Tag: san diego bay

Photos of Colombian tall ship Gloria in San Diego!

The public is invited to tour the very beautiful Colombian tall ship ARC Gloria, which is presently docked in downtown San Diego at the Broadway Pier!

The large three-masted barque is used by the Colombian Navy as a cadet training ship. It’s also the flagship of the Colombian Navy and floating goodwill ambassador. It’s currently on a tour of the west coast of North America.

Through the afternoon of Sunday, November 9, 2025, during daytime hours, anyone can freely board the amazing tall ship and walk about its decks. That’s what I did this morning, camera in hand!

A friendly salute welcomed everybody stepping from the gangplank. There are plenty of awesome photo ops. Visitors, after roaming about the ship, also have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs to remember their experience.

Take a look!

The figurehead of the ARC Gloria is a gilded, winged angel named María Salud. This figurehead is a tribute to the daughter of the sculptor who created it, Victor Gutiérrez Jiménez.

Here we go!

A shining plaque beneath the ship’s crest contains the words HIMNO BUQUE ESCULEA ARC GLORIA… MUSICA Y LETRA DE EVELIA PORTO DE MEJIA.

According to this: Evelia Porto de Mejía (1925-2013), a writer and composer from Cartagena, is renowned for her contributions to music and etiquette on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. She composed the anthem for the Gloria training ship of the Colombian National Navy, as well as several musical pieces that celebrate the traditions and culture of Cartagena.

You can read the anthem’s lyrics in Spanish here.

A medallion-like tribute mounted next to the door to SALON ALMIRANTE PADILLA. With his likeness, it honors GRAN ALMIRANTE JOSE PADILLA LOPEZ.

According to this: José Prudencio Padilla López…was a military officer and sailor and hero who participated in the wars of independence.

UPDATE!

I got a better photo of the beautiful figurehead the following day…

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

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Fishing family unloads albacore in San Diego!

A big haul of albacore tuna was being unloaded today in San Diego’s Tuna Harbor. Huge boxes were being filled with albacore from the fishing vessel Piky, to be promptly shipped to Oregon for canning.

I learned the Piky is operated by a fishing family. They own Craft Fish Company. They fish responsibly, the old-fashioned way, by hand with pole and line. They are a certified member of the American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA).

As their website states: This is small-batch seafood in its purest form. Every fish is sustainably caught by pole and line, one at a time, by people who know the sea and respect its rhythms. No factory fleets. No shortcuts. Just honest fish, responsibly harvested by our own hands.

Also: Our albacore is wild-caught exclusively in U.S. waters by a U.S.-flagged vessel using pole-and-line fishing, a highly selective and sustainable method that eliminates bycatch.

Very cool!

Considering all those huge boxes, that was a whole lot of fishing!

I see you can purchase the canned, high-quality albacore tuna on their website. Click here!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Polar research sailboat Persévérance in San Diego!

Have you seen the enormous sailboat Persévérance docked in San Diego?

I saw the amazing boat this morning. It was a little north of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. I was told it has been in San Diego the past few days.

The Persévérance is a research vessel operated by world-renowned French explorer and polar expedition pioneer Jean-Louis Étienne.

According to a map displayed on the boat, the 2025-2026 Jean-Louis Étienne and Elsa Pény-Étienne’s Expedition has has already visited Greenland and the Arctic region via the Northwest Passage. After leaving the West Coast it will cross the Pacific Ocean and head south to study Antarctica!

The unique oceanographic schooner gathers data on climate and ocean currents, visits Marine Protected Areas, and seeks to analyze human impact on the oceans. Marine Protected Areas on the itinerary include Clipperton, French Polynesia, Ross Sea, and the proposed Dumon d’Urville MPA in East Antarctica.

I asked whether there will be public tours of this remarkable sailboat, but was told, unfortunately, no.

If you’d like to learn more, here’s the Persévérance website!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

A San Diego Milestone in Horton Square.

A plaque in downtown San Diego relates a bit of our city’s early history. It’s titled A San Diego Milestone.

You can find the bronze plaque in Horton Square, an outdoor area north of the old Horton Plaza shopping mall. (Not to be confused with larger Horton Plaza Park.)

The plaque states:

San Diego bay is a natural harbor. First sighted in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the bay was originally named San Miguel. Next visited in 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino renamed the bay after a canonized priest, San Diego, from Alcala, Spain. Seldom visited for the next 150 years, Father Junipero Sera came overland from Mexico and founded the first of the California missions in San Diego (Old Town) in 1769. The mission grew and officially became an American town in 1846.

The bay was too shallow for ships to come close in, so passengers were taken to shore by rowboat to the water’s edge and then carried to dry land on the backs of sailors or Indians. Then they were taken by wagon to town…a few miles north to Old Town. In 1867, Alonzo E. Horton first came to San Diego and was immediately convinced that “the town should be down by the wharf.”

This plaque is one of several in Horton Square. Two bronze statues stand among them.

Apparently, according to one corner of the plaque, all together these make up the Horton Walk.

Twelve years ago, back when Cool San Diego Sight was brand new, I photographed the other statues and plaques. See those by clicking here.

The old statue of Ernest Hahn has since been moved–I don’t know where. If you know, please leave a comment!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Oars row again through Chula Vista sky!

Wind Oars are rowing again through Chula Vista’s blue sky!

During previous walks through Chula Vista’s Bayside Park, I’d noticed the oars of the public art sculpture were missing from their posts. Yesterday I saw they’re back!

The wind-driven oars had been taken down temporarily to be refurbished once before, many years ago, so I assume that’s what happened again.

As I walked beside San Diego Bay yesterday afternoon, finding the oars rowing through the blue summer sky, I had to take a few photographs. The immense, newly opened Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center is visible in the background of one photo.

Wind Oars, as explained by Port of San Diego’s self-guided Chula Vista tidelands art tour, was created by George Peters and Melanie Walker in 2004. The kinetic sculpture is made of aluminum, polycarbonate and prismatic film.

You can visit the Air Works Studio website of artists George Peters and Melanie Walker by clicking here.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Join a free, fun Kayak Cleanup Event!

Would you like to help clean the wetlands of south San Diego Bay? Would you like to do so while kayaking on the beautiful water? Would you like to do so for free? YES!

No kayak, no problem. They’re provided. No experience kayaking, no problem. It’s easy going. Cleanup materials are provided, too.

Ocean Connectors organizes fun Kayak Cleanup Events that anyone can freely join. I happened to observe one such event today during my visit to Pepper Park in National City.

I spotted a sign concerning the event at the boat ramp, then wandered over to the parked Chula Vista Water Sports truck to ask all about it. Chula Vista Water Sports provides the kayaks. They partner with Ocean Connectors.

I saw the participating kayakers were busy across the Sweetwater River channel, removing bits of litter, cleaning our environment, cruising slowly, gently along. I think I might try this! Each event lasts 2 to 4 hours.

Check out this page to learn all about these Kayak Cleanup Events and book your future participation. Groups up to 15 can join. And yes, it’s all completely FREE!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

A new beach opens in National City!

A completely new beach has opened in National City!

Fine white sand and shady umbrellas now await beach lovers at Pepper Park, on the edge of the Sweetwater River near San Diego Bay!

The perched beach might be relatively small, but it’s the perfect place for a picnic, a spread blanket, a comfy lounge chair or a sandcastle. The beach is one of many improvements presently being made to Pepper Park.

One major improvement on the way is a new pirate-themed playground that kids will love. A hillside play area, a splash pad and a new entrance plaza are also coming.

According to this Port of San Diego web page, which includes conceptual renderings of the project, Pepper Park could eventually be expanded by 2.5 acres, adding even more features.

Pepper Park has historically been a venue for festivals in San Diego’s South Bay, such as the Mariachi Festival. These big improvements should make this great public park even more awesome!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Unusual sights on San Diego’s Embarcadero!

Anyone walking the length of San Diego’s Embarcadero might have observed three very unusual sights today!

First, starting at the south end of the Embarcadero, very close to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, an immense NASSCO drydock has appeared!

This floating drydock, the NASSCO Builder, is usually stationed down at the NASSCO shipyard well south of here, in the vicinity of the Coronado Bay Bridge. It’s capable of containing very large ships. The public typically can’t get a close view of its immensity.

Today the NASSCO Builder was docked strangely at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, where the Dole banana boats usually unload! Someone with the Coronado Ferry said the gigantic drydock appeared there yesterday.

The next photo was taken from Embarcadero Marina Park South…

Nearby, at the Hilton, some wise words…

Next, I noticed some guys were repairing a purse seiner net on the pier adjacent to Seaport Village. This is seldom seen. More often, these large nets are repaired across Tuna Harbor at the longer G Street Pier.

These nets are unspooled into the ocean from purse seiners in order to catch bait fish, which are in turn used for sportfishing.

Finally, I noticed that America’s Tall Ship, the United States Coast Guard training ship USCGC Eagle, has returned to San Diego! It was out on the ocean the last few days, with future Coast Guard officers aboard, transforming themselves from young “swabs” to cadets!

I went aboard the amazing Eagle last weekend and took these photos!

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Fun in San Diego at Crunchyroll Anime FanFest!

The two day Crunchyroll Anime FanFest in San Diego began this afternoon. The huge event takes place during Comic-Con 2025.

Fun, sunshine and live entertainment can be freely enjoyed by all comers at the Rady Shell, on San Diego Bay behind the convention center!

I showed up today–Friday–shortly after the family-friendly Anime FanFest opened at 1 pm. Everyone was admitted into the spacious outdoor venue quickly. Fans of anime–particularly entertainment streamed on Crunchyroll–will love the photo ops, exclusive merchandise, food, free swag, and a fan-fueled happy atmosphere.

Later on during the festival, some super popular musical acts would take the stage. Big names include SPYAIR, yama, Denzel Curry and INIKO. To see the lineup and for more details, check out the Crunchyroll website here.

I must admit, I simply love hanging out at the Rady Shell on San Diego Bay, whatever the reason. To get away from it all, for relaxation, I love to walk out on the nearby pier. I’m an older guy, so I like that sort of thing.

The Crunchyroll Anime FanFest continues tomorrow, Saturday July 26. If you want to have a relaxed chill experience, or party it up, head on over to the Rady Shell!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!

Afternoon walk before Comic-Con Preview Night!

Comic-Con 2025 is about ready to begin in earnest! Fans are streaming into downtown San Diego for Preview Night!

My walk around the San Diego Convention Center and through the Gaslamp Quarter in the mid-afternoon kept my camera very busy.

Enjoy another collection of photos!

House of Blues has cool programming during Comic-Con 2025.
These guys used lightsabers to remove a Predator’s head.
All sorts of merch on display outside the Doctor Who offsite!
Twisted activity expected here.
Twisted Metal on Peacock graphic.
Red Sonja is wanted by order of Emperor Draygan.
Hot Wheels is back!
Friendly sign spinner directs fans to the Comic-Con Blood Drive at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Look at the line of buses!
ABC will lift Abbott Elementary fans high into the San Diego sky.
Graphics near entrance of the Voodoo Ranger offsite.
Ramp down to Voodoo Ranger “pirate ship” has these cool graphics.
Ahoy there, matey! Voodoo Ranger returns to Comic-Con.
Looking south down the bayside boardwalk past King of the Hill’s offsite.
Indiana Jones is here! Drinking from the Holy Grail has seemingly preserved his youth.
Must Be This Crazy to Ride at Starr Park!
Is that a cat mermaid at Adult Swim?
Find two Smiling Friends at the Adult Swim activation behind the San Diego Convention Center.
This way to Indigo Ballroom in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
A view of offsites behind the convention center from the Hilton.
Down there is the Superman offsite, a production of DC Comics and Old Spice. Does Superman sweat?
This smiling guy wants you to ask questions!
The Interactive Zone at Petco Park seems a bit sparse this year. At least, so far.
The Labu-Tique Pop Up Shop at Petco Park!
Lots of stuff has shown up near the Omni.
That Thunderbolts graphic kind of looks like a cereal box.
Yes, Stitch has huge ears.
How adorable.
Stitch surfs in San Diego!
Spead ’em Nerds! I didn’t realize Liam Neeson can do the splits.
A Triple Chocolate Feast sounds good right now.
Fifth Avenue is going to be crazy the next four days!
Cool sculpture at entrance to the Predator: Badlands activation.
I’m not sure I’d want to be a friend of Frendo.
Cheetos mascot on a bicycle!
Coca Cola presents Holocreator starring you!
Would you like to become a Sith?
Fantastic Rewards can be grabbed by fans who enjoy the Google Play offsite.
Mitchell, didgeridoo player from Balboa Park, has beamed down!
Yikes! The Joker has arrived!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Feel free to share!