In my opinion, the most exciting part of the House of England’s lawn program in Balboa Park yesterday was the historical sword fighting. A local group called Swords of Chivalry provided a fine demonstration of realistic combat between armored knights during the Middle Ages.
According to their website, the Swords of Chivalry Program is one of only 16 schools in the world that have been selected to the Chivalric Fighting Arts Association. The program is led by “San Diego’s own Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) expert and medieval history guru, Scott Farrell.”
As knights and their squires performed heroic feats upon the green grass of the International Cottages, I and everyone watching were drawn back in time to the fantastic Age of Chivalry.
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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!
Knights in armor engage in mock battle during the House of England’s lawn program.
The House of England in Balboa Park hosted a really great lawn program today!
As I lingered on the grass at the center of the International Cottages, I saw historical costumes, several mock knight battles, a Beatles tribute band, and even a parade of Welsh Corgis! I also stepped into the House of England’s cottage to check out a bunch of cultural displays!
These photos show what I experienced…
The annual House of England lawn program drew a good crowd to the International Cottages in Balboa Park.A member of the group Swords of Chivalry removes her steel helmet after some mock medieval combat.Other members of Swords of Chivalry have donned historical armor during the House of England’s lawn program.Kids had fun learning about the Age of Chivalry, a time long ago that now seems like pure fantasy.Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter welcome visitors to the House of England’s cottage. Join us for a cup of tea.The House of England’s small cottage is full of interesting photos, artwork and cultural displays.One wall features the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. A nearby poster traces The Royal Lineage.A Briton’s Creed, Big Ben,Winston Churchill and more!I soon spotted a bunch of Harry Potter stuff. It’s the Sorting Hat from Hogwarts!One chart shows how the name Luna has become increasingly popular due to the Harry Potter books and films.It’s all of the Doctors from the popular Doctor Who series!A large display in the cottage is devoted to the British royal family, and Princess Diana in particular.An article about striving to keep Diana’s legacy alive by eliminating landmines around the world. (Click image to enlarge for easy reading.)Look at all the fun, unique teapots!Back outside, the House of England had a food tent up. Delectable treats for sale included Hagrid’s Dragon Eggs!All sorts of tents along the grass. Many contained information about English culture and history.Some attending the cool event wore historical costumes.A parade featuring dozens of cute Corgis caught everyone’s attention.Some guys rode penny-farthings to Balboa Park’s wonderful House of England event.Four gentlemen and their high wheels.This elegant lady had a table that concerned the show Victoria on PBS.Images from 19th century England.Claudia Previn Stasny, daughter of André Previn, sang The Star Spangled Banner and God Save the Queen to begin the program of afternoon entertainment.A happy group of Welsh Corgis hangs out by the stage.The Baja Bugs, a great Beatles tribute band, rocks the House of England’s lawn program.I think I see Ringo at the drums!Battling knights entertain an outdoor audience at the House of England’s lawn program in Balboa Park!
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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!
Many volunteers improve the Native Plant Garden near the McCoy House Museum in Old Town San Diego.
I was pleased to stumble upon an Earth Day event today as I walked into Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. A variety of organizations had gathered along the path leading to the McCoy House Museum, and many volunteers were working in the nearby Native Plant Garden.
What did I see?
Sign welcomes visitors to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s cool Earth Day Open House!Volunteers work with a State Park Ranger in Old Town’s native garden for Earth Day. The Old Town Transit Center is visible in the background.A row of tents near the McCoy House Museum welcomes curious visitors during the Earth Day Open House event.These guys represent Green Love, an environmental organization of the Associated Students at San Diego State University.Green Love’s endeavors include campus outreach, environmental justice, sustainable transportation, and even a community garden.Friendly ladies of the Old Town Basketry Guild demonstrate their ancient craft.Sheet details how to become a member of the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Basketry Guild.Participants in Old Town’s Earth Day hang out by the McCoy House, which today serves as a museum of San Diego’s early history.At this table, the California State Parks Foundation celebrates Earth Day!This sheet shows upcoming volunteer opportunities in several regional California State Parks!A knowledgeable expert showed me examples of native San Diego flowers, including the richly golden California poppy, our state’s official flower.Flyer provides info concerning the California Native Plant Society’s San Diego Garden Tour 2019.I declined to plant a seed today, but I did get some smiles.Guys with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife answered questions at their table. I believe that’s a coyote.Hard-working volunteers could be seen all around the Native Plant Garden.These generous Target employee volunteers were repairing the fence around the McCoy House. Thank you!Caring for our planet during a cool Earth Day event.
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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!
Lots of athletes were out in the sunshine today playing Over-the-Line!
OTL is a unique, baseball-like beach game, created in the 1950s by the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club. This signature San Diego sport was being played by teams competing at OMBAC’s 41st Annual Wheelchair Over-the-Line Tournament.
Food was abundant, a rock band was playing live music, and scores were being kept as screaming line drives were batted into the outfield. The field of play was the parking lot of the old Toys “R” Us store on West Morena Boulevard.
To learn more about OMBAC’s Adaptive sports activities, and how anyone can become involved, visit their website here!
Very cool!
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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!
Today is the 20th Anniversary of San Diego’s very cool Washington Street Skatepark! Lots of local skateboarders converged for the “20 Year Birthday Bash” and helped raise funds to maintain this public skate park.
I learned that money raised goes to making repairs, paying for insurance and the nearby porta-potty. If you want to help out and make a donation, visit the Washington Street Skatepark website by clicking here! (You can also learn about the history of this awesome place and the dedicated volunteers who built it.)
Some friendly guys manning tables along the sidewalk smiled for my camera, then I headed up the ramp and into the park to check out some of today’s action!
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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!
I enjoyed a small photographic adventure yesterday evening.
Walking along the Embarcadero, camera in hand, I gazed out toward San Diego Bay and the descending sun. Occasionally I paused to frame long shadows, glowing clouds, silhouettes and bright reflections on the water.
These photographs represent a segment of my walk from Broadway Pier to the Greatest Generation Walk, just south of the USS Midway.
The exaggerated contrasts in these photos were produced by my camera’s automatic mode. When I shoot into the sun, many of the resulting images can appear very dramatic. And darkly mysterious!
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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 harsh winter with rain and wind, and an occasional prankster, but dozens of optimistic faces still smile in Chula Vista!
Last weekend, as I walked down H Street east of Fourth Avenue, my eyes were surprised to see a row of large, smiling faces in an alley. They looked out at the world from a long, low wall. I turned into the alley to have a closer look.
What I discovered were faces photographed and turned into public art by the international INSIDE OUT project. INSIDE OUT had come to San Diego’s South Bay in September 2018 to encourage people to express their unique identity and viewpoint, and vote in the upcoming election.
The INSIDE OUT project is the brainchild of an anonymous artist named JR. Large‐format images of individuals in a community are pasted on buildings and along streets. Activist messages are conveyed visually, with personality and a smile!
This global “people’s art project” has achieved enormous reach. By late September 2018 over 260,000 people had participated in 129 countries!
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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!
Starting across Cabrillo Bridge, looking south toward downtown San Diego.
On Sunday I walked slowly through Balboa Park. I began at the Cabrillo Bridge and headed east along El Prado. My wandering feet finally took me down into Florida Canyon.
I discovered many scenes of natural beauty: green canyons, bright trees, yellow hillsides, spring flowers, newly opened roses and even cacti.
Come along…
Near the center of the bridge. Sunlit trees line the median of scenic State Route 163, also known as the Cabrillo Freeway.Looking back along historic Cabrillo Bridge toward the West Mesa of Balboa Park.Near the east end of the bridge, gazing down at the Rube Powell Archery Range.Passing through the California Quadrangle. Palm trees cast shadows on the California Tower.Turning back to photograph the California Tower from the Alcazar Garden.Twisty trunks and shadows near the Timken Museum of Art.Staghorn ferns on one wall of Balboa Park’s Botanical Building.Orchids inside the Botanical Building.More natural beauty inside the Botanical Building.A small yellow flower greets me inside the Casa del Prado. I stumbled upon a sale by the Southern California Plumeria Society.A bloom along El Prado near the Casa de Balboa.Walking along El Prado, just above the Zoro Garden.Like orange flames.Looking backward as I finally approach the east end of El Prado.About to cross over Park Boulevard on the pedestrian bridge, pausing for a moment to look south toward the Fleet Science Center.Strolling among early spring blooms in the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.In the rose garden, aiming my camera toward the fountain.Another rose.Another.Gazing east across Florida Canyon. A rainy winter has brought forth lush spring greenery.Now I am moving north, into the Desert Garden.Strange cactus beauty.More beauty.About to head down a winding path into Florida Canyon.A hillside bright with cacti and spring flowers.Nature has painted the hillside.Slanting cacti.The natural beauty in Balboa Park never ends.
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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! 