Super 8 sign stays at a Quality Inn.

Super 8 sign stays at a Quality Inn.
Super 8 sign stays at a Quality Inn.

While walking through Mission Valley in the early morning, I did a double take when I saw this unusual sight!  I assume the motel is undergoing a name change.  Or perhaps the driver hauling the Super 8 sign stayed a night at Quality Inn!

More photos of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan.

Painted tree trunks and picnic benches at Chicano Park.
Painted tree trunks and picnic benches at Chicano Park.

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I took a whole lot of photos during my walk through Chicano Park.  Here are some images from the east side of the public park, right next to Interstate 5.  A few picnic benches and unusual features can be found in this area.

Some of these photographs might cause a strong reaction.  As I’ve mentioned before, this blog aims to be nonpolitical.  I just aim my old camera at interesting things around San Diego…and you decide what to make of it all!

Primitive frame made of bent branches.
Primitive frame made of bent branches.
Flower sculpture and cacti beside freeway.
Flower sculpture and cacti beside freeway.
Colored stones ring a painted cactus in Chicano Park.
Colored stones ring a painted cactus in Chicano Park.
Sculpture stands among the surrounding murals.
Sculpture stands among the surrounding murals.
Small mural near pedestrian walkway that crosses freeway.
Small mural near pedestrian walkway that crosses freeway.
An eyeful of bright colors everywhere you turn!
An eyeful of bright colors everywhere you turn!
A monument to the sacrifices of Hispanic veterans.
A monument to the sacrifices of Hispanic veterans.

This polished memorial stands apart from the murals, by a small patch of green grass.

A nearby mural depicts a moment in history.
A nearby mural depicts a moment in history.
Controversial mural on the east side of Chicano Park.
Controversial mural on the east side of Chicano Park.
Looking west at freeway ramp rising toward Coronado Bridge.
Looking west at freeway ramp rising toward Coronado Bridge.
Chicano Park sign and Mexican flags beside Interstate 5.
Chicano Park sign and Mexican flags beside Interstate 5.

The colorful outdoor murals of Chicano Park.

01 Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.
Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.

Chicano Park is located in Barrio Logan, a mostly Mexican American and immigrant community just south of downtown San Diego.  The eight acre park features almost a hundred murals painted on concrete pillars that support the intersection of the Coronado Bay Bridge and Interstate 5.  This colorful park, quickly glimpsed by motorists speeding down the freeway, contains the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States.  It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique history with the Chicano civil rights movement.

I recently took a leisurely walk through the park and captured hundreds of photographs.  I’ve got so many pics, I’ve grouped them depending upon their location in the park. This blog post includes photos of murals I enjoyed while walking under the freeway ramps that connect the Coronado Bay Bridge to southbound I-5.

You’ll see a strange mixture of images in these murals: ancient Aztecs, indigenous peoples, workers, revolutionaries, school children, pop culture icons, scientists, politicians…and almost anything else you might imagine.  The diverse and often weird combinations seem to include one overarching theme: Mexican American empowerment.

The first photograph shows what I saw as I entered the park, walking up National Avenue from the south.  These artists were painting a pillar with an image of Mexico.

02 Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.
Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.
03 View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.
View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.
04 Chicano Power represented in art.
Chicano Power represented in art.
05 Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.
Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.
06 Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.
Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.
07 Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.
Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.
08 Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.
Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.
09 Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.
Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.
10 Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.
Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.
12 Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.
Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.
14 Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.
Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.
15 One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego's Chicano Park.
One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.
16 La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.
La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.
17 More art that shows people close to the land.
More art that shows people close to the land.
18 Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!
Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!
19 A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.
A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.
20 Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.
Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.
22 Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.
Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.
23 Chicano Park has the largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.
The largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.
24 Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.
Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.
21 Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.
Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.
13 Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.
Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.

I’ve got a ton more pics, so stayed tuned in the days ahead!

Cool pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive.

Cool pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive.
Cool pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive.

This cool new pedestrian bridge spans Harbor Drive between the San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park.

The unique suspension bridge took longer to build than anticipated.  According to media reports I saw, the firm that designed it originally miscalculated how much weight it could hold!

Here are a few more pics!

Moon rising over the cool Harbor Drive bridge.
Moon rising over the cool Harbor Drive bridge.
Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, Omni Hotel and Petco Park.
Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, Omni Hotel and Petco Park.
Pedestrian crosses Harbor Drive on a fantastic bridge.
Pedestrian crosses Harbor Drive on a fantastic bridge.
People cross the beautiful Harbor Drive bridge.
People cross the beautiful bridge in downtown San Diego.

Cool mural on Kippy’s building in Barrio Logan.

Huge mural on Barrio Logan Kippy's building.
Huge mural on Barrio Logan Kippy’s building.

I recently walked around Barrio Logan to take photos of street art, including the famous murals in Chicano Park.  During my fun adventure I passed this building.

I looked at Google Maps and believe this is or was the location of Kippy’s, a fashion design business that has a store in Coronado.

Corner of cool Barrio Logan Kippy's building.
Corner of cool Barrio Logan Kippy’s building.
Faces depicted on Kippy's building in Barrio Logan.
Faces depicted on Kippy’s building in Barrio Logan.
Cool Kippy's mural in Barrio Logan depicts Mariachis.
Cool Kippy’s mural in Barrio Logan depicts Mariachis.

Clock tower at 12th and Imperial trolley station.

Clock tower at 12th and Imperial trolley station reflected in windows.
Clock tower at 12th and Imperial reflected in windows.

I got some unusual photos of the clock tower that stands next to the transit center at the 12th and Imperial trolley station downtown.  The clock is one cool San Diego sight that can be seen from many points in the city.

Looking up the interior of the clock tower structure.
Looking up the interior of the clock tower structure.

You can stand inside the base of the tower and look outward!

Clock tower above musician on Harbor Drive bridge.
Clock tower above musician on Harbor Drive bridge.

Stunning sunrise over downtown San Diego.

Blazing sunrise seen from Tweet Street park in San Diego.
Blazing sunrise seen from Tweet Street park in San Diego.

Check out these photographs!  I captured these three amazing images early this morning.  Sunrises over San Diego are often beautiful, but today the brightly painted clouds were absolutely stunning!

Fiery sunrise over Cortez Hill in downtown San Diego.
Fiery sunrise over Cortez Hill in downtown San Diego.
Beautiful sunrise colors clouds above El Cortez Hotel.
Beautiful sunrise colors clouds above El Cortez Hotel.

Just for fun, here are a couple more photos! I took these in March of 2015…

El Cortez seen from a couple blocks away early one morning at sunrise.
El Cortez seen from a couple blocks away early one morning at sunrise.
The sun begins to rise as I take a picture on Cortez Hill.
The sun begins to rise as I take a picture on Cortez Hill.

Surreal images transform a Hillcrest sidewalk.

The heart's persistent eye stares out at the city.
The heart’s persistent eye stares out at the city.

An electrical transformer box on the sidewalk near Sixth and Robinson in Hillcrest has been painted with surreal images.  Here are several colorful pics!

Surreal image transforms a Hillcrest sidewalk.
Surreal image transforms a Hillcrest sidewalk.
Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.
Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.

Amazing rock balancing at Seaport Village.

Amazing rock balancing at Seaport Village.
Amazing rock balancing at Seaport Village.

If you ever visit Seaport Village, there’s a good chance you’ll see the fellow on the right and his amazing gallery of balanced rocks.  He hangs out behind the wall at the water’s edge, right next to the grassy park.  (The park is called Embarcadero Marina Park North, by the way.)

People passing by are encouraged to take photos and try out their own rock balancing ability.  This lady was having a lot of trouble.  Even a small rock edgewise  on a water bottle isn’t easy.

Lady finally succeeds at balancing a rock!
Lady finally succeeds at balancing a rock!

With a little cheating she finally succeeds!

A variety of fun Embarcadero photos!

Someone is getting a great tour on a pedicab.
Someone is getting a great tour on a pedicab.

Here comes a fun batch of photos taken Saturday during my walk along San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero!

Glowing green urban tree artwork on Embarcadero.
Glowing green Urban Trees artwork on San Diego’s Embarcadero. Green Fire, Robert Verhees, 2006.

This sculpture was originally part of an Urban Trees bayside art exhibit some years ago.  A few remain on display here and there along the bay and elsewhere in San Diego.  In this photo, the sun is directly behind the translucent green material, making it glow!

Coast Guard cutter docked at San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal.
Coast Guard cutter docked at San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal.
Tourists at the Visitor Information shack.
Tourists at the Visitor Information shack.
Kid kicks a ball on grass by Ruocco Park.
Kid kicks a ball on the grass in Ruocco Park.
Stone and steel ants by an artist near Seaport Village.
Stone and steel ants by an artist near Seaport Village.
Balloon Mario, Little Mermaid and Hulk attract kids.
Balloon Mario, Little Mermaid and Hulk attract kids.
Children's Miracle Network volunteers near Tuna Pier.
Children’s Miracle Network volunteers near Tuna Harbor.
Heron stands on rocks beside San Diego Bay.
Heron stands on rocks beside San Diego Bay.
Colorful pedicab drivers wait on Embarcadero for riders.
Colorful pedicab drivers wait on Embarcadero for riders.
Street performer plays sax by the USS Midway.
Street performer plays sax by the USS Midway.
Balloon twister guy sits patiently on the Embarcadero.
Balloon twister guy sits patiently on the Embarcadero.

This guy looks a bit bored!