It’s a cosplay of Lego Venom in the middle of the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con crowd!
Here’s another large collection of cosplay photographs! I took these Saturday outside 2016 San Diego Comic-Con!
Seeing so many super creative costumes is one reason I love walking around during Comic-Con. It’s an opportunity for individuals to find unabashed joy in their own personal creativity. It’s all about fantasy and imagination come to life. People young and old can choose to be whatever they choose to be. It’s all good. And it’s all fun!
This cosplay of a Cylon from the original Battlestar Galactica had a moving red light in its helmet and cool Cylon sound effects!A great cosplay of Marvel’s famous superhero couple, Ant-Man and the Wasp.A truly great Addams Family cosplay on the street outside Comic-Con!I was told these ladies are characters from Alice in Wonderland. It appears to me one is the Queen of Hearts and the other is Alice.This cuddly killer is Unipool. He’s even got his own hashtag!I recognize Green Arrow, but the other cosplay I didn’t hear properly when I asked. Does someone out there know? Leave a comment if you do.I learned the cosplay on the right is Mega Man, but I didn’t catch the identity of the fellow on the left. Help!Cosplay of Raven of the Teen Titans.A very cool cosplay of a Jawa from Star Wars.This funny guy combined Joker and Donald Trump!A zombie walks through the Gaslamp with a big pink ribbon. Even the undead can fight for life!It took a moment, but then I realized these little guys were familiar. That’s Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater on the right, and Tom Servo on the left!Menacing cosplay of Cobra Commander.It’s Pac-Man and a small Blinky!A super creative cosplay of a steampunk Batman.I hope the zombies rampaging through the Gaslamp Saturday night were careful. Because these guys wanna kill zombies.This cosplayer seemed a bit surprised that I recognized he was the Mouth of Sauron. I guess I’ve read and watched Lord of the Rings too many times.I learned these guys are cosplaying characters from the video game Fallout.A fun, creative cosplay of characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas.Here comes Spidey!These nice ladies were cosplaying Toriel and Frisk from Undertale.I think I heard this is a Pokemon cosplay. I might be wrong.These Medieval period enthusiasts hail from the Barony of Calafia. They are members of the Society for Creative Anachronism.Incredible cosplay of Ornstein the Dragon Slayer, from Dark Souls.Another super good cosplay. It’s Cable of the X-Men.Some really great costumes–all characters from Game of Thrones.Hey, Cap! What’s up?I was told this cosplay is Tyson Rios, of Army of Two.Super creative cosplay of Marvel’s Lady Sif, Asgardian warrior. Looks like the Jack Kirby version.This cosplay, I believe, is Victarion Greyjoy, from Game of Thrones.The Suicide Squad movie is coming up. This is the original Harley Quinn with an absurdly huge hammer. A little more humor in this version, perhaps.Cosplay of long-time movie hero Zorro!Cosplay from the original Tron. He thought the first movie was best.I was informed this is just a purple fuzzy creature with long ears! Even so, it looks somehow familiar.Cosplay of Liliana Vess, from Magic: The Gathering.This Poison Ivy cosplayer must’ve mistaken me for Batman, because she’s blowing a lethal kiss my way!Now a cosplay Catwoman is about to strike me with her whip! Ouch!These musicians in wild Mexican outfits were simply having fun entertaining 2016 San Diego Comic-Con fans in the Gaslamp.Here comes a cool cosplay of Cyclops. Don’t activate your visor! I’m a good guy!
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Post-Apocalyptic Super Mario Brothers cosplay at 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.
The tradition of cosplay–costume play– during San Diego Comic-Con is alive and well! As proof, I offer these cool photos that I took today!
I was completely blown away by the lengths fans will go to create the fantastic likeness of a favorite fictional character. How many of these characters do you recognize?
I see Iron Fist coming up the stairs! Many pop culture fans attending San Diego Comic-Con engage in cosplay–wearing costumes depicting characters from comic books, movies, television shows and video games.A fantastic cosplay of Elemental HERO Avian of Yu-Gi-Oh!Cosplay of an armored player in the popular video game Halo.Ghostbusters cosplay at San Diego Comic-Con.Cosplay of a sinister character from the Star Wars universe, Darth Revan.Cosplay enthusiasts stand by during a local television interview outside 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.As I sauntered down a Gaslamp sidewalk, Bane refused to let me pass! Just some of the fun at 2016 Comic-Con.Hulk must be hungry, because now he’ll smash for food!Cosplay of Bombshell Batwoman, from a line of new comic books published by DC Comics. The stories take place during World War II.An elaborate cosplay of Loki, a favorite Marvel supervillain.While I can’t identify many of the characters that walk by during Comic-Con, I definitely enjoy the creativity.This guy informed me his cosplay is the Borderlands character Krieg the Psycho.Krypto, Superman’s faithful super dog, has made a new friend at San Diego Comic-Con!People engaged in fun cosplay pose for a photo. They are characters from the game Moba Legends.This guy just decided to invent a unique character with creepy steampunk elements for Comic-Con.Cosplay outside 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, depicting characters from the blockbuster television show Game of Thrones.Cosplay of Storm, a fan favorite member of the X-Men.Cosplay of Green Arrow, DC superhero and member of the Justice League.An awesome, very elaborate cosplay of Super Shredder, from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!I learned these elegant ladies are the Clowns of the Galaxy, with their red-haired Robot. Never heard of them! Looks to me like they were simply having a great time at Comic-Con!A big smile. Cosplay of Gamora, of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! 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 enjoy!
Madoka Magica cosplay at 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.
Here comes a huge load of fun photos! It’s Thursday, and 2016 San Diego Comic-Con is as cool, wonderful and crazy as ever. Check out some of what I saw outside the convention center. Lots of cool cosplay and simply insane…well…you have to see for yourself.
Thursday outside San Diego Comic-Con. Crowds of pop culture fans can be seen all around the convention center and Gaslamp Quarter.Fun and often unusual cosplay can be seen everywhere during San Diego Comic-Con. This insanely popular, internationally famous event is quite a spectacle!Cool cosplay of Kenan Kong, the new Chinese Superman!These tough-looking pirates are promoting Sea of Thieves, an upcoming video game for the Xbox.I spotted Flash and Supergirl ambling slowly along during San Diego Comic-Con. It appears Supergirl is getting an urgent communication from the Justice League Watchtower.And here I see Captain America is receiving an urgent summons from Avengers Mansion. Hopefully there are enough superheroes assembled in San Diego to save the cosmos.Some futuristic cosmetics were being tested by stylish Comic-Con fans at this Star Trek venue at Children’s Park.Unfortunately, the transporter seemed to be out of order. Where is Scotty when you need him? I didn’t want to have my molecules scrambled and misplaced today, so I hurriedly moved on.Rick and his pals from Adult Swim were spotted in San Diego near the entrance to Nerd HQ.Wario, Waluigi and Batman have teamed up for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. At least they did for a moment or two while people snapped photos.Not sure about this cool cosplay. Maybe someone reading this blog can provide an illuminating comment.KFC had very unusual Colonel Sanders artwork outside Comic-Con like last year. The funny sculptures also serve as Wi-Fi hotspots.When you’re a Star Wars Stormtrooper, you need a really, really big baseball cap!Have you seen Larten Crepsley? He seems to be running loose at San Diego Comic-Con.Now we’re in for it. A serious super villain. Seems Joker just escaped from Arkham Asylum. I wonder if he got all those new tattoos in there.No worries! Batman is nearby! So are a couple of Robins. And so is Glenn the Frog from the old video game Chrono Trigger.The Interactive Zone at Petco Park was ready to rock on Thursday and packed with Comic-Con fans!A lovely Ghostbuster was posing by ECTO-4 for a SONY promotion of Ghostbusters. I feel safer already.Lots of people were being videoed while playing Pie Face, which is a Hasbro game. Most every face ended up with whipped cream.Ever wonder where Jack in the Box tacos come from? This might be the explanation. That undead employee at the drive-through window proved hard to kill. (Okay, Jack–just kidding. I might be one of your biggest customers at Hazard Center!)The undead had also taken over a ship behind the convention center! I guess they walked aboard the Abigail when no one was looking.Hopefully zombies can’t swim. Because a couple somehow found themselves in this small boat in San Diego Bay.At Entertainment Weekly’s Con-X, the upcoming fantasy action adventure movie Kubo and the Two Strings was being promoted by some super friendly people. Looks pretty cool!Check it out! An awesomely cool Jabba the Hutt sculpture at Con-X. It was created by Gentle Giant Studios.It’s lunch time for Jabba the Hutt. Looks to me like he needs to go on a diet.Schick is at Con-X giving free shaves. Now that is some close attention!I found a silent, thoughtful man built of red Legos just sitting on a bench at Con-X. The Art of the Brick is coming soon to San Diego’s Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Cool!Alice and the Mad Hatter invited me for tea, but it was pretty warm outside Comic-Con, so I declined.Little Mermaid cosplay. She’s accompanied by Flounder. Did she arise from San Diego Bay? I’m walking back along the water toward the Hilton.For a few minutes I checked out Comic-Con HQ, which provides streaming video of all the Comic-Con goodness.A collectible figurine of Heavy, from Team Fortress 2, on display at Comic-Con HQ.These guys walking through the Comic-Con HQ area were in steampunk costumes–no particular character.I haven’t a clue who these big fuzzy critters are. Do you know?An excellent cosplay of Madame Vastra from Dr. Who.Back beside the Hard Rock Hotel, hordes of fans were waiting in line to check out the Suicide Squad.A unicorn outside San Diego Comic-Con holds some signs that promote KPBS programming.Oh, noooo! It’s Sharknado, AGAIN! Syfy’s promotional mayhem in the Gaslamp is as crazy as ever.Last year it was Uncle Sams on stilts. In 2016, it’s a bunch of Elvises. Or is that Elvi? Those sharks seem unstoppable.Hey Elvis! Why are you pointing at me? You seem to be the one with the gnawing problem.A cosplay Aquaman and Mera have paused to talk to a knight who is accompanied by a green-skinned damsel. Perhaps you can identify the latter two characters.I learned this cosplay is from The Witcher, a popular video game. Awesome!I don’t fear you! Not you, Scarecrow! Because I know numerous Batmans are nearby.Doc Brown of Back to the Future is looking for Marty. He’s either lost in the crowd or somewhere in time.Another KFC hotspot. Would you like this deep fried?More zany goodness was parading around the Gaslamp. Syfy’s PaTrolli Street Team had some of the most fun, weirdly awesome costumes.Some of that weirdly awesome cosplay approaches, coming up Fifth Avenue.Yeah, I admit it. You, dude, whatever-you-call-yourself, are weirdly awesome.
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This is one of the Batmobiles used in the filming of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. It’s on display across Harbor Drive from the convention center at 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.
Here comes yet another batch of cool photos!
2016 San Diego Comic-Con begins tomorrow, and I walked today–Wednesday–all over downtown to see what is rising outside for San Diego’s internationally famous pop culture event!
The answer: tons of cool stuff is popping up!
You might notice in some photos that many fans have arrived in San Diego already. Tonight is Preview Night inside the convention center. And tonight is also the world premiere of Star Trek Beyond, outside beside the water behind the convention center!
(To any of my blog’s readers who aren’t really into Comic-Con, hang on for a few more days! After Sunday, it’s on to other cool sights around San Diego! And as usual, I mostly don’t know what those sights will be! Walking randomly about results in many unexpected adventures!)
Conan O’Brien’s talk show is in San Diego for Comic-Con again. It starts tonight!Hundreds of people were in line early Wednesday morning to watch Conan perform at the Spreckels Theater.Most downtown businesses are now ready for Comic-Con fans. Here’s a window painting of Harley Quinn I spotted at Lolita’s near Petco Park.Various double-decker buses are going around decorated with big flashy wraps. This one promotes Impractical Jokers on the truTV channel.The Interactive Zone at Petco Park was still a work in progress on Wednesday–one day before the official start of 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.These rustic buildings in the Interactive Zone promote Ash vs Evil Dead on STARZ. I was impressed at how detailed and elaborate they appear!Another photo of the Ash vs Evil Dead setting in the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con Interactive Zone at Petco Park.These crane operators were putting up a gruesome banner next to the Suicide Squad movie venue, which remains unseen behind a wall at the Hard Rock Hotel.In the Gaslamp Quarter, Rock The Vote is encouraging people to register. Who would you prefer for president–Snoopy or Charlie Brown?A guy presses Wonder Woman’s feet to the window of a yogurt shop.Perhaps real superheroes will eat this week at Kansas City Barbeque, where scenes from the movie Top Gun were filmed.The Chuck Jones Gallery in the Gaslamp scored some big guests! Stan Lee and William Shatner!Two of the Powerpuff Girls were hovering mid-afternoon above the water at Children’s Park.Looks like a school bus pulled into San Diego from South Park, Colorado. I think I recognize some faces.These smiling ladies were out on the MLK Promenade promoting Hello Kitty!The video screen near the Tin Fish and the center of Comic-Con outdoor action is now operating.Here’s another look at the Batmobile on display near the Omni Hotel. It’s one of several that were used in the filming of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.Okay, I headed over the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge and now I’m near the Bayfront Hilton.A number of promotional signs are arranged along the walkway where thousands of Comic-Con fans will pass in the next four days.FX is present again in 2016 with their show Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. This is as close as I could approach the big red electric guitar.A huge stage is being built in the park behind the San Diego Convention Center, right in front of the Bayfront Hilton.Looks like IMDb is hosting a Comic-Con party on this big mega yacht behind the convention center!Not much cosplay spotted today, but I did catch a guy with Captain America’s shield waiting in line for some soft serve ice cream!The huge event today, Wednesday, is the world premiere of Star Trek Beyond. It’s taking place tonight right here in San Diego at Embarcadero Marina Park South.Looks like the red carpet was almost ready this afternoon for the world premiere of Star Trek Beyond!I assume this is just some boat owner having fun. I took this photo walking along the Marriott Marina.Entertainment Weekly will debut their unique Con-X tomorrow at Embarcadero Marina Park North. It’s billed as a place for Comic-Con goers to just chill and relax.Looks like Con-X has some huge comic book artist and animation guests. I see Jim Lee and Paul Dini! (Click to enlarge.)This blue guy made of Legos is sitting on a bench inside Con-X. I also spotted the back of a huge Jabba the Hutt sculpture. Wish I could’ve entered the event area. Looks cool!Is it Fire Lad of the Legion of Substitute Superheroes? No. It’s Murrugan the Mystic performing at Seaport Village. That flame is coming from his mouth! You might remember him on AMC’s Freakshow. He’s working to keep the carnival sideshow–an important part of Americana–alive.
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A huge graphic on the Hard Rock Hotel that includes video is nearly ready for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. It promotes the show Incorporated, coming this fall on Syfy.
Check out these photos! Many cool sights outside the convention center are taking shape for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con! I walked around today to see what’s going on. It looks like everyone is quickly getting ready! See for yourself!
The time machine ride which has been set up near the Tin Fish for Timeless is almost ready to go. The fight for all time begins!The Tin Fish has all sorts of Emerald City graphics on it.Emerald City coming to NBC. A new Oz rises.I was a bit surprised to see this area by the Omni Hotel dedicated to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.A cool little stage has Batmobile schematics for the backdrop. Not sure if a Batmobile will be displayed here… That would be cool!Poster at the Gaslamp trolley station advertises Blindspot. Trust no one.Another poster at the Gaslamp station advertises Midnight, Texas. Only outsiders fit in.The South Park 20 Interactive Fan Experience is slowly being assembled on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. It appears lots of classic scenes and characters will be included.A peek at some South Park characters on the grass.South Park The Fractured But Whole is a Ubisoft video game coming out in December.Cartman and his politically incorrect hand puppet.Stan and Kyle of South Park are hanging out in San Diego for Comic-Con!Graphics now adorn Amazon’s Thunderbirds Are Go pavilion.A photo of the unfinished interior of Thunderbirds Are Go at Comic-Con.Amazon’s other pavilion promotes their original series The Man in the High Castle.Like in years past, a big Vikings wrap has been applied to the west wall of Petco Park. I snapped this photo half in shadow, half in bright sunlight.Another huge wrap being applied to a section of Petco Park promotes Once Upon A Time.And another wrap on Petco Park concerns Designated Survivor, a new series on ABC this fall starring Kiefer Sutherland.Not much has been set up yet in the parking lot just east of Petco Park. They’ve got one day to go! Better hurry up!At least somebody got this Ferris wheel up in time!The park in front of the Hilton will feature The Comic-Con HQ Live Stage, FOX Television, and FX. Not much has been erected here yet, either!The Adult Swim play area is nearly completed. It appears much like it did last year.The entrance to Adult Swim’s outdoor venue will look just like last year, if my memory is to be trusted.As you can see, The Strain building wrap on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel is now finished.Even the Comic-Con hotel buses seem ready! (I got this photo in Mission Valley walking to work.)Finally, some fun comic book art has been painted on the windows of the Hilton’s Starbucks. A giant, menacing Thanos has smashed Captain America! Ouch!Artist puts finishing touches on a sinister Joker. 2016 San Diego Comic-Con is almost here!
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A cool Conan O’Brien building wrap is going up on the Marriott Marquis for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, even as the MLB All-Star Game wrap hasn’t been completely removed!
Preparation in downtown San Diego for 2016 Comic-Con has finally begun in earnest today, now that the MLB All-Star Game has concluded. Late this morning I walked all over the place–through the Gaslamp, behind the convention center, down the MLK Promenade, around Petco Park–just to see what might have popped up so far.
Talking to some people, I learned a little bit about what we’ll see outside 2016 San Diego Comic-Con! I learned that Timeless and Thunderbirds Are Go will be a center of attention. So will virtual reality, sponsored by Amazon. And I could see the huge presence of Conan O’Brien with my own eyes!
Of course, the massive undertaking required to prepare for San Diego Comic-Con has barely gotten started. Many more wraps and outdoor activities should begin popping up in the days ahead. I’ll keep a sharp lookout!
Read the photo captions, where I describe what I learned about a couple of venues being built outside Comic-Con…
Next to the Tin Fish, directly across from the convention center, an attraction is being built for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. This will promote the upcoming NBC television series Timeless. It appears to be a huge time machine!It appears to me Comic-Con fans will be able to take a wild spin in a time machine in this Timeless amusement ride.Beyond the construction, I spotted this year’s big new Funko Pop! Conan O’Brien building wrap.Several banners along the trolley tracks promote the newest season of Game of Thrones.Banners along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade promote Outcast on Cinemax and Vice Principals on HBO.I learned this venue along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade will have something to do with Amazon’s digital exclusive reboot of an old favorite, Thunderbirds Are Go!Workers get the Thunderbirds Are Go stage ready across Harbor Drive from the San Diego Convention Center.I was told this Amazon pavilion will be the scene of a virtual reality activity. I’m guessing lots of Comic-Con fans will be bumping around inside wearing VR headsets.Like last year, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront will feature a huge The Strain building wrap. This one already looks spooky, even through it’s far from completed.Preparations for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con have finally begun in earnest, now that the MLB All-Star Game has wrapped up!
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Just like last summer, 2016 San Diego Comic-Con trolley wraps sponsored by TBS feature Conan O’Brien turned into crazy Funko Pop! characters.
Here are photos of what will probably be the final trolley wrap for 2016 San Diego Comic-Con. I hope I’m proven wrong!
Today a number of trolleys cars featuring brand new Conan O’Brien Funko Pop! figures began heading up and down the Green Line; I counted at least five cars so far. The wrap is quite similar to last year’s TBS Comic-Con offering, but this time Conan has been transformed into four completely different pop culture characters.
In 2016 Conan is Superman, a Stormtrooper, a Ghostbuster and Joker. Of course, movies involving these characters are either imminent or on the way, so the wraps work as advertisements for those movies, for Funko Pop! vinyl figure toys, for San Diego Comic-Con, and lastly for Conan O’Brien’s talk show on TBS.
I’ve heard that like last year, Conan will be performing live at the Spreckels Theater on Broadway in downtown San Diego. Catch him and his inimitable humor starting July 20!
Conan O’Brien will be Live From Comic-Con starting July 20. His talk show antics will be enjoyed in the Spreckels Theater in downtown San Diego.Here Conan is turned into the Joker from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie. He might be damaged, but he has nowhere near enough tattoos.Looks to me as if Conan is a Star Wars Stormtrooper here. He must’ve lost his helmet.Yes, here’s Conan as a Ghostbuster, trying not to be slimed. Even though those black eyes make him look possessed and evil.And finally Conan O’Brien has been turned into good old Superman. Not sure if this is the cranky good old Superman who sometimes kills his enemies.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! If all goes well, I’m gonna have a ton of Comic-Con photos on my blog this year! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Doctor Strange street lamp banners have appeared along the Embarcadero more than a month before the start of 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.
A sign that 2016 San Diego Comic-Con is near has appeared along the Embarcadero. Many street lamps are hung with cool Doctor Strange banners! Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme and his upcoming movie will definitely be a big source of excitement at this year’s Comic-Con. A little more than a month to go!
Want to see lots more Comic-Con stuff? Then stay tuned to this blog, Cool San Diego Sights! As some of you may know, I live in downtown San Diego and have compiled quite a few Comic-Con photos over the past couple years. This year I should be able to take a ton more! Every single day during the incredible event, I’m going to walk everywhere (and I mean everywhere) outside the San Diego Convention Center and all around the Gaslamp and downtown San Diego to see what I can see. I’m going to snap literally thousands of photos and share the best ones with you! There’s a chance I might go inside, too! I sure hope so!
Meanwhile, if you’re hungry for photos from the past couple years, check out these fun pics from old blog posts! (And if you want to share any of this stuff on social media, that’s cool with me!)
If the gray sky is an omen of impending mystical evil . . . fear not! Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme will make a big appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July!
This year’s Comic-Con will be bigger and probably crazier than ever! Follow along for all the fun!
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Even though I have many posts concerning Comic-Con, my blog concerns a whole variety of stuff about San Diego! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A very cool street mural in North Park depicts icons from three decades: the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Check out this super cool street mural in North Park, on the side of a building near the corner of 30th Street and Adams Avenue! It’s titled “Remembering… 50’s 60’s 70’s” and was painted by the artist Kerry A. Moore in 2008. The mural depicts small, iconic scenes from what many might call the good old days! I searched like crazy but could find absolutely nothing about this fun street art on the internet.
How many entertainment legends and famous people from those three decades can you spot? Among others, I recognize Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, the I Love Lucy show, the Rat Pack, Martin Luther King, Jr., Neil Armstrong, the Beatles, JFK, Easy Rider, Jimi Hendrix, the original Star Wars, The Godfather, Happy Days, John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, and, of course, Rocky Balboa. I was a kid in the 70’s and remember many good times. Movies I remember fondly include Star Wars, Rocky and Superman. But most of my best old memories are probably from the 80’s, experiencing life and this great big world as a young adult. Wow, the years have gone by quickly.
I have a dream. Make love, not war. Happy Days. Revolutionary music, cool cars, sports heroes, and a space opera that changed entertainment forever. Bits of history and popular culture from America’s past. Now that is one jam-packed mural!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! 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 enjoy!
Elegant stern of HMS Surprise, one of many fascinating ships owned by the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
It’s Christmas. I wasn’t planning to blog today. But this afternoon I became a new member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego! (Having lived for 15 years just a short walk from the museum, it’s about time!)
Naturally, I couldn’t wait to visit several of the amazing ships. The Maritime Museum of San Diego has one of the finest and largest collections of historical ships in the world!
If you’ve ever watched the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, then you’ll probably recognize the HMS Surprise. The beautiful tall ship, upon which many scenes were filmed, is in the museum’s collection. And I took a bunch of photos today!
Becoming a member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego is going to be awesome. Among other great perks, I can visit any of the ships free for an entire year. I can sit in the elegant enclosed passenger deck of the Steam Ferry Berkeley and read and write whenever I please! Right out on beautiful San Diego Bay! How cool is that?
I bet some of you might really enjoy membership, too! I’m told they are looking for volunteers to help sail their new Spanish galleon replica San Salvador!
HMS Surprise in some morning sunlight.The ship you are about to board was originally built as a replica of the British 24-gun frigate Rose of 1757. HMS Rose played a role in the American Revolution and was sunk in Savanna harbor in 1779.Detailed model of the HMS Surprise, which is the only operating replica of an 18th century frigate in the world. The ship was used in the filming of Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe.Visitor to the San Diego Maritime Museum pretends to steer the tall ship HMS Surprise, which is docked on the Embarcadero near the historic Star of India, in the background.View of the ship’s main deck and lower rigging from the quarterdeck. A portion of San Diego’s skyline and the County Administration Building are visible.Cannon projects from hull of HMS Surprise, which is a replica of a 24-gun frigate of the Royal Navy, based on 18th century British Admiralty drawings.Looking upward at the three masts, furled sails and other complicated rigging.Photo through ropes of the nearby Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, also part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.The ship’s bell. Originally named the HMS Rose, the ship was re-registered as HMS Surprise because of her starring role in the film Master and Commander.Below deck there are many fascinating exhibits, which show what life was like aboard a frigate. Other displays recall the filming of Master and Commander.Pick the right kind of shot. The Surprise carried a variety of projectiles, each suited for different purposes.Artistic depiction of activity below deck during an engagement with the enemy. Operating the cannons was a complicated, dangerous duty.Feeling seasick? Visit the surgeon. Getting sick at sea was very serious not only for the ill sailor, but also for the entire crew.Exhibit inside HMS Surprise recalls the ship’s doctor in the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The fictional Dr. Stephen Maturin was also a scientist and naturalist.Most of the crew slept below the gun deck in hammocks. Tightly-packed swinging hammocks figured memorably in the visuals of the movie Master and Commander.Ship’s Biscuit, also known as Hard Tack, was easy to make and preserve, and became part of the staple diet for British and Spanish mariners on their long voyages in the Pacific.Chickens, geese and ducks were carried on board as live food. Officers enjoyed eggs. Fresh meat was reserved for the officers and those sick with scurvy.A remote station used for steering the ship when she is propelled by her twin diesel engines. In 2007, HMS Surprise was restored to sailing condition.One of several photos on display from the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Famous actor Russell Crowe played the role of Captain Jack Aubrey.Distinctive figurehead representing the Greek goddess Athena often seen in the popular movie. It now graces San Diego’s waterfront. UPDATE! I’ve been told it actually represents Boadicea, queen of the British Celtic Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire.Photograph of the HMS Surprise as evening approaches. One of many wonderful ships that visitors can board at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
UPDATE!
A new exhibit called Man-of-War opened on HMS Surprise in May, 2018. There are many new signs around the ship, and the captain’s great cabin is now open to the public. (I intend to blog about the great cabin separately.)
Here are additional photos. Read the captions for explanations about life aboard British fighting ships from that fascinating era.
A new exhibit called Man-of-War aboard the HMS Surprise features new signs describing life aboard an 18th century British frigate. Prepare for Battle!The ship was built as replica of the HMS Rose in 1970. It was purchased by Twentieth Century Fox to be used in the movie Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe, and was subsequently renamed HMS Surprise.Following maritime tradition, the ship has retained its original bell.Looking at the newly redecked quarterdeck of the HMS Surprise. The rest of the main deck will be restored as well.An officer on the quarterdeck would issue commands to the sailor manning the wheel, which controlled the rudder at the ship’s stern.The Disney Wonder cruise ship is seen docked in San Diego beyond the capstan. HMS Surprise was used in the filming of Disney’s movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.Many hands turned the capstan to raise or lower the anchor.Ordinary sailors relieved themselves at the ship’s bow. Hence the name head.This was a sailor’s bathroom!A man-of-war could remain at sea for many months and travel more than 150 miles per day.On the gun deck of HMS Surprise, replica twenty-four-pound cannons have names like Spit Fire, Beelzebub and Bulldog. Larger than what a frigate would carry, these were used for dramatic effect in the movie.A display demonstrates aspects of a warship’s gun and its operation.Diagram depicts how a six-man gun crew would load, aim and fire different types of shot.Sailors lived in their own specialized world, with familiar customs, rules, routines and expectations.The complex often stressful operation of a man-of-war required strict discipline. Punishments included flogging and gagging.The English diet at sea was rather simple and predictable. Lots of biscuit, beer, pease, oatmeal and butter. Pork and cheese, too.Cooking in the galley was done in calm weather. The Brodie Stove was designed for use on crowded wooden ships where dangerous fire must be avoided at all costs.A rat has found its way into a ship’s food barrel.The Royal Navy issued hard biscuits made of flour and water that were stored in sacks for months at a time. Weevils and maggots were a constant problem.Costume worn by character Midshipman Lord William Blakeney in the movie Master and Commander.Unlike the captain who in his great cabin as a gentleman lived in comparative luxury, lesser officers, like the crew, made due with cramped quarters.Midshipmen who sought to become officers learned seamanship and navigation. They had to master many skills required to operate and command a ship.Instruments used to navigate a ship included the octant and sand glass.The doctor’s quarters on the HMS Surprise. A photo shows actor Paul Bettany as the film’s character Dr. Stephen Maturin.Hammocks were often used by sailors to store clothing and personal items.A suspended mess table where sailors would eat together next to a hammock on the gun deck of museum ship HMS Surprise.
Cool San Diego Sights! 