Cool sand artists rest for a bit near the foot of Broadway Pier as they create a welcoming sculpture for the 2019 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge! A couple faces look familiar from past competitions!
Some of the world’s greatest sand artists smiled for my camera late this afternoon! They’re now carving sand sculptures on Broadway Pier that will greet people as they arrive for the 2019 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge.
During Labor Day weekend, these extraordinary artists will be working hard inside the Port Pavilion, where the public can watch them create spectacular pieces of fine art out of compacted sand!
If you’re in San Diego, it’s the big Labor Day weekend event you shouldn’t miss!
On the other side of the welcoming sand sculpture, a design is being carved that celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the City of San Diego!One of the outdoor sand sculptures near the Port Pavilion is sponsored by San Diego’s public transit system, MTS. It’s a work still in progress.Sand master and TV star Chris Guinto smiles for my camera! I met him briefly five years ago during the annual competition. This sculpture he’s working on for an event sponsor will promote Natural Light Seltzer.
UPDATE!
Here are some photos taken the following day…
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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!
This morning sand is being compacted in wooden forms on the Broadway Pier. That means Labor Day weekend can’t be very far away, along with the 2019 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge!
During this annual festival, fine art will be created by some of the world’s top sand sculptors inside the pier’s Port Pavilion. Meanwhile, I was told that the carving of several sponsored sand sculptures outdoors on the pier begins tomorrow!
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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 few diehards hang out as the North County Corvette Club’s Plastic Fantastic car show comes to an end on a drizzly Sunday afternoon.
San Diego was a wee bit damp today. Light showers off and on. May has been unusually wet this year, not unlike our winter.
Early this afternoon I walked along the Embarcadero with my hood up and my camera protected from water and wind. We residents of San Diego are spoiled by our city’s near perfect weather. When a drop or two falls, many become discombobulated. But others relish the change.
During my walk what did I discover?
Dancing in the rain–or light showers–by the gazebo in Seaport Village.An umbrella is at the ready near the Marriott Marina.One last look at some remaining Corvettes.Cool cars under overcast skies.A few cars remain parked on the grass of Embarcadero Marina Park North.See you next year. Hopefully the weather is sunny.A big puddle awaits a good number of visitors at Seaport Village.But the nearby pier is almost empty.Some fishermen docked at the pier are busy working. A little rain is just a little more water.Someone near the USS Midway has taken shelter under a tarp.A scooter and its reflection in another puddle.The showers have torn purple jacaranda blooms from nearby trees.An interesting pattern in wet wood on the Broadway Pier.The wind was blowing pretty hard, and flags were flapping wildly.Few were walking or running along the wet, chilly Embarcadero.Some tourists take a look at downtown and San Diego Bay from the dry comfort of an Old Town Trolley.The Port of San Diego and Maritime Museum are hosting a big Festival of the Sea this coming Memorial Day weekend. Rain or shine, you can bet I’ll be there!Clouds and wind observed from the passenger deck of the Maritime Museum’s steam ferry Berkeley.My street musician and artist friend Carlos assured me the sun would soon come out . . . and he was right!
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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!
Sun shines through late clouds, splashing light across San Diego Bay in its peaceful Crescent Area.
It was another beautiful evening on San Diego’s Embarcadero. I went for a slow walk.
What more can I say?
Boat moored in San Diego Bay becomes darkly mysterious in the late light.Inspiration Hornblower heads out into San Diego Bay near the Grape Street Pier on an early Friday evening.The new Coast Guard vessel USCGC Benjamin Bottoms will soon be commissioned. The public can tour the Sentinel-class cutter this weekend on San Diego’s Embarcadero, just north of the Maritime Museum.Some of the vessels of the Maritime Museum of San Diego splashed with late sunlight.Glowing clouds through the rigging of Star of India.Rays of light crown Star of India’s female figurehead, the Greek Muse of lyric poetry, Euterpe.A gull swoops down onto Broadway Pier to investigate some seated people.The reflections of downtown skyscrapers shine in the Port Pavilion’s windows, a few minutes before sunset.Flags and a sail illuminated by late light.Tables and seats at the end of Broadway Pier are empty at the close of another day.Another beautiful evening on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
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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!
Many cool sights await visitors who come aboard Peruvian Navy training ship BAP Unión.
This morning I stepped aboard an amazing ship. The enormous Peruvian tall ship BAP Unión visited San Diego for the weekend!
The BAP Unión is a beautiful sailing vessel that is used to train cadets in the Peruvian Navy. The 378 foot, four-masted barque also operates as a floating goodwill ambassador, uniquely representing the nation of Peru.
San Diego is the first stop of BAP Unión’s first ever tour of the West Coast!
Please read the photo captions for more interesting information. Click the signs and they will enlarge for easy reading.
Four-masted barque BAP Unión docked at Broadway Pier in San Diego, during its 2019 tour of the West Coast.People explore the impressive tall ship during its visit to San Diego’s Embarcadero.Sign explains the BAP Unión’s figurehead, which represents emperor Túpac Inca Yupanqui, who led a fleet of rafts on a voyage of exploration across the Pacific Ocean.The bronze figurehead was sculpted by Peruvian artist Pilar Martínez.A gangway welcomes curious visitors during a sunny San Diego weekend.Bienvenidos a bordo al B.A.P. “Unión”On the main deck of BAP Unión, near the aft mainmast and its many working ropes.The ship’s shining bell.Tilting my head upward to gaze at the tall ship’s masts, yards and rigging.I’ve turned about to face the ship’s stern. I see plaques, the ship’s wheel and the bridge.Sign explains Peru’s coat of arms, a national symbol used by the country’s armed forces.Plaque commemorates the launching of BAP Unión on December 22, 2014. The ship was commissioned on January 27, 2016. At the time of her commissioning, she was the largest sailing ship in Latin America.Artistic metalwork can be found all over the perfectly maintained tall ship, including these medallion-like designs.Shining plaques in the wooden deck at the foot of some steps.Climbing up the steps that lead to an area near the ship’s bridge.Engraved at the edge of each step is BUQUE ESCUELA UNION.Looking back down at the wooden deck around the aft mainmast.A visitor aboard the BAP Unión checks out the impressive ship’s wheel.The words BUQUE ESCUELA A VELA UNION.A sign provides a description of the ship’s wheel.Looking forward across the amazing ship. Many downtown San Diego buildings rise in the background.Mounted above the ship’s bridge is Peru’s coat of arms.Walking past the bridge toward the stern of BAP Unión.Visitors pose for a photo at a second wheel at the rear of the large tall ship.Looking straight up into the San Diego sky at the billowing flag of Peru.Starting forward, about to pass the ship’s bridge.Sign explains the bridge, where modern navigation and steering controls are located, and where naval cadets train. The ship’s watch is constant under the command of an officer.About to descend steps, as I continue forward along the port side of the ship.A crew member on deck tends to some ropes.Another look upward before heading into an internal part of the ship.Inside a spacious cabin, visitors enjoy looking at many cultural displays that concern Peru, including exquisite crafts and textiles.A fantastic work of art represents Peruvian culture.A colorful Peruvian folk art figurine.An officer’s cap with books and more artwork on a shelf.As the self-guided tour proceeded, I took a photo through a window into the ship’s kitchen. This is where Peruvian dishes are prepared for the crew and foreign guests.Sign describes the kitchen of BAP Unión.I see some food being prepared!Back outside in sunlight on a more forward part of the main deck. Souvenirs from Peru could be purchased by visitors.Another flight of steps leads toward the ship’s bow.I couldn’t stop looking up.Visitors learn a bit about the tall ship’s operation, including how an anchor is lowered.An anchor chain, winch and other equipment operated by naval cadets near BAP Unión’s bow.Looking back across the upper deck of the picturesque Peruvian tall ship.One last sets of steps to descend before the self-guided tour ends.The incredible Peruvian tall ship BAP Unión visits San Diego.
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The Peruvian Navy training ship BAP Unión is presently docked at San Diego’s Broadway Pier. I walked out onto the pier late today to check out the enormous, four-masted tall ship!
The 3-year-old BAP Unión is a 378 foot steel-hulled barque, with a crew that includes many Peruvian naval cadets. As young sailors learn about duty aboard an amazing sailing ship, the BAP Unión serves as a fine ambassador for the nation of Peru wherever it goes. The handsome bronze figurehead, which includes symbols from the Inca culture, was created by Peruvian sculptor Pilar Martinez Woodman.
Today the tall ship begins her very first tour of the West Coast, following earlier stops at San Juan, Miami, Mayport, Norfolk and Boston. The BAP Unión will be docked at San Diego’s Embarcadero through this weekend, and visitors can enjoy tours aboard the vessel with an admission ticket to the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
As I walked out on Broadway Pier, I took some cool photos!
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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!
San Diego’s handsome County Administration Building in the fog.
Early this morning an unusually heavy fog rolled into San Diego.
I love the dreamy quality of fog, so I took a long, quiet stroll around downtown before catching a trolley for work.
I floated around the County Administration Building, turned south when I reached the foggy bay, then steered east when I reached Broadway. Finally I ended up at Santa Fe Depot.
Please enjoy these photos of several San Diego landmarks engulfed by the gray, mysterious fog!
Mysterious photograph of foggy Waterfront Park and the County Administration Building.The historic tall ship Star of India appears through a heavy fog on San Diego’s Embarcadero.The beautiful Star of India appears to cut through a fog that conceals San Diego Bay.A jogger stretches on the observation platform near Broadway Pier, beside the fog covered water.United States Navy ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) docked in the fog at Broadway Pier, awaiting public tours during Fleet Week this weekend.People head down a San Diego sidewalk in early morning fog.The tall Pacific Gate building rises through the deep gray fog.The historic Santa Fe Depot in the morning fog, seen from the west.Trolley tracks lead through a fog past Santa Fe Depot in San Diego.The old train station’s Santa Fe sign stands out when contrasted with fog engulfed high-rises.
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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! 