Somebody walks past a very colorful public mural in downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Yesterday I enjoyed a walk around downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The small downtown area is jam-packed with amazing, colorful murals!
I took photographs of the murals I happened to stumble upon. I’ve captioned my photos with any information I could discover. If there are additional murals that I missed, I apologize! I walked a bit randomly.
One can see most of downtown Cardiff in fifteen minutes by turning up and down sidewalks at an easy pace. If you’re ever in the area, you might enjoy your own wonderful journey of discovery!
A tropical beach scene by Kevin Anderson Art Murals painted at the end of a strip mall building beside Aberdeen Drive.A sunset, dolphin, surfer and guitar-strumming mermaid!More of the beautiful beach mural, on the building’s east wall.Colorful surfers and surfboards on a mural across Newcastle Avenue from the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Branch Library.Evening Gold, 2018, by Skye Walker. Painted on north side of building at Newcastle Avenue and Liverpool Drive.The mural was painted from a photo taken by surf photographer Todd Glaser of pro-surfer Rob Machado in action. Both are Cardiff residents.Right end of a long, amazing mural in Cardiff by artists Skye Walker and Marissa Quinn. Painted in alley off Chesterfield Drive, between San Elijo Avenue and Newcastle Avenue.
Bicyclists on mural at strip mall on Aberdeen Drive in downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea.More painted scenes on an adjacent mural, in front of The Cardiff Office dive bar.Sign on mural describes Southern California artist Steve Barton.A visual homage to San Diego sports teams, Padres and Chargers.I spotted this mural on the rear of a 7-Eleven store near San Elijo Avenue and Orinda Drive.
Take an easy walk around downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea and discover many beautiful murals!
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Beautiful greenery by the path through old Carpentier Parkway, which is being transformed into Harbaugh Seaside Parkway.
In Cardiff-by-the-Sea, the bicycle and pedestrian-friendly Cardiff Rail Trail is a relatively new segment of the much longer Coastal Rail Trail, that when finally completed will link San Diego to Oceanside.
Right next to the Cardiff Rail Trail is a garden-like linear park. From what I can gather, this old park maintained by the Cardiff Botanical Society was originally named the Carpentier Parkway, and is now being revamped, turning into Harbaugh Seaside Parkway. I don’t know that much about the project, apart from a few pages I found searching the internet. The George and Betty Harbaugh Charitable Foundation was also instrumental in creating the Harbaugh Seaside Trails at the north end of Solana Beach between Highway 101 and the train tracks.
Yesterday I walked a short distance through the somewhat ragged but quite beautiful Harbaugh Seaside Parkway. Starting at Chesterfield Drive just east of the train tracks, turning off from the paved Cardiff Rail Trail, I walked north up a winding dirt path between flowers, trees, plaques and a sculpture.
I had to brush a thin layer of dirt from engraved pavers and stones.
Enjoy these photographs. I’ve transcribed some of the words that I found on plaques and a weathered sign in a kiosk…
The south end of the dirt path leads away from the Cardiff Rail Trail just north of Chesterfield Drive.I believe this old wooden Welcome to Cardiff By the Sea sign used to stand beside Highway 101.
Bird of Paradise
Lord sent me to this world
as a soul trapped in a human body,
like a bird trapped in a cage
I am waiting for the day
that the Lord will fly me back home.
–Rumi
In memory of my daughter
Chantal Paydar
“Carpentier Parkway proves it is possible to provide beautiful, lush, flowered garden landscaping while using 75% less irrigation water without resorting to using desert plants. This park in downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea covers the area between San Elijo and the railway tracks from Birmingham to Chesterfield and used to be an ugly patch of weeds…”
Dedicated to the memory of Wayne Holden and to the Honor of all the Volunteers who have given time and donations for the Carpentier Parkway. 1999.
The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce commissioned the statue to be sculptured for Wayne Holden, who died at 47 years old… James Pugh, Sculpturer…
A beautiful old tree has two plaques at its base.
There was a lovely lady from Singapore
Whose humor was great and tales were lore
With a laugh so infectious none could ignore
For all that knew her till the age of eighty-four.
In memory of Kathleen Jack 1928-2013
Good Morning Cardiff by the Sea
Darreld Kitaen 10/2/36 – 1/3/19
Happy Days – Love and Peace
In Loving Memory
Richard W. (Dick) Kratzer
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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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My walk around Cardiff-by-the-Sea today included a very short stretch of the Cardiff Rail Trail. I walked north from where this popular bike and pedestrian trail crosses Chesterfield Drive, just west of San Elijo Avenue.
As I walked I noticed what first appeared to be many small smooth stones spilled to one side of the path. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a treasure trove of colorful gems!
Scattered on dead leaves I found brightly painted butterflies and hearts. I read words expressing love and optimism. I saw painted dreams.
It appears these precious jewels were created by many generous hands.
Dream and smile.
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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’d taken a walk around Cardiff-by-the-Sea and had found a perfect shady bench in Glen Park.
Below in the distance people were darting about the basketball court shooting hoops. One person missed, madly whirled, lunged forward, fell back, reached, barely intercepted, passed, darted, jumped impossibly high, caught, shot again, swished, shouted happily.
Upon finishing a chapter, I got up and gathered my stuff. The bench I’d been sitting on had a plaque. “Gotta go, gotta ride.”
It felt like the perfect small poem.
I found six names on six empty benches.
Every word shined.
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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!
Perhaps someone out there remembers Codi, Old Town’s Favorite Horse. I can find nothing about Codi when I search the internet.
This horseshoe with its plaque is likely noticed by very few people. It was placed inconspicuously at the top of some steps that lead under the train and trolley tracks at the Old Town Transit Center. These particular stairs aren’t often used.
I’ve lived in San Diego about twenty years, and I stumbled upon this horseshoe memorializing Codi just this afternoon!
Was this metalwork created at Old Town’s blacksmith shop?
Did Codi live in the corral beside Seeley Stable, where donkeys reside today? Did Codi provide rides or participate in parades? Are there photos of Codi?
Next time I see an Old Town San Diego State Historic Park ranger, I’ll try to remember to ask about Codi.
If you know anything, everyone would love reading your comment!
UPDATE!
Mystery solved! I now know the history of the horseshoe, and have posted photographs of Codi. To learn about Codi, click here!
CODI. January 1974 – November 2, 1995. Old Town’s Favorite Horse.
UPDATE!
A couple months later I noticed the bit of graffiti had been cleaned away, so I took another photo…
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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!
During my walk last weekend through Cesar Chavez Park, I was delighted to see a bright new mural painted on the long wall behind the park’s expanse of grass.
When I approached the mural, I noticed it was painted by Pandr Design Co. In my previous blog post you saw another mural that these artists recently painted! That one is on Market Street in downtown San Diego!
This new Cesar Chavez Park Mural was commissioned by the Port of San Diego. According to a nearby sign, this artwork brings color and inspiration to the park, creates a sense of place, and enhances the cultural richness of the Port’s waterfront.
It does!
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People walk and jog along San Diego’s Embarcadero near Tuna Harbor.
I did a lot of walking last Saturday! Downtown, Barrio Logan, San Ysidro… If I’m a little less active this weekend, it’s because my poor old legs are still sore!
Please enjoy some photos I took Saturday morning as I headed from Tuna Harbor on San Diego’s Embarcadero to 13th Street in East Village. I passed through Ruocco Park, walked a short stretch down Harbor Drive past Kansas City Barbeque, then turned east on Market Street.
Many of these sights you might have seen in the past on my blog. I did photograph a few new things, however, including the whale street art by Nicholas Danger, some Gaslamp Quarter historical artwork, and a very colorful mural by Pandr Design Co. Read the captions!
The photos you will see are the last I’ve taken with the old Canon Powershot that launched Cool San Diego Sights. Over the course of seven years my trusty friend must have recorded hundreds of thousands of images. But alas, its shutter began to stick and there have been other problems (which you might have already noticed), so I finally bought a shiny, much newer version Powershot, which I already love!
I hope my new camera successfully documents many more walks!
A couple hangs out by the Fish Tree, by artists Zbigniew Pingot and Toby Flores.A vendor on the boardwalk was selling lots of colorfully decorated Día de los Muertos skulls.Whenever I hear this friendly street musician playing beautiful music, I rest for a bit on a nearby bench to listen.Ruocco Park on a late summer’s day is very green and inviting.I’m about to walk through some unique public art titled The Riparium, by artist Roman de Salvo.Historical marker indicates the location of the San Diego Barracks from 1850 to 1921.Kansas City Barbeque is where a couple of great scenes from Top Gun were filmed.Street art by Mindful Murals, cool people I once met. I saw how they painted positive messages on handball backboards at Edison Elementary School’s playground.Looks like these sunlit leaves along Market Street are turning, anticipating autumn.Geometric street art near scooters parked in a straight line.Someone walks past this fun street art by Nicholas Danger, another cool local artist!Plaque in the sidewalk on Market Street recalls major renovations that were made in the once-seedy Gaslamp Quarter in 1981.A mixture of Gaslamp history and present day entertainment in one photo.As I passed Fifth Avenue, the hub of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, I turned my old camera south to take a picture.The I.O.O.F. Building was built by the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges in 1882. Its cornerstone contains a stone recovered from Solomon’s Temple!Eating on the street during the coronavirus pandemic.Artwork on a Gaslamp Quarter utility box shows historical photo of the San Diego Mercantile Co.Here’s a relatively new mural on Market Street that I noticed before but failed to photograph.This colorful WOW mural is by the artists of Pandr Design Co., who’ve done work all over San Diego. Their artwork can also be found at various Major League Baseball stadiums!Sculpted dog holds open a shop door.There’s some construction along Market Street as I approach 13th Street.I’m greeted by this face on the construction site fence!
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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!
One of two Trail to Literacy benches in San Ysidro Park.
If you notice two colorful benches in San Ysidro Park, go take a closer look. On both you’ll discover a Trail to Literacy.
The benches are decorated with tiles painted by children. You’ll see small works of art that celebrate books and stories that young people love.
This wonderful community project promotes reading. After looking at the tiles, I think I want to visit a library and check out some children’s books. What better way to activate imagination? And relearn wisdom.
The benches stand not far from renowned artist Victor Ochoa’s beautiful Tree of Life, which I photographed while walking around the park last weekend. See those photos here.
Trail to Literacy painted tile bench near a water fountain.The Paperboy.Dogzilla.Froggy Gets Dressed.The Cat in the Hat.The Gingerbread Man.Flipper and Where the Wild Things Are.Quetzalcoatl on the side of one bench.A second Trail to Literacy bench at San Ysidro Park.Mulan.Corduroy.La Hermana de Froggy.Mouse Mess.Viva Piñata!Just Imagine with Barney.El Arbol Generoso.More colorful tiles painted by creative youth.Reading sparks imagination, teaches knowledge and wisdom, and makes life much more rewarding.
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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 Mingei International Museum has a collection of over 150 maneki neko. Maneki neko are Japanese beckoning cats, made of clay, porcelain, metal, rock, wood or other material. They are talismans of good fortune in Japan.
Seventy examples of maneki neko in the Mingei’s collection are now on display in the Exhibit Hall at the Japanese Friendship Garden. Both the Mingei and JFG are located in Balboa Park, the cultural center of San Diego. Currently the Mingei’s building–the House of Charm–is closed to the public as it undergoes a major renovation.
This afternoon I visited the Japanese Friendship Garden and viewed this exhibition. It’s simply titled: Maneki Neko – Japan’s Beckoning Cats.
I must admit that until today I knew nothing about maneki neko. While admiring the many beckoning cats, I read some informative signs.
I learned that a maneki neko with a raised right paw indicates a wave of good fortune to a home, and a raised left paw brings luck to a business. The higher the paw, the greater the good fortune!
I learned maneki neko sometime wear colorful bibs, which represent an expression of gratitude for a wish realized. Also, the color of the cat is meaningful. Black symbolizes safety, gold symbolizes money, white symbolizes happiness, red symbolizes protection.
I learned about Hatsutatsu-san, a popular variety of beckoning cat that wears human clothing! (You can see an example in an upcoming photo.)
I also learned about a few of the different kilns in Japan that produce maneki neko, and how each kiln has its own distinctive style.
When you view this exhibition, you’ll probably learn a lot, too! And you’ll be charmed by the beauty and unique personality of every beckoning cat.
Planning a trip to Balboa Park? This wonderful exhibition can be enjoyed at the Japanese Friendship Garden through November 29, 2020.
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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!
This afternoon I enjoyed a new exhibition of beautiful cultural artifacts at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The exhibition, featuring pieces in the collection of the Mingei International Museum, concerns Japanese maneki neko, which are beckoning cat figurines believed to bring good luck.
Beforehand and afterward, I walked about the garden. Everywhere I turned I saw dappled light and shadow–in trees, on rocks, on the grass. So I took these photographs of the surrounding beauty…
If you love the Japanese Friendship Garden and would like to walk with them as they grow, read the above sign.
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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! 