Tag: morning

Morning photos of new Piazza della Famiglia.

The fountain at the east end of Piazza della Famiglia.
The fountain at the east end of Piazza della Famiglia.

The new Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy is finally open to the public!

Yesterday morning I took a slow stroll through this amazing community gathering place. As I snapped photos I was awed by the space’s beauty. The European-style piazza is designed for pedestrians; it connects India Street and Columbia Street at Date Street. The delightful setting includes a tile fountain and lots of welcoming tables with umbrellas.

I noticed the apartment homes on either side of the Piazza della Famiglia aren’t quite completed. Construction workers were busy applying the final touches. I’ve also learned that eateries and other businesses along the piazza will be opening later in the year. Once the entire project is finished, the Piazza della Famiglia is sure to become one of the most popular destinations in downtown San Diego!

The illuminated fountain adds a touch of beauty to the European-style piazza in Little Italy.
The illuminated fountain and nearby planters add touches of beauty to the European-style piazza in Little Italy.
Construction workers were busy as I passed by with my camera.
Construction workers were busy as I passed by with my camera.
Someone walks through the piazza on a late March morning. There's still construction fencing for new buildings.
Someone walks through the piazza on a late March morning. There’s still construction fencing for one of the new buildings.
One of many seats at the tables in Piazza della Famiglia.
One of many seats at the tables in Piazza della Famiglia.
Flowers, warmth and beauty await one and all in Little Italy.
Flowers, warmth and beauty await one and all in Little Italy.
Someone else enjoys the peaceful, sunlit piazza.
Someone else enjoys the peaceful, sunlit piazza.
Another very cool sight has debuted in downtown San Diego!
Another very cool sight has debuted in downtown San Diego!

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SpaceX rocket rises above world’s oldest active ship!

A barely visible SpaceX rocket Falcon 9 rises above Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship!
A barely visible SpaceX rocket Falcon 9 rises above Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship!

My plan this cold, partly cloudy morning was to head down to San Diego’s Embarcadero to hopefully photograph today’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.

I did manage to catch an image of the rocket’s flight, but it’s so tiny you can barely make it out! I suppose I should get a fancier, more powerful camera. Can you see the faint white streak in the above photo?

The Falcon 9 launch was from Vandenberg Air Force Base, northwest of Santa Barbara, about 280 miles from San Diego. To my naked eye, for a few seconds, I could see the minuscule rocket soar into the sky, through the rigging of the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India!

Star of India, originally named Euterpe, is an iron-hulled merchant ship that was built in 1863. Driven by capricious winds, the tall ship circumnavigated the globe 21 times during her storied history.

Falcon 9 is a technologically impressive space launch vehicle. During today’s mission a reused Falcon 9 lifted Spain’s advanced radar satellite Paz into a Sun-synchronous orbit of Earth.

As the satellite effortlessly orbits our planet, it will track ships that ply the ocean–ships that trace their own proud history back to the Age of Sail, when brave vessels like Star of India pushed forward to new horizons.

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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 winter’s day full of magical light.

You might enjoy these photos.

Before and after work, walking to trolley stations, I sought warmth in my light jacket against the cold winter wind.

Shivering, I looked up toward the sky.

Scudding clouds above were ignited by the sun. Their fire, like mirror magic, blazed to my right and then to my left.

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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 mixture of morning light and life.

Flagship's ferry ship Cabrillo arrives at the Embarcadero. Emerald light on the bay is reflected from the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.
Flagship’s ferry ship Cabrillo arrives at the Embarcadero. Emerald light shines from the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.

Another early morning walk downtown by San Diego Bay. We are experiencing a mild Santa Ana. So the air is dry. After a chilly night, the rising sun is bright and warm.

I encountered few people by the water, mostly joggers. I swung my camera toward anything that caught my eye. Here’s a mixture of morning light and life…

Man walks across a crane that is being used to demolish the old Anthony's Fish Grotto.
Man walks across a barge’s horizontal crane. The demolition of the old Anthony’s Fish Grotto is now underway.
Gazing east down Broadway in San Diego very early one morning.
Gazing east along Broadway in downtown San Diego early one morning.
Gleaming light on several downtown skyscrapers, including Pacific Gate and Emerald Plaza.
Gleaming morning light on several downtown skyscrapers, including Pacific Gate and Emerald Plaza.
Riding a bike along a path near the USS Midway.
Riding a bike along a path near the USS Midway.
A fisherman takes a stroll along a dock in Tuna Harbor.
A fisherman takes a stroll along a floating dock in Tuna Harbor.
Someone is about to stand up from a bench near the water at Ruocco Park.
Someone is about to stand up from a bench in Ruocco Park.
Patterns created by the shining windows of the Embassy Suites, the Park Place Condominiums and bare branches.
Patterns created by the shining windows of the Embassy Suites, the adjacent Park Place Condominiums and bare branches.
Birds take flight a short while after sunrise.
Two birds take flight after sunrise.

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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!

Waterfront visions and the passage of time.

A mysterious, glittering reflection of the Port Pavilion on San Diego Bay.
A mysterious, glittering reflection of the Port Pavilion on San Diego Bay.

So many new buildings are rising around downtown my head spins whenever I’m out for a walk.

In the past few years a host of gleaming high-rises has materialized near the water, and the Embarcadero has been so dramatically improved I can barely recall the way our waterfront once appeared.

This morning during a walk I captured some dreamlike visions with my camera. And my mind began to ponder the stealthy passage of time. The past can be so difficult to remember…the future can be so difficult to envision…

A gull passes over smooth water one morning, as the Coast Guard station shines in early sunlight.
Another morning. A gull glides over smooth San Diego Bay. A short distance north of downtown, the Coast Guard station shines in the early sunlight.
Reflections of buildings along San Diego's waterfront. Like fragments of dancing light, these visions change as years pass.
Reflections of buildings along San Diego’s waterfront. Like dancing fragments of light, these visions change as the years pass quickly by.
The InterContinental Hotel rising beside San Diego's Embarcadero is beginning to appear complete.
The InterContinental Hotel, under construction at the location of old Lane Field, is beginning to appear complete.
Near the Broadway Pier, early morning light invites people into a new day. The remnants of past days are quietly swept up.
Near the Broadway Pier, morning light invites people into the brand new day. Remnants of past days are quietly swept up.
A crane on a barge. The demolition of Anthony's Fish Grotto on the Embarcadero has begun.
A crane on a barge. The demolition of Anthony’s Fish Grotto on the Embarcadero has begun.
A peek into the past, and into the future.
A peek into the past, and into the future.

If you’d like to time travel on this blog, here are some links concerning past construction along the Embarcadero, in chronological order.

I myself hadn’t visited some of these old posts for years. Memories were rekindled…

San Diego’s Embarcadero made more beautiful.

San Diego’s big new waterfront park opens!

Improvements on North Embarcadero celebrated!

Timeline shows history of San Diego’s Embarcadero.

Grass grows again at historic Lane Field!

Bay Cafe makes way for new observation platform.

Fun sculptures debut at San Diego waterfront park!

Workers install engraved name pavers at Broadway Pier.

Last chance to enjoy Anthony’s at the waterfront.

Buildings rise and fall along San Diego’s waterfront.

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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!

Dazzling light in fantastic clouds downtown.

Puffy clouds and a chilly wind this morning. Unsettled winter weather.

My eyes rose.

Above, dazzling effects of sunlight. Fantastic clouds were glowing white, like a beautiful, heavenly dream.

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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 quiet morning in Old Town San Diego.

Early this morning I saw on the news that many parts of San Diego were experiencing fog. So I thought it would be interesting to head to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for some mysterious fog photos.

Well, one end of nearby Lindbergh Field was lost in a bank of fog–but not Old Town!

I got some wonderful morning photos anyway. It was quiet, just after sunrise, nothing open, very few people around…

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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 sights on a walk to catch the trolley.

As I headed off to work early this morning, I felt compelled to walk down Seventh Avenue past the El Cortez.
As I headed off to work early this morning, I felt compelled to walk down Seventh Avenue past the El Cortez.

This morning I walked down from Cortez Hill to catch a trolley for work. I had no set plan. I had ample time. Any downtown trolley station would be just fine.

My feet followed my wandering eyes.

The San Diego Symphony has a brand new banner on the west side of Symphony Towers. Find Your Music.
The San Diego Symphony has a brand new banner on the west side of Symphony Towers. Find Your Music.
Almost to B Street. Some cool reflections produced by the early sunlight.
Almost to B Street. Some cool reflections produced by the early sunlight.
This reflection of a tree on glass windows seems unreal.
This reflection of a tree on windows seems dreamlike, unreal.
The old Centre City Building might have peeling paint, but it still rises handsomely into the San Diego sky. One edge is touched by the morning sun.
The old Centre City Building might have peeling paint, but it still rises handsomely into the San Diego sky. One edge is touched by the morning sun.
The Caliente ad remains on the rear of the abandoned California Theatre building. I don't know if it will be preserved when the historic building makes way for a new 40-story The Overture high-rise.
The cool old Caliente ad remains on the rear of the abandoned California Theatre building. I don’t know if it will be preserved when the historic building makes way for a new 40-story The Overture high-rise.
Shall I catch a trolley at the Civic Center station? Nah. I still have plenty of time.
Shall I catch a trolley at the Civic Center station? Nah. I still have plenty of time.
Workers were cleaning awnings over the ground floor windows of the U.S. Grant Hotel.
Workers were cleaning awnings over the ground floor windows of the U.S. Grant Hotel.
As I walked along Broadway through some construction, it looks like I frightened a couple of people!
As I walked along Broadway past some construction, it looks like I frightened a couple of people!
The brand new San Diego Central Courthouse always provides interesting photographic opportunities.
The brand new San Diego Central Courthouse behind the Hall of Justice provides an interesting photographic opportunity.
Almost to Santa Fe Depot. Just missed a trolley. I'll wait for the next one.
Almost to Santa Fe Depot. Just missed a Green Line trolley. I’ll wait for the next one.

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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!

Morning rain and umbrellas downtown.

Here are a few photos I captured this morning as I walked downtown through gusts of rain.

Keeping an eye on the direction of the wind and slanting raindrops, holding my camera at the ready under my umbrella, I headed down from Cortez Hill to the Gaslamp trolley station. I wasn’t the only one trying to cope with San Diego’s first real rainstorm of the winter.

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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!

An early January morning walk in Little Italy.

Holiday ribbons remain among flowers in front of a residence in Little Italy.
Holiday ribbons among flowers in front of a residence in Little Italy.

The holidays have ended. It’s January 2nd.

Early this morning I walked through Little Italy on my way to catch the trolley for work.

What did I see?

The holiday season is over in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. Leaves are falling. Time to head back to work.
The holiday season is over in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Leaves are falling. Time to head back to work.
A community Christmas tree is still lit, but abandoned. It stands behind a fence that surrounds the Piazza Famiglia construction site.
A community Christmas tree is still lit, but abandoned. It stands behind a fence that surrounds the Piazza Famiglia construction site.
Classic beauty is abundant in Little Italy in every season.
Classic beauty is always abundant in Little Italy, no matter the season.
Little Italy is famous for its restaurants and excellent food. This market on India Street sells locally grown produce.
Little Italy is famous for its restaurants and excellent dining. Even during winter, this establishment on India Street offers locally grown food.
The poinsettias might be fading, but other greenery in planters along the sidewalk is bright and fresh.
The poinsettias might be fading, but other greenery in planters along the sidewalk is bright and fresh.
More lingering Christmas lights among colorful leaves.
More lingering Christmas lights among colorful leaves.
A funny inflatable in a shop window. The holidays are over! Time for The Scream!
A funny sight in a shop window. The holidays are over! Now we must go back to work! Scream!

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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!