Today I headed over to Mission Bay’s large model yacht pond, located near the center of Vacation Isle Park, to watch gasoline-powered high speed RC boats race for the San Diego Cup!
The exciting annual event is hosted by the San Diego Argonauts, who sail and race a variety of model boats on the saltwater pond. I blogged about the San Diego Argonauts and hobbyists maneuvering remote control sailboats out on the pond here.
San Diego Cup weekend features over 160 RC powerboats in dozens of classes, brought in by groups from all over Southern California and Arizona. The local group is called SD Gassers.
I spoke to a few people and watched several races. I learned that the model speedboats are built from kits, and that the different classes are determined by the size of the boat. I observed that after contestants are told to start their engines (which at times is problematic) there is a countdown to the beginning of the race. After tossing their boats into the water, it appeared that getting in optimal position for the start was an important aspect of the strategy.
These amazing little powerboats can go over 60 miles per hour! Boats are readied and repaired on the shore and good times are had by all contestants.
It definitely appears to be a fun hobby!
The racing continues through Sunday and anybody can watch from the grassy shore. If you’re in San Diego, head over to the model yacht pond in Mission Bay and check it out!
I took some photos of the action…
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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 giant smiling lemon greets me at the 22nd Annual Lemon Festival in Chula Vista!
I’ve never been to Chula Vista’s Lemon Festival before. So this year I thought I’d take the trolley down to the South Bay to experience this big annual event!
Not only is the Lemon Festival, which takes place along a stretch of Third Avenue, a whole lot of fun, but visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history of Chula Vista and how it once was a major center of the Southern California citrus industry.
With construction of the Sweetwater Dam completed in 1888, and the arrival of the railroad in the South Bay, Chula Vista became the perfect place to grow sun-loving lemons. At one point in the early 20th century there were nearly two thousand acres of lemon groves in the area. Chula Vista even called itself the Lemon Capital of the World.
Today lemon trees are chiefly found in backyards. After World War II, the large groves began to make way for houses. Some of the developers would leave one lemon tree in the backyard of new homes.
I did see loads of lemons during the 22nd Annual Lemon Festival: lemon art, lemon costumes, lemons in treats, lemonade . . . Lemon yellow everywhere!
See for yourself!
About 50,000 people would turn out for the yearly lemon-themed event.These ladies had all sorts of sweet lemon treats for sale.Some friendly people from the Restored Church posed so that a blogger could take a funny photo at their Lemon Festival booth.Artists at the Lemon Festival had all sorts of colorful artwork for sale that contained bright yellow.This lady registering people to vote had a cool lemon slice umbrella hat and smile.More ice cold lemonade! Sounds good on a hot summer day in San Diego’s South Bay.Even this funny pooch in a wagon was selling lemonade!The Chula Vista Historical Society had a booth with books and fascinating information.Their display showed Chula Vista’s agricultural past. Many growers and packing companies once exported lemons around the world. Some of the beautiful old crate labels have become valuable collectibles.The display explains different grades of lemons, including culls, which were blemished, and used to make juice, furniture polish, and other lemon by-products.The festival had just started and these ladies with the Third Avenue Village Association, that puts on the popular event, were almost done decorating their booth.Another booth at the Chula Vista Lemon Festival featured lots of interesting historical photographs.Someone points to a photo of workers in a lemon grove at the Higgins Ranch in Keen Valley, 1901.Aerial photo of the Boltz lemon ranch in the mid 1920’s.Typical Chula Vista lemon packing plant, circa 1920’s.Old photos of Chula Vista streetcar and train at Third Avenue.Bonita lemon pickers, 1913.Meanwhile, people spin a lemon-themed prize wheel at the festival.At the Lemonade Bandstand, entertainment included live music, a largest lemon and lemon peel contest, a lemon costume contest, and lemon pie eating contest.People watch the Lemon Squeezers play rock and roll music with a twist!Cool local band, the Lemon Squeezers, at the Chula Vista Lemon Festival.That great music has people smiling and dancing!Batman and Wonder Woman dropped on by and posed for a photo by the Lemon Bar sign.All that fun has made me thirsty for some lemonade!
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Fun palm frond art. I recognize Ronald McDonald and Batman.
Here’s one last batch of fun and funny photos from 2018 San Diego Comic-Con, including more great examples of cosplay.
I confess I didn’t stand in long lines for some of the more popular offsite attractions–I mainly just walked around. Watching people. Taking it all in. That’s what I love to do.
I hope you had as much fun as I did!
Now I’ll probably take a rest from blogging until next weekend. On Saturday, I’m going on a special tour at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Have a great week!
They never showed it in the Star Wars movies, but Darth Vader likes to wear sunglasses.Why would an astronaut in an airless environment need camouflage?I’m Single. Free Drinks If You Find Me.Stay Puft has a Mini-Marshmallow-Me!Shouldn’t that guy be in his containment bubble?It’s a Harley-cycle and a Bat-cycle!I know San Diego gets a lot of tourists, but Spiderman?The gentleman on the right goes by the name Colorful Guy.Cosplay of Jinx from Teen Titans. Now that’s some big hair.I believe I recognize Aladdin and Tinker Bell.I was interested to learn that the rather unusual character on the right is named Bananapool.A zombie’s about to have lunch at Dead Quarters.Thank goodness for that fence!This is what Comic-Con is really all about. This is how it started.Frozone strikes his action pose.At San Diego Comic-Con, you’re never quite sure what you will see next.Azog and Nazgul cosplay.A sidewalk artist creating a fun cartoon.A very cool LEGO Cyborg cosplay made out of cardboard.A small version of the Guardians of the Galaxy!This guy said his unique cosplay is a combination of the Old West and Mad Max.Spock enters a scene featuring Boba Fett. I’m detecting a bit of franchise confusion.A dog in a tiny police car meets a real officer of the SDPD. Thanks to police heroes everyone was safe during Comic-Con.Three peculiar versions of Deadpool. Take your pick.Spock is now back where he belongs.This guy is called One Punch Man. One is all it takes!I see some Speed Racer characters!Cosplay of Rocksteady and Bebop from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
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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!
Sharkzilla has taken another bite of a surfboard at The Experience during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con!
As you will see, I had quite an experience at The Experience late this morning. This free public attraction is one of many offsites found around downtown during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.
The very moment you enter, prepare to be mesmerized…
Looking down at The Experience in Petco Park’s Lexus Premier Lot from the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge.People stream into the fun, free to the public Comic-Con offsite.Near the entrance, buses from hotels around the city drop off a motley group of Comic-Con attendees.Shark fins bob past the big stage at The Experience.People relax and watch a demo video game up on a big screen.Shortly after I arrive, three lovely, sweet, irresistible ladies with Sacred Lies prepare to encircle me with their scarfs.I’m encircled! Hello! Sign me up for your cult, or whatever it is!I spotted Pac-Gentleman again, near Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. That seems a lot of marshmallow for a gentleman to waka-waka-waka gobble all at once.But I could probably digest a few free scoops of DC Super Hero Ice Cream!At the Cloak and Dagger activation, this nice lady seemed about ready to dazzle me with a sermon.People who line up at Ghostbusters World can have their photo taken next to the original ECTO-1 from the movies.Hopefully Hulk doesn’t become too angry when you get your group hug at the Marvel Avengers activation.The Impractical Jokers had a food truck serving Scoopski Potatoes.I believe people could get free samples of Shin Black Noodle Soup, but I didn’t check it out.Project Blue Book had a Top Secret tent. With my sketchy background, I don’t have clearance, so I averted my eyes.A huge cool sculpture at the Guild Wars 2 activation.Discovery Channel celebrates Shark Week with an enormous life-size mechanical Megalodon named Sharkzilla.I arrived in time for a Sharkzilla feeding. The huge hungry shark is going to chomp on a wooden pallet!Personally, I find pallets to be unpalatable.Maybe a surfboard tastes better.I remember having something like this done when I was a kid and got my braces.Some tasty bloody zombies that will be fed to Sharkzilla later in the 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!
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!
A fan at 2018 Comic-Con receives an award from Syfy in the Gaslamp on Saturday afternoon!
Breaking News!
I was going to post photos from my late morning walk through The Experience at 2018 Comic-Con, but an unforeseen event this afternoon has disrupted my plans!
In the mid-afternoon Syfy arrived in the Gaslamp Quarter to award medals to winners of their fan art competition, and . . . you’ll have to see what happened! Read the captions!
On Saturday afternoon at 2018 Comic-Con, the craziness gets underway.Waiting for a trolley with a shark fin hat.Bumblebee had a tough time squeezing into this trolley, but made it!Pikachu was making a new friend.Someone appeared to be really hungry.What planet is this? What’s going on here?It seems to be a planet that’s packed with crazy, fun-loving Comic-Con fans!I don’t know if these guys were making a political statement, or just looking a bit silly.Speaking of silly, here’s a super fantastic Batman photo op!Where did he come from? I barely got away in time.Everyone’s a kid during Comic-Con.Everyone likes posing with superheroes.Kids liked this colorful robot.Will these guys pose for a group cosplay photo?Of course! It’s Comic-Con!This guy clearly has issues.It’s a Comic-Con exclusive life-size Star Trek Barbee, mint in box!A great Ming the Merciless cosplay!Aquaman is being pursued by a toothy sea creature.Someone went to the Gaslamp Quarter for a martini, and look what they saw.I see Other Mother in front of LAIKA LIVE San Diego!And here’s Logan in padding. Perhaps his healing factor isn’t what it used to be.Instead of breaking Batman’s back, Bane goes after the neck of an innocent bystander.Look what’s coming down Fifth Avenue! It’s the Syfy Fan Creator Award show for Comic-Con 2018!The Syfy drum line gets the crowd in an even more excited mood.Time for another selfie.A Syfy fan who made some super cool art gets a medal, then speaks a few words to the gathered crowd.Everyone’s having a great–if wacky–time.The Syfy band played the theme from Ghostbusters. A kid wearing a Ghostbusters t-shirt receives a medal and a high five!Let sheer insanity resume.Deadpool makes some gyrating moves.Apparently his dance worked. He attracted a rainbow unicorn!Members of the Justice League of America have descended into the Gaslamp Quarter. Have no fear, good citizens!Another photo that says it all.A fuzzy pic. I feel fortunate that I took if from a safe distance.Super-tall-Spock coolly analyzes the situation.While Captain Kirk is with the ladies.More fun, creative, absurd cosplay.Yes, it seems everyone is little off their rocker this afternoon.Another day at Comic-Con.Another Saturday afternoon, that is.The Guardians of the Galaxy have arrived to help guard the Gaslamp Quarter for a bit.Yes, the full tilt craziness has just begun.Here come some fast food superheroes. First up are McDonalds and Wendys.I bet you didn’t know Grimace is a big time purple superhero.Jack in the Box casts his taco spell on me, making my head spin.Panda Express and KFC complete the Legion of Indigestion.If you bite one of those apples, you’ll get worse than indigestion!Everything is returning to normal. Good old Wonder Woman and Superman are coming down Fifth Avenue.And these guys, too.She-Ra and her pal have things under control.
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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!
Cosplay and magic fill the area behind the San Diego Convention Center during 2018 Comic-Con!
Late this morning I enjoyed Comic-Con by walking behind the San Diego Convention Center, then through The Experience by Petco Park. This first batch of fun photos is from the area behind the convention center.
As usual, I encountered a bunch of super creative cosplay and magic at every turn!
A Star Wars stormtropper holds a humorous sign. Support the Troops.Long morning lines wrapped this way and that, but nobody seemed to mind.Cedric Diggory cosplay. An early glimpse of magic.Some cosplay pooches are part of the big spectacle.These Wonder Women made cool superhero skirts out of old Justice League swag bags!Good thing Nick Fury called Captain Marvel. Here she comes now to save the day!These zombies paused for a photo at the foot of the steps up to the convention center.I was told this cosplay is Bird Person.Check out this awesome cosplay! It’s Fire Archangel Velajuel, a Summoners War Sky Arena Monster.I was told this funny cosplay is Pac-Gentleman.Lots of visitors to 2018 Comic-Con were checking out the Bandai Dragon Ball activation.Vegeta cosplay.Mario and Luigi prepare for battle.I was told this cosplay is Radioactive Man.That’s my kind of superhero. One who brings ice cream! Who needs a utility belt?Cyclops was good enough not to remove his visor. The ice cream might melt.Amazing cosplay of some Mad Max post-apocalyptic characters.Hopefully Kylo Ren does me in before I have to witness another one of his ridiculous temper tantrums.At the FOX activation for The Passage, a scientist in a white lab jacket shows me the first human to be resistant to all known diseases. Unfortunately he has to drink human blood.Rorschach cosplay. Somehow using his lips he could make the inkblot on his mask change appearance.Some poor guy is caught between a fight between Peter Griffin and Ernie the Giant Chicken.A look at the FXhibition area near the Hilton Bayfront, behind the San Diego Convention Center.Another look. It’s late Saturday morning at 2018 Comic-Con.People place their heads in Archer character cubes for an unusual photo opportunity.Here’s Camp Paddy’s outhouse.Now that’s one very bizarre photograph being taken.Zatanna cosplay. Magic is her specialty.She must have waved her magic wand, because there’s wonderful cosplay all over the place!A cool FX guy poses beside a Mayans MC motorcycle for my camera.Mera blinked. Must be all that dry air above the water.Chillin’ at the FXhibition.Magicians perform, delighting young and old alike. There’s endless magic at Comic-Con!
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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 got some more photographs of fun, very creative cosplay outside of San Diego Comic-Con today!
Here they are! Enjoy!
Sora cosplay from Kingdom Hearts.A steampunk cosplay.Loki and Thor cosplay. That weapon looks like the one Thor used on Sakaar fighting Hulk.Cosplay of Demon Worker from Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.Batman grins. I’m not sure about the cosplay next to him.The Avengers’ quinjet must be out of action. Here come Spiderman, Captain America and Black Widow on scooters!Cosplay of Haru from The Cat Returns.A disco Darth Vader with flashy clothes and an Afro.I was told this is Super Fan!Cosplay of Kevin from Up!Harley Quinn got off her scooter for a photo!Halo cosplay by a happy family at Comic-Con!Halo family poses with a Star Wars stormtrooper.I hope Bane realizes the Grim Reaper is nearby. I don’t believe the drug Venom makes him immortal.Here’s another Harley!Cosplay of Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish from Game of Thrones.Captain America and Wolverine cosplay.These might be garden gnomes, but I really don’t know. UPDATE! I learned they are, indeed, garden gnomes!Captain Jean-Luc Picard cosplay. Ready to take the photo? Make it so.It’s another Harley! I think this one is teasing me! I hope Joker doesn’t find out.Cosplay of Negan of The Walking Dead.I don’t recognize this cosplay. UPDATE! It finally occurred to me. It’s a Harry Potter Death Eater! I believe that’s the mask of Lucius Malfoy.Cosplays of Gamzee Makara and Nepeta Leijon from Homestuck.Umbrella Corporation cosplay from Resident Evil.Boba Fett cosplay.Yikes! Looks like these guys were caught in another Sharknado.Judge Dredd and Judge Death cosplay.
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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!
Visitors to the Future Tech Live! exhibition at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con have fun making a dynamic 3-D video courtesy of the Overwatch Payload Tour.
Anyone attending 2018 San Diego Comic-Con who loves gaming, augmented and virtual reality, and the very latest in cool technology should definitely head over to the Omni Hotel to check out Future Tech Live!
You’ll discover a wide variety of exhibitors demonstrating all sorts of innovations. There are augmented and virtual reality products, and visitors can experience the latest in eye-popping video game play. There are innovative robots, some amazing art, and several opportunities to learn about cryptocurrency and using the blockchain to buy and sell video games and make in-game purchases. There’s even a Bitcoin ATM!
You’ll also find a couple of friendly scientists who are ready to answer any sort of scientific question, plus some fascinating exhibits by UC San Diego. And if you work up an appetite, grab some free treats, courtesy of 7-Eleven!
These photos provide a sample of what you’ll find!
(Unlike last year, when the exhibition was called the Futurism & Tech Pavilion, in 2018 you’ll need a Comic-Con badge to gain entry.)
Future Tech Live! can be found in the Omni Hotel, across from the San Diego Convention Center during 2018 Comic-Con.Multiple players enjoy a team gaming experience inside an incredible Hologate virtual reality system.Ozobot showcases Evo, a robot that is controlled with magic markers or stickers!Evo follows drawn lines and turns depending upon color sequences that it detects. It’s a fun and visually creative way to teach coding concepts to kids.Eric Ninaltowski is showing some of the super cool pop culture art that he has created.A visitor to Future Tech Live! engages in an augmented reality lightsaber battle courtesy of Star Wars Jedi Challenges by Lenovo.A friendly guy representing Stimuli VR demonstrates amazing glasses that convert almost any smart phone into a virtual reality device!
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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!
It’s the whole Spiderman and Venom gang! Looks like they overpowered Captain America and got his shield!
It’s Thursday and 2018 San Diego Comic-Con is in full swing!
The Gaslamp Quarter was starting to get a little crazy when I walked through in the early afternoon. Fifth Avenue wasn’t packed absolutely full like sardines, however. But I know that it will be!
Enjoy some more photos of creative cosplay and a variety of fun stuff!
Ghostbusters cosplay in the Gaslamp during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.Much of the cosplay I didn’t recognize. Including this guy!Cosplay of Marvel superhero Silk.I see Cap has his shield back. Now he’s gotta go find Thanos.Syfy Bingo Trolleys were going around the Gaslamp full of contestants.This friendly Syfy gang ran out of swag bags but promised to be back with many more!Here comes a small mobile billboard towed by a bicycle. Cool graphic, whatever the heck you’re promoting.I poked my camera for a quick shot inside the Peanuts Pop-Up Shop. I see psychedelic Snoopy and Charlie Brown!Comic-Con fans line up by the Good Plates restaurant to get into The Good Place.Doctor Strange is about to cast a spell on me! Hopefully I don’t go looping through time endlessly. After only four days of Comic-Con, I’ll already be completely worn out.This poor guy near the DC Universe Experience desperately needs 2 more dragonballs. Good luck!Cosplay from Cyberpunk Galaxy Wonderland! Whatever that is!A great cosplay of Shredder from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Polite, well-groomed bellhops were out promoting upcoming movie Bad Times at the El Royale.That’s either a tiny T-Rex or one gigantic human rider!This Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan bus clearly needs to fetch more people.It’s the Coneheads!The happy X-Men family!Someone please inform the G.I. Joe Team that COBRA has been spotted secretly infiltrating San Diego.Fortunately, I found some more heroic Avengers. It’s Black Widow (the red-haired version) and Ant Man!Is 91X Man part of a superhero group? No, that radio station might play music by some supergroups, though.Talk about a super group. That’s a big group of humanity on MLK Promenade.This guy was handing out Den of Geek magazines. I got one for my coworker. He was an authentic nerd before being a nerd became cool.Of course, I knew I’d run into a Star Wars Stormtrooper during my travels.Another big line around Dead Quarters. I’ll go brave a line or two tomorrow, I suppose.The Syfy Wire interviews a Jack Sparrow-like pirate in the Gaslamp Quarter during 2018 Comic-Con.Goodness! Golf Vader has returned to Comic-Con! Something must be done about this!Great cosplay at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con. Riddler, Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy!
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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!
Cool cosplay of Soul Eater characters at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con!
Early this morning, as I walked from Cortez Hill down to the Gaslamp, I was joined by others heading toward the convention center for the very first day of 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.
The offsites still hadn’t opened, and one or two that I passed didn’t appear to be quite ready. But long lines were already forming!
I spotted lots of great cosplay as I walked along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, then over the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge to see the action behind the San Diego Convention Center.
Buses packed with Comic-Con attendees were arriving continuously from hotels around the city. By this afternoon, the streets and sidewalks will be jammed with crazy activity!
Riddler gives me a villainous smile. Where’s the Bat-Signal?Deadpool is waiting in the DC Universe offsite line. He must like those dark DC characters.Comic-Con visitors wait in a line near Dead Quarters early Thursday morning.A big line had already formed down MLK Promenade for Amazon’s Jack Ryan Experience.I knew it! Loki isn’t dead!Officers from Starfleet have beamed down to 21st century Earth to observe our odd cultural customs.Not one super dog, but two!Even folks selling treats along the promenade were dressed up for the pop culture occasion.Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is on a rampage through The Experience! Good thing it wasn’t open yet.Here come boxes and boxes of Funko Pops!When these guys weren’t serving breakfast to hungry fans near the Hilton Bayfront, they were posing for a silly blogger.These volunteer sign guys have to keep moving as the lines grow longer.The Adult Swim canoes are on the river! I’m guessing they’ll be propelled manually with oars.A long line of wonderful, lovable nerds.The Turner yacht has docked in San Diego for 2018 Comic-Con!I didn’t see any hamburgers nearby, so I’m guessing this is pure cosplay.No need to worry. Lots of ice cream is on the way.A cool Deconstructed Bike Zone near the Hilton Bayfront promotes the upcoming FX show Mayans MC. Prepare for the return of mayhem!If you’re looking for the line for Indigo programs, it’s this way.Just a typical early morning scene on the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge during San Diego Comic-Con.Great cosplays of WALL-E and Cruella de Vil.Cool cosplays of Deathstroke and Batgirl.A great Rey cosplay, but by sheer chance she blinked when I snapped my one photo. Maybe some sand from that planet got in her eyes.What it’s like to walk outside Comic-Con in the early morning, before the crowds become insane.These guys handed me a Top Secret envelope. Inside were instructions to head over to the Jack Ryan Experience for a mission.The Donut Bar had a pop-up in the Gaslamp. Do or donut. There is no try.A cosplay of Robin, ready for action.Spidey is taking a breather, even though Comic-Con has barely begun!
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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!
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