Flower vendor at the Saturday Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market.
Several walks today.
This morning it was around downtown, mostly near the water. I saw many colors, much life, and even a little bit of history.
Banner at Civic Center Plaza celebrates Office of the City Clerk’s Archives Month. Images include glimpses of San Diego history. (Click to enlarge.)
The above Archives Month banner is hanging from the City Administration Building. It shows interesting bits of San Diego History, including the 1887 Circus Parade, construction of Balboa Park for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and aircraft over downtown celebrating the end of World War I.
Members of Navy Band Southwest entertain visitors to the Broadway Pier during Fleet Week San Diego 2017.People fill the Embarcadero near the Broadway Pier during Fleet Week.Waiting in line for the weekend Fleet Week event, which includes a ship tour of the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage.Banner along the Embarcadero promote the Breeders’ Cup, which is coming to Del Mar in November.A sailboat out on San Diego Bay.Relaxing at the Waterfront Park on a beautiful October Saturday in San Diego.Lots of yummy food is found at the Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market.
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One of the metal Wind Palms in front of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront catches golden light at the end of an autumn day.
I walked along the Embarcadero late today. As I reached the Hilton San Diego Bayfront the sun was beginning to set. Looking up, I observed that golden rays of waning sunlight had been magically captured by some peculiar palm trees…
Sunset begins behind the trees of Embarcadero Marina Park South.Late sunlight on one of the rotating Wind Palms created by artist Ned Kahn in 2008.People walk and jog along San Diego’s Embarcadero as evening approaches.Waning rays of sunlight, magically captured.
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A sailboat glides between beautiful yacht America docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the shining downtown skyline.
Ships are like small islands of human activity. So it’s interesting when different ships, each serving a unique function, converge and dock in one place.
Yesterday evening many fascinating ships were huddled together on the Embarcadero. There were the usual museum ships and harbor tour ships that call San Diego their home. I also saw: the enormous Disney Wonder cruise ship; The World, which is the largest residential yacht on the planet, containing 165 apartments; the Coast Guard cutter Stratton, which recently offloaded around 50,000 pounds of cocaine and heroin intercepted at sea; and the Maersk Launcher, which assisted in the drug operation.
I walked to the end of Navy Pier and watched different vessels come and go, as the sun set.
The sails of Star of India rise beyond one cathead of HMS Surprise.Late sun through the colored glass at Carnitas’ Snack Shack on the very busy Embarcadero.The World and the Disney Wonder at dock in San Diego.The illegal drug intercepting Coast Guard cutter Stratton is docked at the Broadway Pier next to the San Diego Festival of Beer.A bustle of activity seen from Navy Pier. The Spirit of San Diego harbor tour ship and a bus converge near parked cars.The Maersk Launcher at anchor in San Diego Bay.A photo of The World and Disney Wonder beyond the Port Pavilion as sunset approaches in San Diego.Late sunlight on shining downtown buildings.The Disney Wonder backs away from the B Street Pier as it departs on another cruise. Many ships and boats cross paths on San Diego Bay.
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The Spirit of Dana Point leaves the dock for a cannon battle at the 2017 Festival of Sail in San Diego.
I believe this is the fourth year I’ve blogged about San Diego’s annual Festival of Sail. As always, the event is wonderful beyond description.
It seems every day at the festival is the perfect blend of sunshine, beautiful tall ships, friendly people and sparkling blue water. There’s so much to see, so much to learn. I’m just going to post a few photos to provide a taste.
If you want to see my many descriptive blogs about this event over the years, and learn more about some of the ships, click the Festival of Sail tag below. Better yet, if you’re in San Diego, head on down to the Embarcadero by the Maritime Museum and experience it all for yourself. The festival runs through Labor Day.
The Spirit of Dana Point, a replica of an American Revolution privateer ship, heads out into San Diego Bay.People on kayaks enjoy the seafaring festival. Many visiting tall ships have converged in San Diego for the Labor Day weekend.Someone walks along near the Norwegian double ended ketch Cloudia.People at the Festival of Sail check out America, a somewhat enlarged replica of the victorious 1850 schooner for which America’s Cup was named.Beautiful tall ships everywhere one looks!Kayakers head toward the Exy and Irving Johnson at the end of another floating dock.Many people were boarding the San Salvador, one of the many amazing vessels belonging to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.A museum employee talks about how the Spanish galleon replica was built at Spanish Landing. You might recall I blogged about its construction.Oh, noooo! Here comes Mister Mac! That despicable pirate seems to be unstoppable!Some music could be enjoyed on the Berkeley’s beautiful passenger deck.People watch as the Irving Johnson heads out to face the Spirit of Dana Point in a cannon battle on San Diego Bay.Friendly crew member of the Exy Johnson of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute was greeting those passing by.A photo on the deck of Exy Johnson, a beautiful brigantine used in the Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s TopSail Youth Program.Another perfect day at the Festival of Sail. I could linger all day.Like a vision from the past, two glorious tall ships maneuver on blue San Diego Bay.
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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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
People at the foot of Broadway Pier pause to watch three sand sculptures being created for the 2017 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge this Labor Day weekend.
Three cool sand sculptures are being created this very moment at the foot of the Broadway Pier. They will welcome visitors to the 2017 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge this Labor Day weekend! Master sand artists from around the world will participate, as well as many talented local sand sculptors.
The three sand sculptures I photographed this morning promote the upcoming LEGO Ninjago movie, the San Diego public transit system, and welcome visitors to the annual competition, which is sponsored by the Port of San Diego. The large central sculpture will include images of the USS Midway and the Star of India!
Check it out!
These local sand artists belong to the I.B. Posse. They’re working on a sculpture for MTS that will include San Diego’s skyline.I see some buildings taking form.You can see the three sand sculptures in this photo and a bit of the Broadway Pier.The big sand sculpture in the middle by the Port of San Diego will feature images of the USS Midway and tall ship Star of India, which I see taking form in this photo.Master sand artists are at work in San Diego, getting ready for the upcoming international sand sculpture competition!Melineige Beauregard, a champion sand sculptor from Quebec, is working on this super cool LEGO Ninjago piece!Several cool works of sand art are being created at this very moment on San Diego’s Embarcadero!
UPDATE!
I got photos late Monday of the three sand sculptures. The finishing touches were being carefully applied!
The Port of San Diego is presenting Labor Day on the Bay! I love the central sculpture, complete with the USS Midway!All that’s left is to carve in several sponsors beneath the Star of India!Melineige Beauregard finished the Ninjago sculpture. Now she’s putting the finishing touches on the MTS sculpture!And here’s the super cool LEGO Ninjago Movie sand sculpture–all done!
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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!
I finally got my act together. Late this afternoon I renewed my annual membership in the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Why?
Perhaps it’s that deep feeling of living inside history.
Perhaps it’s the light-splashed ships.
Perhaps it’s the water like molten silver and its dancing, inexpressible magic.
Perhaps it’s the sea, and my longing for a far horizon.
I can’t think of the right words.
So I’ll let my small camera speak its own language. I took these photos before sunset.
UPDATE! I substituted one of this post’s original photos with a new one taken a week later. Can you guess which one? The sky is a bit different, but it’s still the same time of day–perhaps an hour or less before sunset.
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Fresh opah is prepared on the fishing vessel Pacific Horizon docked at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market.
Look what I happened upon during my walk this morning! The fishing vessel Pacific Horizon was unloading a huge catch of opah and bigeye tuna at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market!
I lingered to watch some of the fascinating 2017 Opahthon action!
Opahthon 2017 was held this morning on San Diego’s Embarcadero at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market.A crowd had gathered around the Pacific Horizon to watch a bustle of activity.Guys were cleaning fish caught 800-1200 miles off San Diego in the Pacific Ocean–halfway to Hawaii! The Pacific Horizon is back after one month of fishing.A curious dog on deck watches the action!The guys are now filleting bigeye tuna, which were caught along with the opah. More bigeye tuna are being hoisted onto the pier!Some of the whole fish are put into large coolers.Working hard to prepare your tasty seafood meal!The cutting table was frequently hosed off.Lots of ice was shoveled into the coolers.Today the Pacific Horizon brought an amazing haul of fish to San Diego!More bigeye tuna! These might be going to a restaurant near you!
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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!
Golden light on the steam ferryboat Berkeley, hub of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. I believe I took this photo a year or two ago.
Over the years, I’ve taken many photos around and aboard the historic steam ferryboat Berkeley. The beautiful old ship is the hub of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of these photographs. Read the captions to learn a little about the Berkeley’s fascinating history.
Berkeley, built in 1898, was originally operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad on San Francisco Bay. It was used to ferry up to 1700 passengers per trip between the transcontinental train terminus at the Oakland Pier and the San Francisco Ferry Building across the bay. The Berkeley was also used after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to rescue thousand of refugees, which were brought out of the fire-devastated city safely over to Oakland.
Berkeley was acquired by the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 1973, and today she houses a large number of fascinating historical exhibits on her lower deck. She is both a National Historic Landmark and California State Historical Landmark, and a cool sight that many like to visit on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Personally, I love to head up the stairs to the McKinney Deck, where passengers used to cross the water in elegance. I have often seen ferry visitors and members of the Maritime Museum of San Diego sitting on the beautiful wooden benches simply reading or enjoying a relaxing moment. It’s like being transported back into another era. The atmosphere is quite amazing, as you will see…
Plaque in front of the ferryboat Berkeley, which was the first successful West Coast-built ferry to be driven by a screw propeller as opposed to side wheels.Downtown San Diego skyscrapers and masts of museum ships HMS Surprise and Star of India can be seen in this photo of the Berkeley’s upper passenger deck and one of two pilot houses.Southern Pacific Lines logo on one pilot house.Photo over the roof of the ferryboat, with a black funnel projecting into the blue San Diego sky.I’m getting ready to look inside the pilot house on the east end of the Berkeley. I see the County Administration Building.The wooden wheel, binoculars and other instruments used to pilot the ferry.Many forms of communication were used during ferry operation. The Berkeley’s pilot houses contained radio receivers, the ship’s whistle, and two voice tubes.Standing outside, peering into the elegant Dan McKinney Deck of the Berkeley.Visitors aboard the Berkeley look at the beautiful long wooden benches and art glass windows of the upper passenger deck.Different art glass windows on the ship fill the passenger deck with many-colored light.More exquisite art glass. Passengers would cross San Francisco Bay in style.Walking through the passenger deck.Sunlight on one comfortable, warm wood bench. Wouldn’t you like to sit here?A painting of the ferry Berkeley and a relic from its history.More beauty aboard the old ship, which is now docked in San Diego Bay.I assume the fancy B is for Berkeley, but I’m not sure.Refreshments used to be purchased here during bay crossings. Today the Berkeley is often used for special events and drinks are still served.Over the years, countless thousands of passengers were served.Ferryboat Berkeley,1898, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This vessel possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.One of four old photos on the passenger deck. Berkeley was launched on San Francisco Bay on October 18, 1898.Berkeley was never a car ferry. The open deck below carried luggage carts for passengers transiting between the end of the railroad at Oakland and San Francisco across the bay.The Berkeley was heroine of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake story. She carried refugees to safety nonstop for three days and nights.In 1973, Berkeley was towed down the coast to San Diego to begin a second life as floating museum.And what a beautiful museum she is! I haven’t included them in this particular blog post, but many cool exhibits can be seen on the lower deck, where ferry passengers used to park their luggage carts.Gazing down some steps at a museum workshop aboard the Berkeley.Gazing from the passenger deck outside toward San Diego Bay. Other museum ships, including Californian and San Salvador, are docked along a float west of the Berkeley.One of the ferry’s old lifeboats.Looking up at the pilot house on the steam ferry’s bay-facing end.Some folks on the other end looking out at downtown San Diego and the Waterfront Park.An old sign above one doorway says Lunch and Grill Room on Lower Deck.That old sign was uncovered beneath accumulated paint. Working on an old vessel is a bit like an archaeological dig.Looking from the Embarcadero at the Berkeley, over the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s deep diving submarine USS Dolphin.The handsome steam ferryboat Berkeley now greets visitors on San Diego Bay.People walk through history aboard a beautiful old vessel.
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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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
A man walks along slowly, rhythmically, playing bagpipes.
Just before sunset I found myself at Ruocco Park, between the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Many were out in the warm air enjoying life. I saw people talking, laughing, creating music, walking, skating, sitting, catching a ball on the grass . . .
People at a picnic table and on the grass at Ruocco Park.Couple rolls down the Embarcadero on inline skates and a skateboard.Kid looks with yearning at an ice cream seller’s cart.Folks quietly talk as the sun approaches the horizon.A family walks along and gazes out at a sunlit ship.A slow walk along San Diego Bay at Ruocco Park.A couple sits on a bench inside a work of public art, The Riparium, in a corner of Ruocco Park.
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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!
If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you probably know that I love Tuna Harbor. It might be my favorite spot in San Diego.
Today, a little before sunset, I had another magical walk down the G Street Pier. Sunlight sprinkled stars upon the water. Slanting light reflected from a jumble of fishing boats; it silvered the downtown skyline.
After taking many photos of interesting stuff on the working pier, I headed around Tuna Harbor into Ruocco Park.
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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!
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