Last year, at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s annual Fourth of July celebration, diverse people from our community joined together on stage to read parts of the Declaration of Independence.
People from all walks of life, converging from different places, each with their own unique struggles, ambitions and experiences, remembered some of the enduring principles that underlie a free society.
During the event, anyone in the crowd was invited to come up onto the stage to read, and many did.
Of all the photos I took at the event, the above photograph to me is the most powerful.
Even with all of our human differences–the millions of unique personal beliefs and desires that frequently conflict–there are high ideals that are cherished by one and all.
We all want to live. We all want to be free. We all seek happiness.
A mural by @NatronWasHere offers Greetings From Serra Mesa.
Check out this elaborate graffiti-style mural in Serra Mesa! It was spray painted on the side of San Diego Sandwich Company, next to the Valero gas station on Sandrock Road at Murray Ridge Road.
The message, which can be seen by motorists passing through the nearby intersection, is a friendly: Greetings From Serra Mesa!
…
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!
Little Saigon postcard mural on the side of the Sin Lee Food Wholesale building.
Enjoy these photographs of colorful street art along El Cajon Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Euclid Avenue, the heart of an area in San Diego known as Little Saigon!
I made certain to photograph the 2018 postcard-style Little Saigon mural, which was painted by artist Victor Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs during their extensive Greetings Tour.
(Two other cool Greetings Tour murals can be enjoyed in San Diego. One at Liberty Station here, and one in North Park here!)
Come with me and let’s walk through Little Saigon to see some street art!
An imaginative San Diego version of the famous Chợ Bến Thành market, which is located in the center of Hồ Chí Minh City.
I believe this faded street art in Little Saigon celebrates the 20th Anniversary of The El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association.Sign in front of a market in Little Saigon. Many languages are spoken here.
I love this dragon street art. I had to add contrast to many of these photos, because much of the painted artwork has been faded by time and weather.
Banners, lamp posts, and even some examples of architecture reflect Vietnamese culture in San Diego’s Little Saigon.Planter on sidewalk with tile mosaic depicting a lotus, symbol of divine beauty. The lotus is Vietnam’s national flower.Plaque on side of the planter indicates The Little Saigon District was established on June 4th, 2013. Vietnamese refugees have built a new life here.
The oft-photographed Little Saigon mural, near the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Menlo Avenue, created by @GreetingsTour.
UPDATE!
Here’s a box I saw during a walk in May 2022…
…
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!
…You are the bright pearly moon at night…Thousands of distant stars Am I…
Little Saigon Stories can be glimpsed in the windows of a North Park building, at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street.
A project of Media Arts Center and The AjA Project, Little Saigon Stories celebrates and recounts the history of the Vietnamese community in East San Diego. Various events were held in 2019, including lectures and the creation of public art recounting the stories of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants.
The area called Little Saigon is generally located along El Cajon Boulevard, in the neighborhood of Euclid Avenue.
Little Saigon Stories in windows at El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street.Despite living here for so long, I’ve actually never gone back to Vietnam…
I speak four languages. English, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Chinese…
I came here under the ODP program, parental sponsorship…I sponsored my son to come here…Now he has a child…
…
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 was walking along El Cajon Boulevard just east of 54th Street–part of the El Cerrito neighborhood–when I noticed lots of fun street art painted on electrical boxes.
I took photos!
Sometimes you have to make your own sunshine.
…
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 afternoon I walked down University Avenue between I-805 and I-15. I’d learned a new mural is being painted in the City Heights’ outdoor “drive-through” art gallery!
Award-winning artist Sandra Escobar is painting a new mural on the wall of Super Cocina this weekend, and when I arrived the design had been sketched on a base of white paint. As I watched her helper working on the wall, the artist told me that tomorrow she’ll be applying color. I promised to swing by to check the new mural out!
Meanwhile, during my walk I discovered even more creativity along the sidewalk. Love City Heights has been working to add color and a sense of optimism to the community, and artwork now appears almost everywhere one turns. Even some boarded up windows have come alive!
I photographed several works of art that I hadn’t seen on past walks…
…
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 windows are boarded up in downtown San Diego against the possibility of more looting and destruction. This moment in history is tumultuous, uncertain.
As I walked through the city this morning I noticed that many of the boards have been spray painted by street artists. I was happy to discover that most of the artwork conveys positive, powerful messages.
Celebrating life, renewal, love.
Butterflies take flight.Peace in the heart.San Diego vida.A flowery Volkswagen Hippie Van recalls the 1960’s.Black is beautiful.Unity through inspiration.A heart is possible with hands of all colors.
…
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!
In San Diego we are proceeding with the gradual reopening of society as the coronavirus pandemic seems to slowly subside. Today restaurants were allowed to open for dining. Strict guidelines must be followed such as maintaining super sanitary conditions and safe social distancing.
Some say the reopening of society is proceeding too quickly; others say not quickly enough. But the future is a tricky thing to predict. There are so many variables. So many different risks. All I know is that at some point we’ll look back and see what actions in the final analysis were most wise. And our knowledge will increase.
On another hopeful note, during my walks in the past couple weeks I’ve observed more signs around town celebrating unity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other signs express thankfulness to essential workers. You’ll see that one billboard I photographed about a week ago concerning restaurants now seems dated, but no matter.
That so many people have demonstrated an urge to stay positive during this terrible crisis seems a good sign for the future of humanity in general.
At least, it appears that way to me. I’m an optimist.
San Diego strong.To restaurants still delivering meals, thank you.Thanks (transit driver) heroes.
…
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!
One big reason the park is so wonderful is its many diverse museums. World-class museums. Museums that enhance the culture of our city and document the life of this planet. Museums that educate, entertain, highlight beauty and provide inspiration. Museums that bring our community together.
But these nonprofit institutions are always in need of public support. Especially during the present coronavirus pandemic, when Balboa Park is closed to all visitors. Today many of these beloved museums really need your help.
Would you like to make a donation to one or more of the museums of Balboa Park, or perhaps find another way to give them a helping hand?
I’ve visited each museum’s website and created the following list of links. These links will take you to web pages that explain how you can provide each museum with support.
Looking at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church from the intersection of Voltaire Street and Chatsworth Boulevard. The traditional New England style Red Brick Church was built in 1954.
First of all, I’d like to welcome new visitors to Cool San Diego Sights! I’m not sure how my website suddenly merited inclusion in Google News, but, what the heck, this amateur photo blogger will take it!
Cool San Diego Sights is mostly about a guy with a little old camera walking around our big city semi-randomly, experiencing the wonder of its neighborhoods, its people, and the world in general. Occasionally I’ll report something that’s newsworthy, but only if I happen to stumble upon it. All this walking and taking photos is really just a hobby and personal pleasure.
On Saturday I enjoyed a long walk that included several areas of Point Loma. After climbing those hidden stairs I blogged about on Saturday, I headed through residential Loma Portal and down into the tiny business district near the intersection of Voltaire Street and Chatsworth Boulevard.
I walked in a short counterclockwise loop, from the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, toward Point Loma High School, down to the Point Loma Library, and back up to the spot where I had begun.
I had no plan other than to take photos of whatever caught my fancy!
I spotted a long mural along the roof of the building at 2168 Chatsworth Boulevard.Part of the mural titled San Diego from 1769 to 1969, painted by Jorge Imana. (I took many photos of this amazing mural and will post them to my blog shortly.)An electrical box up the street was painted with all sort of guitars.More colorful guitar street art on another side of the box.As I walked by European Cake Gallery, I noticed the pastry chef peering out at Point Loma from the rooftop.Some fun but simple artwork on the windows of Coastal Sage Gardening.The front entrance of the James Edgar and Jean Jessop Hervey Library in Point Loma.Dedication plaque near library’s front entrance. Dated September 20, 2003.Looking back at where I was a moment ago. It’s a gray, overcast day.The other side of the architecturally interesting Point Loma Library. The glass near the roof resembles waves breaking on the beach.As I walked past the library I saw words written at my feet. It’s all good!Then I saw this rather interesting Padres fan.A mouse has a secret door near the ground by the door of a Point Loma business.That church looks familiar!I’m already back at the Red Brick Church. A simple but fun walk in Point Loma!
…
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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 