This photo was taken from Navy Pier just south of the Broadway Pier. It shows a cluster of Hornblower and Flagship harbor excursion boats, plus the big Celebrity Solstice cruise ship at the San Diego cruise ship terminal. If you were to turn to the right, you’d see the historic Santa Fe train depot and shining downtown skyline closeby.
The red, white and blue Patriot speed boat is a new addition to the growing fleet of tour and charter boats seen daily on our beautiful Big Bay!
The following pics were taken on another day:
Harbor tour ships and a Water Taxi next to Broadway Pier.Harbor tour photographer gets photographed!People linger on dock near water taxis.Harbor cruise ships with Navy Broadway Complex in the background.A view of downtown and harbor cruise ships from approaching ferry.The Lord Hornblower approaches as people disembark from Coronado ferry.Patriot speed boat leaves dock, passing USS Midway.
Here’s a photograph showing several of the murals on the north side of the cruise ship terminal, in downtown San Diego. These colorful new murals show cruise ships, marine life and other sea-related imagery. Last weekend two large ships were visiting, one docked on either side of the terminal. I believe it’s that time of the year when many ships visit San Diego as they transition from summer Alaska cruises and head down the coast to Mexico or the Panama Canal on their way to the Caribbean.
Here are some cruise ship pics taken on a later date:
Costa Deliziosa docked in San Diego.Cruise ship Arcadia rises beyond tourists and pedicab.
More assorted pics of public art at the cruise ship terminal:
One of several promotional signs on the parking lot side of terminal.Tourists are encouraged to cruise San Diego!Clock on street side of cruise ship terminal resembles ship’s wheel.These sculptures were part of past Urban Trees exhibitions on the Embarcadero.
This plaque, a memorial to our nation’s merchant seamen, is located in San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North between a popular walking path and the edge of the big bay. You’ll find it just steps from Seaport Village.
It reads:
Dedicated To the Merchant Seamen
Who Lost Their Lives At Sea
Donated by the Propeller Club of the United States
Port of San Diego
The Women’s Propeller Club of San Diego
Port of San Diego
A great place to watch small commercial fishermen unload their catch or load up with ice is the dock just north of Seaport Village, opposite the Chesapeake Fish Company. Folks walking past can also peer through a glass window nearby and see workers in a refrigerated room cleaning and processing the fresh fish that ends up at restaurants throughout the region. I once heard the Chesapeake Fish Company is the largest fish broker west of the Mississippi.
The sign in this photograph details the history of San Diego’s fishing industry–tuna fishing and canning in particular. At one time San Diego had the largest tuna fishing fleet in the world. Many of the fishermen were Italian migrants, which gave rise to the Little Italy neighborhood, about a mile to the north on downtown’s waterfront.
Tuna Harbor, adjacent to this dock, now is home to a ragtag group of local fishing boats. It’s also a great place to spot sea lions!
Working Waterfront sign shows photographs from San Diego’s rich fishing history.1915 photo shows immigrants cleaning and canning locally caught fish.Sign contrasts abundant catch of 1980 with the decline of tuna fishing in mid 80’s.Fishing boat passes by the dock and crane.
There’s a surprise around every corner in Seaport Village. The inviting place, with its meandering paths, specialty shops, eateries, historic merry-go-round, tranquil duck pond and fountains is a fine place to spend a sunny afternoon. Even native San Diegans enjoy it! One can fly a kite in the neighboring Embarcadero Marina Park, barbeque by a picnic bench, and watch buskers perform. One can walk along the water and gaze out at the sparkling blue bay, sailboats and Coronado Island, or walk out on a working public pier for sweeping views from the Coronado Bay Bridge to the USS Midway, and beyond to Harbor Island.
Child takes delight at the Kite Flite shop in Seaport Village.Candied apples in window of the Seaport Village fudge store.Cookie shop lighthouse at Seaport Village.
You can see one of the Manchester Grand Hyatt towers in the background.
Folks board the Seal Tour amphibious vehicle for a harbor adventure.People sit on wall near the Pier Cafe.Pirate stands guard outside a Seaport Village nautical shop.Seaport Village street performer prepares to swallow fire.
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Sailboats pass live bait fishing boat docked at Tuna Harbor pier.
Venture anywhere along San Diego Bay and you’re in for a show!
Look at these pics of huge blue fishing boats, colorful sailboats, and the big gray Navy ships glimpsed in the distance!
Of course, sailboats are easily recognized, and everyone loves watching them dance on the big bay. On any given day you’ll see many white sails. Often you’ll see a group of sailboats racing together, tacking, tilting, running on the sea breeze.
The big blue fishing boats with the square wells that we seem to be standing beside are commercial live bait boats docked at Tuna Harbor’s G Street Pier. Seine nets are utilized to gather schools of small fish, which are then dumped into the deep wells. The live bait is then used by fishermen who depart from several sportfishing locations around San Diego. Pelicans, egrets, black-crowned night herons and gulls often perch on the sides of idle live bait boats. Perhaps they think something tasty will magically appear!
The distant Navy ships are an oiler and two active aircraft carriers docked at Naval Air Station North Island, situated on the northern half of Coronado Island. The two homeported carriers that you can glimpse are the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan.
Sailboats pass a commercial live bait fishing boat.Seine net with floats stretches along edge of Tuna Harbor pier.Sailboats and a Navy oiler docked at North Island in the background.Pelican and gulls on the edge of the Tuna Harbor pier.Small sailboat passes live bait boat on San Diego Bay.The rusted bridge of a live bait catching fishing boat.Dangling ropes and the seine net coiled on a huge cylinder-like winch drum.Live bait boat Cougar docked at the picturesque Tuna Harbor pier on San Diego Bay.Snowy egret perched on square well perhaps hopes to find a fish.One live bait boat is named Rival.Cougar tied to G Street Pier between watery hunts for small fish.San Diego Bay and many colorful boats!
Just walking along yesterday, I had to pause for a few moments to enjoy these kids playing string instruments by the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum for the passing Labor Day crowd. San Diego’s Embarcadero usually has a number of fun street performers, especially down by Seaport Village, but they were out in full force for the holiday weekend!
These three kids are talented musicians!
UPDATE!!!
Walking past Seaport Village on a fine Sunday afternoon in March, I happened to see this amazing musical family again! And I learned their official name: the De la Motte Strings! Here’s their Facebook page!
De la Motte family playing string music.De la Motte Strings performs by Seaport Village.
ANOTHER SIGHTING!
The musical family plays one Saturday at the Little Italy farmers market.
AGAIN!
I spotted this growing musical group in Balboa Park in late 2018!
De la Motte Strings musicians perform in Balboa Park.Youthful musicians of the De la Motte Strings add life to San Diego.
I took this fun photograph near Anthony’s Fishette. A spray paint artist had placed these colorful pieces of artwork out for passersby to admire and hopefully purchase. These appear to be smaller renditions of the more elaborate “space art” productions that I’ve seen in the past. In addition to a few cosmic planets, I see several outlines of the Coronado Bay Bridge, a Buddha, a Mario, a skull and crossbones, and a variety of cool faces.
I really like how these images, weighed down on the sidewalk with small rocks, combine in a fantastic mosaic. The colors are intense and the effect is bold!
Someone checks out space art on the sidewalk.
UPDATE!
I spotted the same artist displaying his work on some grass near the convention center during 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. I learned his name is William J. Dorsett. Cool guy! Check out his Mind Magick Creations website!
The work of William J. Dorsett displayed near the convention center during 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.A local artist shows his stuff outside 2015 San Diego Comic-Con!
Sunday afternoon brought a gigantic crowd to San Diego’s sunny waterfront. The 2013 Festival of Sail appears to be a resounding success! This photo was taken at the annual event’s busy entrance just south of the Star of India.
A huge mass of humanity also surged along the Embarcadero in the vicinity of the sand sculpture event on the cruise ship pier, and by the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Lines were long everywhere, and street vendors and performers were raking in the money!
One often hears that America’s Finest City is a top destination for tourists on Labor Day weekend…I certainly believe it!
UPDATE!
It’s almost a year later and the 2014 Festival of Sail is a couple days away! This year I’ll actually attend, brave the huge crowds and take a bunch of pics!
Banner is up on Star of India a few days before the 2014 Festival of Sail!
Here’s the right side of a tile bench painted by San Diego school kids. Check out my previous post for the left side and a brief explanation.
I love to sit on these fun tile benches near the Maritime Museum of San Diego and gaze out at the water. I have a weakness for this sort of inexcusable, lazy inactivity. Oh, well. Loafing wide-eyed on a sunshiny day is my personal definition of exciting urban living!
One of twelve benches featuring tiles painted by school children.
Here are more photos of the colorful benches along this stretch of the Embarcadero…
Celebrating the Big Bay, June 2004. Funded by The Port of San Diego.Lots of sun, beach and happiness.Kid artists contributed to tile benches along San Diego’s waterfront.Many young students chose to paint sailboats out on the Pacific Ocean.One of many tiles, painted by one of many hands.Some young artist made a silly fishy face that I really like!That big green fish is longer than that sailboat!Globs of color add a bit of variety to many fun images.Cool artwork produced by a young local student.Two happy figures seem to jump above flowers.Unique face of warm sun is appropriate in beautiful San Diego.
Cool San Diego Sights! 