Flame of Friendship sculpture at Convention Center.
The Flame of Friendship burns near the heart of the city. You’ll find it on a prominent stair landing of the San Diego Convention Center, overlooking the Marriott Marina and San Diego Bay. The flame is a silvery stainless steel sculpture presented to San Diego by Mexico. In Spanish it is Flama De La Amistad.
Many eyes have been dazzled by this sunlit symbol of friendship. The artist who created the interesting abstract form is Leonardo Nierman, of Mexico City.
I walked around it and took several pics from different angles!
Light reflects from shining sculpture.Flame of Friendship from another angle.Cool sight at the San Diego Convention Center.Friendship between San Diego and Mexico.Sunlight glow behind silvery work of art.Tangled arcs of light in the San Diego sky.Flame of Friendship with hotels in background.
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Cool mural in dynamic new Barrio Logan development.
Mercado del Barrio is a relatively new retail development on Cesar Chavez Parkway just south of downtown San Diego. It was designed to help revitalize Barrio Logan. You can find it situated near the base of the Coronado Bay Bridge, right next to Chicano Park. A number of very colorful murals add life to the new buildings. Some of the art can be seen when driving over the bridge.
Walking around the area I took a few cool pics that you might enjoy!
Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.A very colorful face at Mercado del Barrio, painted by renowned muralist Mario Torero.Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.Colorful art above a store’s glass door.Beautiful mosaic artwork by artist Betsy K. Schulz near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind bold artwork in famous Chicano Park.
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Two of San Diego’s most iconic sights can be found in close proximity. The Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, attracts tourists just a few steps down the Embarcadero from Donal Hord’s classic Guardian of Water sculpture.
Postcards and brochures promoting San Diego are often graced with this elegant granite sculpture. Since 1939 it has stood facing San Diego Bay at the foot of the County Administration Building.
In part funded by the Works Progress Administration, the famous sculpture depicts a simple pioneer woman holding a jug of water. Pictured in the mosaic tiles and basin are cloudlike water-bearing nudes, a dam, an orchard of citrus fruit trees, dolphins, fish and sea snails!
Donal Hord’s sculpture debuted in 1939.Side view of the iconic Guardian of Water.County Administration Building stands in background.Sea snail on basin of the Guardian of Water.
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Flags above San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial.
The large new waterfront park around San Diego’s County Administration Building contains an important memorial in a prominent location. The San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial is a glass wall etched with the names of fallen officers. It used to be situated on a patch of lawn a bit south of where it now stands. The beautiful memorial was created by the San Diego County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, and the County of San Diego.
Wreath placed before the names of fallen officers.Glass wall memorial in park by County Administration Building.Remembering those who fell in the line of duty.
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Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.
I took an enjoyable walk today. San Diego’s heat wave has ended and this weekend was perfect. The best part of my walk was just wandering randomly through Little Italy’s annual Sicilian Festival. India Street was streaming with crowds enjoying Italian food, romantic music, art, history and several blocks jammed with colorful sights. I devoured some yummy pizza and spoke with a few interesting people.
Here are a few cool pics!
Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor’s tent.Italian and other food up and down India Street smelled great!Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.
One block was devoted to Sicilian culture and the history of San Diego’s Little Italy. Several interesting people were sharing their own stories.
Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!
Local author Corey Lynn Fayman sold me his novel Border Field Blues. It’s a detective story set at the Mexican border. I’ve read a few pages and so far it’s great!
Jim Bregante shares his childhood memories of the waterfront.
I caught the last few minutes of Jim Bregante’s historical presentation, called San Diego’s Waterfront through the Eyes of a Child. He was remembering the colorful nicknames of the local Italians that he knew when he was young. I wish I’d heard his entire talk! What a great treasure trove of historical memories. Other people in other places should follow his example!
What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!Various musicians played the accordion.Banner shows Padres player Chris Denorfia.Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!
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Pacific Portal on Shelter Island by James T. Hubbell.
Should you ever drive to Shelter Island, you’ll probably see a large, very unusual gazebo between the central traffic circle and San Diego Bay. It’s just one part of the large collection of public art lining the narrow island.
The Pacific Portal is a sculptural gazebo made of sprayed, reinforced concrete. It was erected eight years ago, replacing an old, more traditional Rotary Club pavilion. Nearby you’ll also find a small trellis structure and an interesting sculpture made of wrought iron.
The artist, James T. Hubbell, also designed the Pearl of the Pacific, the colorful public artwork featured in Pacific Rim Park at the southern end of Shelter Island.
Fanciful gazebo by the water is made of concrete.Mosaic adds color to the curved interior of Pacific Portal.
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Park ranger removing weeds near State Beach entrance.
The Silver Strand is a narrow strip of land that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach. The northern portion is used as a training ground for Navy Seals. Other areas contain housing, marinas and a hotel. Much of it remains in a natural state.
Halfway down the strand, sandwiched between San Diego Bay and the blue Pacific Ocean, you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach, a beautiful state park featuring a great beach, RV parking, a large picnic area, and a boating facility. Apart from the RV area, which is very popular, the place often seems half-deserted. Even during summer weekdays.
I rode my bike through the park on a perfectly sunny spring weekday and I saw half a dozen people.
Closed lifeguard lookout on Silver Strand State Beach.Except for RVs to the north, the beach is almost empty.Kelp on natural beaches is the home of tiny wildlife.Silver Strand Grill is closed and nobody is about.From one empty side of the strand to the other.
Here I’m passing through a tunnel under the highway from the Pacific side to the bay side.
Dozens of unused picnic tables on a sunny Spring weekday.
There are scores of picnic benches on the bay side and very few ever seem to be used.
One small figure sits at end of picnic table row.Colorful kayaks at Crown Cove Aquatic Center.
The boating center gets a little more activity on weekends. I’ve seen folks out rowing along the water.
Lots of unused boats on the bay side of Silver Strand.San Diego Bay beyond a group of beached sailboats.Trail leads from Silver Strand bikeway across natural habitat.
You’ll find this natural area in the north part of Silver Strand State Beach, on the east side of the highway.
The wood plank nature trail is in disrepair.
The endangered California least tern nests in clear, sandy areas along the Silver Strand. I wasn’t able to spot any during this visit.
Information sign rusted and unreadable.A rabbit among brittle coastal plants.
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My leisurely walk through Balboa Park yesterday took me past a number of interesting sights. The House of Norway, in the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, had their lawn program between 2 and 3 o’clock. I just happened to walk by as it started. Here are a few quick pics!
Norway’s quaint cottage in Balboa Park’s International Village.Crowd watches Norwegian singers on stage.
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Mothers in different native costumes perform a large round dance.
Yesterday my wandering feet led me to a Pow Wow in the south end of Balboa Park. What a colorful, amazing event! The Native American Heritage Pow Wow featured a large grassy stage with a variety of costumed dancers. I lingered for a bit and got a few pics.
Making a dash for Mother’s Day goodies scattered on the grass.Adjusting colorful costumes before performing a dance.Native American art for sale at the Balboa Park Pow Wow.Big crowd checks out Native American food and culture.Young dancer at San Diego Pow Wow.
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View of Balboa Park rose garden from nearby bridge.
Mom passed away some years ago. She loved roses. This blog post is dedicated to every precious mom on Mother’s Day.
I took these photos today at Balboa Park’s three-acre Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. It’s located across Park Boulevard from the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and features about 1,600 roses of more than 130 varieties. People love to stroll through the lush award-winning displays. Many mothers and families were present today!
Hundreds of roses surround a large, shady gazebo.Path near the edge of rose garden’s gazebo.Plaque on one gazebo bench with romantic sentiment.A fountain among the roses.Looking across colorful blooms toward entrance.Families enjoy a world-class rose garden on Mother’s Day.Looking over white roses at the Natural History Museum.Garden is dedicated to the memory of Inez Grant Parker.Simply beautiful.
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Cool San Diego Sights! 