Walking past a plaque which is engraved with one of many important quotes by Martin Luther King Jr.
I frequently walk along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego. Whenever I do, I like to randomly read some of the historic MLK quotes that are engraved in plaques along the long pathway. I’ve never counted the number of quotes. There are easily dozens. Every quote on every plaque is important and powerful, and reflects the intelligence, energy, optimism and wisdom of America’s great civil rights leader.
Here are photos taken at different times of a few of Dr. King’s quotes…
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed.The deep rumbling of discontent that we hear today is the thunder of disinherited masses, rising from dungeons of oppression to the bright hills of freedom in one majestic chorus.Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can only be done by projecting the ethic of love to the center of our lives.We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the Earth like brothers.Two people walk side-by-side down the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.The democratic ideal of freedom and equality will be fulfilled for all–or all human beings will share in the resulting social and spiritual doom…The greatest victory of the civil rights period was something internal…We armed ourselves with dignity and self-respect…We straightened our backs up…The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.Any law that uplifts human personality is just, any law that degrades human personality is unjust.Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.Breaking the Chains sculpture, by Melvin Edwards, reminds people on MLK Promenade of the positive legacy of a great civil rights leader.
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Mother by Robert Michael Jones appears complex and incomplete. According to the artist, his unusual sculptures represent ongoing life stories.
I still have a bunch of photos to share from my long walk around Liberty Station several weeks ago!
Check out these cool sculptures! I stumbled upon them while wandering about the North Promenade area of the old Naval Training Center San Diego. NTC Liberty Station, with its rich history, unique architecture, many museums and fun public art, is a great place to absorb a whole lot of culture and beauty.
Runner by Robert Michael Jones with strange muscle, bone and energy. Three pieces by this artist stand in front of NTC Liberty Station’s Barracks 14.Close up photo of Ascend by Robert Michael Jones. His works seem like frayed, ancient images of human struggle from mythology.Fuji San by Jeffery Laudenslager, whose sculptures often use odd geometry to boggle the mind.Sol Searching by Alber De Matteis was part of an Urban Trees exhibition on San Diego’s Embarcadero. It’s now situated on Truxton Road south of the Dance Place building.Archangel by famed Mexican sculptor Alfonso Arambula Robles. It’s located by Barracks 16 at the former Naval Training Center San Diego.Sisterhood sculpture by Mary Buckman stands next to the Women’s Museum of California.Two life-size sisters greet visitors who wander about Point Loma’s art-filled Liberty Station.
UPDATE! Here are two more photos that I took on a sunnier day:
Archangel, kinetic artwork by Mexican sculptor Alfonso Arambula Robles.Light shines on Sisterhood terracotta sculpture, by artist Mary Buckman.
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Birds take flight above palm trees in downtown San Diego.
The astonishing success of this modest blog is hard to believe. Thank you.
This blog’s purpose is simple. It is to enjoy San Diego, to spread a little sunshine, and to help people who are doing good deeds or undertaking worthy causes.
Here are a few charities and positive organizations that would be grateful for your assistance.
Jeff, a challenged athlete who benefits from Operation Rebound, at a special marathon Spreckels Organ concert.
Right now I’m sitting at my computer on Cortez Hill, not far from Balboa Park. Sometimes I imagine–for a brief moment–that I can hear music drifting in through the window. Whether my ears are deceiving me or not, I do know that the huge Spreckels Organ is booming across the beloved urban park at this very exact moment.
How do I know this? Because San Diego’s own Civic Organist, Dr. Carol Williams, is playing the king of musical instruments today for twelve and a half hours straight! In addition to setting a new official Guinness World Record for organ playing, she’s raising money for Operation Rebound!
Operation Rebound is a division of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. They help American military personnel, veterans and first responders who face permanent disability, but who have a passion to compete in sports. An active lifestyle can help greatly when it comes to both mental and physical health. Here is their website.
The unique event today at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion helps to raise money, so that wounded warriors can obtain expensive prosthetics, specialized equipment, and funds for travel as they compete in sporting tournaments.
It is a most worthy cause.
You can donate right now! Even a few bucks helps! To do so, click here!
Operation Rebound table had images of wounded warriors who have turned or returned to sport. This organization helps challenged athletes with their expenses.Dr. Carol Williams, San Diego’s Civic Organist, is playing for over 12 hours to help raise money, plus to set a new world record!The beautiful Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park is the scene of an important Memorial Day weekend event.Jeff talks movingly about how Operation Rebound has helped him. Wounded warriors who engage in sports often need funds for prosthetics, travel to tournaments, and special equipment.At a table nearby, people were creating greeting cards that thank our troops for sacrificing for our freedom.One handmade heartfelt card reads: You Rock! Thank you for your bravery, dedication, and amazing strength.
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Visitor to USS Midway Museum on Memorial Day weekend absorbs Portraits of Resilience exhibit, created by students of High Tech High Charter School.
This morning I walked a little around the USS Midway. The historic aircraft carrier is now a popular museum docked on San Diego Bay. I was there because it’s Memorial Day weekend, and I have personal experiences that make me grateful for America and our brave servicepeople. But I won’t blog about that here.
I was surprised to see a thought-provoking exhibit being set up in the hangar deck of the Midway. I learned it was a project of students at High Tech High, which is a charter school in Point Loma. 50 students interviewed 50 veterans, to learn about war, and peace, and human resiliency.
I took some photos in less-than-optimal lighting, and my flash wasn’t entirely helpful, so I had to apply a good deal of contrast.
Portraits of Resilience. 50 students. 50 veterans. 50 powerful portraits.The whole point of the Armed Forces is to protect freedoms so that people can agree or disagree with what’s going on.Greatness isn’t achieved randomly. You need to set goals.It’s people. It was always people. I didn’t want to let anyone down.A veteran reads words of pain, joy, memory and wisdom spoken by others who’ve served in the military.Everything is written in pencil. As soon as you have a plan, thirty minutes later it changes.Don’t waste your time worrying, worrying, worrying! You’re only going to get wrinkles!My best decision was marrying my wife. My number two was being a pilot and getting my wings.No matter how your grades are or what people think about you, do what you want to do and you can accomplish it.We didn’t have names of battles. We had excursions, and we had firefights, but we didn’t have names of them.When you return, things are physically and emotionally different. It’s like moving from one world to another.They had tears of joy, they couldn’t believe that someone had documented what they had done; they were proud, they were happy.You’re watching his back, he’s watching your back.Now when somebody says, “Thank you for your service”, I look them directly in the eye and say, “It was my privilege”.
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Grossmont High School NJROTC Ceremonial Color Guard waits for an important event to begin.
This morning I attended a moving ceremony. Americans who fought in World War II, members of The Greatest Generation, were honored in a special Veterans Wreath Ceremony on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum. It’s one of several events taking place on the USS Midway this Memorial Day weekend. San Diego’s popular aircraft carrier museum promises to be a very busy hub of activity.
I took a few photographs of the ceremony. It was short, but very meaningful.
People cross flight deck of USS Midway aircraft carrier museum to attend a special Memorial Day weekend event. (Chairs are for a Wynonna Judd concert later this evening.)Looking south over San Diego Bay from upper deck of USS Midway Museum. Unconditional Surrender statue can be seen below.Pomerado Community Band plays music before start of short ceremony that honors World War II veterans.God Bless America sung with a deep, resonant voice. Many in the crowd listen with emotion.Guests are ready for the special Memorial Day weekend Veterans Wreath Ceremony to begin.There are two wreaths. One commemorates those who fought in the World War II Pacific theater. The second wreath is dedicated to those who served in Europe.This honored vet performed his duty in the Pacific during the Second World War. With him are two other generations.Also honored was energetic Stu Hedley, who is a Pearl Harbor survivor.Vintage World War II P-35 fighter aircraft from Air Group One (San Diego Wing of the Commemorative Air Force) flies over during the ceremony.The wreaths are presented to the two representative veterans, who will toss them into the water.In a time-honored ritual and tribute, the first wreath takes flight as many watch and The Remembrance Bell is rung.Flowers and memories float on San Diego Bay on this beautiful Memorial Day weekend.A photo from the flight deck of the USS Midway. The historic aircraft carrier is used for many military ceremonies in San Diego.
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Two fountains near the reflecting pool, at either end of the Botanical Building, have fallen into disrepair.
This year Balboa Park is celebrating its centennial. A hundred years ago, for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, many event structures were created out of plaster, with the idea that they would be temporary. But San Diego fell in love with the park as it was and changed its mind. It would be a shame to lose so much beauty. Today much of Balboa Park, after many years of maintenance and restoration, is like a glowing vision preserved from San Diego’s past. But time marches on. And more work always needs to be done.
During a quick walk this afternoon through Balboa Park, I paused to look at some construction that is underway near the monumental El Cid statue, at the south edge of the Plaza de Panama. A friendly guy who was working there told me a little bit about three current restoration projects.
Here are my pics! Please read the captions, where I provide some more information.
Funds for many Centennial restorations and improvements have been provided by the Friends of Balboa Park.Plaque recalls how a second identical fountain (next to the Timken Museum of Art) was restored back in 1965 by The Thursday Club.The passage of time has been unkind to the impish faces on two fun Balboa Park fountains.One of two guardhouses on either side of El Prado, at the west end of the Cabrillo Bridge.The stately guardhouses are being repaired this summer. The plaster ornamentation on top is in bad shape.A close up photo of the plaster finial at the apex of one tile roof. The hundred year old material has crumbled.The decorative finial has already been removed from the second guardhouse, and is being reconstructed.Guy working on restoring the balustrade next to the El Cid statue. The walkway will soon be ADA accessible.The old wooden balustrade is being replaced with modern material that should last much longer. Hopefully another hundred years!This hard-working guy at the balustrade construction site was nice enough to talk to me and smile for the camera!
UPDATE!
During a walk in mid-September, I noted the balustrade is completely finished, and so are the two fountains! They look awesome–like new!
Both fountains–on either side of the Botanical Building–have been beautifully restored!
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Sea lions sun on a large rock in the Pacific Ocean off Point La Jolla.
This blog post resumes my walk from the prior post. Here I head south down a truly amazing stretch of coastline, from Point La Jolla at the edge of La Jolla Cove to Cuvier Park. A good argument can be made that this is the absolutely most beautiful spot in all of San Diego. I’ll let you decide…
The 6,000 acre San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park off the coast includes an Ecological Reserve and the Marine Life Refuge.Numerous seals and sea lions live on the rocks and beaches of La Jolla.People love to walk across this water-sculpted landscape right up to the sea cliffs to watch the surf.Over the years many have carved names and messages in the soft sandstone.Sea lions enjoy La Jolla just as much as human visitors!Some of those curious humans are grouped around a small tide pool in the rock looking for sea life.An unexpected wave crashes in. Run! Scatter!Looking south along the narrow beach from Point La Jolla. One of many lookout structures is visible up on the cliff.This lifeguard box features many barnacle-like beach-related words. The box is titled the David C. Freeman Memorial, by artist Paul Sibel. It marks the location of Boomer Beach.These simple, open gazebo-like structures along the walking path are fine places to gaze out at the broad ocean.Or you can just relax on an outdoor seat provided by nature.A major attraction along Coast Boulevard is spacious, grassy Scripps Park.Gnarled old trees dot the picturesque park, which contains many picnic areas and places to recreate on the grass.Ellen Browning Scripps Park is reported to be the most photographed spot in San Diego.More trees growing slantwise, blown by the prevailing sea breeze over the course of many years.Scripps Park contains the Abraham Lincoln Centennial Memorial plaque dedicated in 1909.Continuing south, more views looking back north of a truly spectacular coastline.Guy takes a nap on bench beneath a lifeguard tower.Shell Beach is one of many tiny sandy nooks that can be found among the rocky cliffs.A lady lies on a flat rock reading a book, as waves crash nearby.A beautiful walkway runs down from the Cave Store along Coast Boulevard for about a mile along the ocean.An artist paints a beautiful scene from a view point not far from Children’s Pool.I peer over the low wall and am greeted by a funny squirrel!One of these cormorants on a rock has its sun-drying wings spread dramatically.Getting very close to Children’s Pool, where many seals lie side by side on its wide, sunny beach.A quick turn back northward shows waves breaking against a vertical sandstone face!Legal disputes have entangled Children’s Pool over the years. The facility was created in 1931 by benefactor Ellen Browning Scripps as a safe spot for children to swim.People head down to see the colony of seals on the warm sand.At Children’s Pool Beach, a rope now keeps people from disturbing the protected marine mammals.Fisherman on the far sea wall have cast their lines into the blue Pacific Ocean.Continuing to walk south along more amazing coastline in La Jolla.Some surfers on a beach and in the foaming water below.Unusual sculpture at the rear of La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego called Pleasure Point, by artist Nancy Rubins. It’s made of rowboats, canoes, jet skies, kayaks, surfboards…A stretch of green grass at Cuvier Park is the perfect place to sit or lie on a glorious Southern California day.Tide pools become visible at low tide along this easily accessible stretch of La Jolla.A dog takes a happy rest by some flowers as the surf rolls in.
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Taking an easy stroll above the wide, blue ocean in beautiful La Jolla.
My day in La Jolla yesterday was so wonderful I had to do it again!
A second walk today has my computer bursting with photos. So I’d better share some!
I’m going to create two blog posts. This first one involves a walk down the short but breathtaking Coast Walk Trail, then down Coast Boulevard from the Cave Store to La Jolla Cove Beach. Where the ocean meets land here is one of the most amazing, magical places a person might ever visit. A few photos hardly do the experience justice.
Be forewarned, this post starts with great natural beauty, but ends with sudden ugliness. You’ll see why I became a bit angry during my otherwise glorious adventure.
The Historic Coast Walk Trail begins near Torrey Pines Road and ends at the Cave Store on Coast Boulevard.Dozens of kayakers were out on the water as I walked west down the trail enjoying magnificent views.Red kayaks bunched close together below, east of Goldfish Point.Rounding a corner, shops and restaurants on Coast Boulevard come into view.Wooden steps plunge down to a scenic view point atop amazing sandstone cliffs. In the narrow cove on the left is an entrance to a sea cave.Nature’s beauty takes many forms, including a golden flower.From the view point I look east along eroded cliffs toward La Jolla homes.Heading back up to the Coast Walk Trail, which ends nearby at the Cave Store.A man-made tunnel inside the Cave Store leads from the gift shop to the Sunny Jim Sea Cave.About to turn north, beginning down Coast Boulevard, toward La Jolla Cove.The amazing Coast Boulevard passes La Jolla Cove, Scripps Park, Children’s Pool and the La Jolla tide pools!A message on the sidewalk caught my eye. Your troubles will cease and fortune will smile upon you.It’s possible to see into this sea cave.The rocky cliffs along Coast Boulevard are the home of pelicans, sea gulls and cormorants.Long-beaked pelicans and black cormorants have a rest in the warm sun between diving and hunting for fish.The cliffs of La Jolla are made of unstable sandstone, which occasionally crumbles into the Pacific Ocean.A gorgeous view of La Jolla Cove on a perfect spring day.A lifeguard tower rises above La Jolla Cove Beach. To the right of the tower is Point La Jolla.Looking down at La Jolla Cove Beach from the north. Buildings along Coast Boulevard are surmounted by those on Prospect Street.City of San Diego sign provides a warning. Caution, do not approach seals or sea lions! Harassing these marine mammals is against the law.A lady climbs stairs up from the beach, past a lifeguard rescue board.Some benches allow people to enjoy the view. Scuba divers in the cove swim with the sea life.Several thoughtless, self-centered people almost stepped on a seal as they crowded in to get a photograph.Agitated sea lion on a rock angrily confronts pestering people who don’t seem to care.
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Looking down from the high viewing area at picturesque Bird Rock below.
Please enjoy some photographs!
Yesterday I took a long walk through La Jolla. Before leaving home, I checked the tide chart. My intention was to photograph the tide pools at beautiful Bird Rock. I’ve read you can actually walk out to this spectacular rock in the ocean at low tide. Unfortunately, as it turned out, yesterday the tide wasn’t low enough!
But I did get my fill of natural beauty. Will you please join me as I walk from La Jolla Boulevard a couple blocks down Bird Rock Avenue, and then down to the water?
Bench on La Jolla Boulevard sidewalk spells out Bird Rock with colorful tiles.This bench features sea shells. Let’s begin our walk down Bird Rock Avenue, a few steps away.Kid skateboards down hilly Bird Rock Avenue toward the small lookout point.Local guy is already here enjoying the beautiful view and ocean tranquility. Few tourists come here.Gazing north along the rocky shore. La Jolla Cove is on the other side of that distant jutting land.Looking down over the view point rail at rugged rocks at the edge of the shining Pacific Ocean.Here’s where we’re going to descend to the water.Heading down the short staircase to get a closer look at the beauty of Bird Rock.We quickly glance up at the viewing area, where we were a moment ago.Gazing south as we stand on large jagged boulders. Someone is walking along the base of the cliff.We carefully head a bit south, too. Watch your step! The tide is fairly low and we get close to the splashing water.These stones were made smooth and rounded by that great Earth-encompassing rock tumbler, the mighty ocean!Look out! A foamy wave is crashing in!Finally, we turn westward to look at Bird Rock. At a distance, the birds are just visible in this photo!
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Cool San Diego Sights! 