1903 this neighborhood was the home of Harvey Bentley’s ostrich farm, where visitors could ride the large birds!
Artistic mural painted on south wall of Park Blvd Artworks.Wall painted by New Zealand artist Cinzah for the PangeaSeed Foundation informs passersby that each year 100,000,000 sharks are killed for their fins.Electrical box floral street art near the Diversionary Theatre.People walk up Park Boulevard’s sidewalk toward the University Heights landmark sign.Some small colorful tiles in a stucco wall.Transformer box painted with an image of The Pavilion at Mission Cliff Gardens.Streetlamp banner with ostrich proclaims University Heights – Founded in 1888.Faded flowery street art on a utility box.A small, peaceful sculpture in front of Buddha’s Light Bookstore.Spiritual image above front entrance of San Diego Buddhist Association’s Hsi Fang Temple.Part of the cool mural painted on a store wall at the corner of Park Boulevard and Monroe Avenue.
I photographed the above mural four years ago. See more images of this street art here!
Some beautiful but faded street art.Silly faces!Love Your H2O, a mural painted by local artist Gloria Muriel for the Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Photo of traditional voyaging canoe Hikianalia docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, with the County Administration Building in the background.
Visitors to the Maritime Museum of San Diego are in for a special treat this weekend!
I noticed during my evening walk along the Embarcadero that the traditional voyaging canoe Hikianalia is visiting from Hawaii. And the public is invited to come aboard for tours!
The Hikianalia, of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, has sailed over 2800 miles across the Pacific Ocean and down the California coast. Crew members are engaging in cultural exchanges and spreading a positive environmental message at every port they visit. The amazing Hikianalia uses sustainable, Earth-friendly technology, including electric motors that are powered by onboard photovoltaic panels.
I hadn’t realized the Hikianalia had arrived a couple days ago, and that Mayor Kevin Faulconer declared October 30, “Hikianalia Day” in San Diego! The canoe’s crew members were greeted by representatives of the Kumeyaay Nation and welcome chants and hula from San Diego’s Hawaiian community.
To see photos of the Hikianalia’s arrival in San Diego and the colorful welcoming ceremony, click here.
After public canoe tours this weekend at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the Hikianalia will prepare to return to Hawaii in mid-November.
Hikianalia is welcomed to San Diego during its California Voyage. The public can enjoy weekend tours of the technologically advanced Polynesian canoe at the Maritime Museum.Hikianalia docked on San Diego Bay near several historic vessels of the Maritime Museum.
UPDATE!
I stepped aboard the canoe on Sunday!
I learned from a crew member that the canoe primarily uses sail power, but will employ its solar-powered engines when coming into port.
Their ocean voyage has included some research and data collection, including analysis of the fish they catch. DNA is collected and each fish is checked to see whether it has eaten any plastic garbage.
The crew of Hikianalia has also transmitted their positive environmental message to students around the world, working with many schools.
Visitors check out the Hikianalia during its visit to San Diego.This cool dude up on the passenger deck of the Berkeley was playing mellow island music.
As we waited in line, a crew member told us about their current voyage down the California coast, and explained this map of an earlier ocean journey. Their next voyage will be around the Pacific Rim, including a visit to Alaska.Almost to the front of the line!Getting ready to board the Hikianalia.Lots of curious visitors were walking about the wooden deck of the Polynesian voyaging canoe.Everyone had to check out the huge oar-like rudder.Garlands of tropical flowers decorate the bow of Hikianalia.These friendly crew members selling t-shirts smiled for my camera!
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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!
I was walking along the long train platform of San Diego’s downtown Santa Fe Depot when the clouds began to really blaze. Fantastic light reflected from the windows of nearby high-rise condos and several hotels to the west. As night fell, dramatic color crowned dark palm trees.
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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!
Last weekend I enjoyed an easy walk through University Heights. My small adventure included a close look at an architectural landmark that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Teacher Training School Building–San Diego State Normal School. Today the monumental old building, located inside the San Diego Unified School District’s Education Center Complex, is officially designated Teachers Training Annex 1.
The 1910 building, built by engineer Nathan Ellery and architect George Sellon, is in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style. According to the Save Our Heritage Organisation website: “It is the only structure remaining from the 1897 San Diego State Normal School’s University Heights campus, the forerunner to present day San Diego State University. Originally functioning as a living laboratory for student teachers, it was transferred to the City of San Diego Schools in 1931 and served as the original Alice Birney Elementary School until 1951.”
Many in the community hope to see the historic building renovated and transformed into a new University Heights library, replacing the small branch library on Park Boulevard a couple blocks to the south.
Here are some exterior photos…
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Jorge Luis Borges wrote: “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” As someone who loves to read and write, I agree.
But I also love to experience life, contemplate and be inspired in other ways. So paradise, to me, would also be like a museum full of extraordinary artwork.
Anyone who’d like to enter such a paradise in San Diego should visit the San Diego Museum of Art. Every time I go, I feel that I’ve ascended to a blissful place–an elevated place where I become fully alive.
My docent pal Catherine guided another great tour of the museum this weekend, and as I and other guests walked from gallery to gallery, my eyes couldn’t stop jumping from wonder to wonder. And I had to chuckle a couple of times, too. Catherine has been known to spontaneously inject bits of wry humor into her tours. With this simple blog post I would like to thank her for being so generous.
The San Diego Museum of Art never ceases to amaze me. I’m always discovering something new. It contains a truly world-class collection of fine art, including masterpieces by some of history’s most celebrated artists. The museum has also collected many pieces that have a special connection to San Diego.
I’ve always thought it would be amazing if one small gallery were permanently dedicated to San Diego–to San Diego’s most renowned artists, and to timeless works of art inspired by our beautiful and surprisingly diverse city. Just imagine!
Do you love art, too? If you ever find yourself in Balboa Park, please walk over to the San Diego Museum of Art.
Then step through the front door into Paradise.
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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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 