Yellow mustard is blooming across San Diego’s hillsides, and other early spring flowers are thriving, too! The rainy winter has produced a cheerful show of bright color all around the city.
I walked near the San Diego River by Fashion Valley this morning and found many patches of sunflowers.
UPDATE!
I goofed! Most of these flowers are actually garland chrysanthemums (also called crown daisies), which aren’t native to our region. But these invasive plants do flourish in San Diego now.
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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!
As I walked through downtown San Diego early this morning, my eyes climbed up the sides of walls and buildings. They found unexpected splashes of light.
Another adventure in the city!
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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!
Shark street art on a utility box at the corner of Shelter Island Drive and Rosecrans Street.
This morning I headed to Point Loma to visit three sites participating in the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s 2019 OPEN HOUSE SAN DIEGO. All three are located in a neighborhood at the foot of Shelter Island–an area once populated by many Portuguese fishermen. I think you might enjoy a look at Little Portugal’s history and some of its landmarks.
Before I sort through all those photographs, however, please enjoy others photos I took during a fun walk down Shelter Island Drive, from Rosecrans Streets to the recently improved Shelter Island boat ramp.
(To see additional street art I photographed along Shelter Island Drive a couple years ago, click here!)
The Union Bank on the corner of Shelter Island Drive and Rosecrans Street has a colorful mural near its entrance. Tuna fishermen with poles out on the Pacific Ocean.Plaque describes the above artwork. Sean Wells – Art Teacher. Mural completed Spring 2010 depicting historic scenes of the Point Loma region.As I began walking along Shelter Island Drive, a gigantic yacht passed down the street!A few benches overlook a corner of the Shelter Island Yacht Basin. It’s a nice place to sit in the sun and relax.I spotted this cool stained glass panel in a window of The Marlin Club.I remember seeing several huge fish suspended here years ago, before I began taking photos for this blog.Someone bikes past a huge boat lift at the Shelter Island Boatyard.Those yachts being repaired seem to be up in the sky!People bicycle near the Ocean Song sculpture in front of Humphreys Half Moon Inn. This cool public art was created by Alber De Matteis.As I approach San Diego Bay, I see the Pacific Portal sculpture by local artist James T. Hubbell.I’ve arrived at the recently improved and enlarged Shelter Island Launch Ramp. Many recreational watercraft enter San Diego Bay here.Looks like these guys backing their boat into the water intend to spend the day fishing.Someone hangs out nearby, sitting among beached dinghies.Looking across the boat launch basin, the San Diego downtown skyline in the distance.I see some sailboats racing in the distance, between here and Harbor Island.Here comes an amphibious SEAL tour boat. Tourists float out toward the entrance of San Diego Bay, then turn around near the submarines at Naval Base Point Loma.These cool vessels drive right out of the water and up onto the boat ramp!After walking a bit, I’m nearer those small sailboats that were racing in the distance.Some people by the rocky shore watch even more distant sailboats with binoculars.My small camera zooms and just manages to capture a nice image.Look! Here comes San Salvador, the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s amazing Spanish galleon replica!Now that is one very cool sight!
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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!
These photos are from early this morning. I pulled out my camera and began walking west down Ash Street from the top of Cortez Hill. I ended near the trolley and railroad tracks, just north of the Santa Fe Depot.
Over the years my blog has shown many of these downtown buildings. Often I provide description. Today I just want to share what it’s like to walk down Ash Street on a clear spring morning.
Here we go…
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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!
After work I got off the trolley at Old Town, crossed Congress Street, and headed into the State Historic Park. With the recent return to Daylight Saving Time, there’s an extra hour of light for a leisurely walk.
At first I wasn’t sure what I would photograph. Then, minutes before the sun might disappear behind the horizon, I found myself lingering near the backyards of several very early San Diego houses.
It was the golden, almost dreamlike light that caught my eyes.
I walked along a quiet pathway that passes behind a row of historic structures, including Colorado House, La Casa de Machado y Silvas, U.S. House and San Diego House.
These backyards, back porches and gardens always appear a bit timeworn and scraggly, but the late light magically turned them into something wholly new.
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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!
After enjoying the big Mariachi Festival in Chula Vista on Sunday, I headed south to Imperial Beach just to relax and gaze at the ocean from the pier.
As I walked down Seacoast Drive near Palm Avenue, I spied a cool mural that didn’t exist the last time I passed this way.
On the north wall of Pizzeria Luigi a splash of colorful abstract art and a bold face have appeared. I searched the mural right and left, but couldn’t figure out who the artist is. Perhaps I didn’t look closely enough. The complex spray paint art resembles the work of Maxx Moses. If someone knows more, please leave a comment.
There is another new mural on the front of the restaurant that depicts an eagle and pizza, and a third faded mural on the south side that I have observed on past walks. That one depicts surf breaking and the words from Genesis: In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. I wish I could recall who occupied the building before Pizzeria Luigi opened.
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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!
Alice gazes out at Adams Avenue from a fence behind White Rabbit Day Spa.
This morning I took a long walk down Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. I was pleased to discover all sorts of new murals and street art since the last time my camera passed this way, about a year and a half ago.
Check out all these photos of the cool artwork!
A beautiful new face has replaced a similar mural between Adams Avenue Tattoo and the El Zarape restaurant.The #SPACECLONES have invaded Normal Heights!An abstract bear mural by @SKYEWALKER_ART appears to contain lots of nature symbolism.A rainbow and fierce pink unicorn painted on a utility box. BE THE MAGICYOU ARE POWER FULL by Janine Wareham.MEOWER TO THE PEOPLE.THISSSS IS AWESOMEA colorful mural on the side of Konrad+King always attracts my attention when I’m driving down Adams Avenue.A very cool face in Normal Heights.Be uniquely you! #CreatesWithPaintsThe fingers painted on this electrical box transform into palm trees and telephone poles!Beautiful flowers and birds.Looks like a crown of prickly pears atop this female face. @ASHLEYLGNARAn ice cream cone cat drips on a silly dog! @MAW_CZMore cool street art along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.A cuddly cat.
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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 was chuckling this morning as I walked through Little Italy.
Here are half a dozen humorous photos!
A friendly attendant stands by in a window of Little Italy’s Loading Dock.Whimsical figure above the front windows of Architectural Salvage.Glittery merchandise like a pot of gold in the window of Blick Art Materials.Two neighbors have a friendly oink over the fence.There are many bars in Little Italy. There is also a Doggie Bar.
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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!
Another perfect day for a walk, ride or four-legged run by San Diego Bay!
Favorite sights (plus a few surprises) greeted my eyes as I enjoyed a slow walk along San Diego Bay this afternoon!
Many others were out and about. The breeze was pleasantly cool. Blue sky and sunshine peeked through dramatic clouds.
I walked from the Maritime Museum of San Diego down to the Hilton San Diego Bayside, before turning for home.
Guys at the Maritime Museum of San Diego were busy cutting a chain on the barge.A museum volunteer cleans the top of Steam Ferry Berkeley. Good progress is being made on this historic ship’s exterior restoration!Cool guy Gary Reid provides soulful music by the USS Midway.Visitors to San Diego move along the Greatest Generation Walk toward the Embracing Peace statue.Bright flowers in the garden by The Fish Market restaurant.A couple pauses to gaze at fishing boats in Tuna Harbor.I aim my camera through stacked lobster traps. I believe the fuzzy white stuff is dead, sun-bleached algae.I think I recognize that pedicab driver.A bright sailboat on San Diego Bay, with Coronado in the background.I knew I recognized her! It’s Diane!Kyler MacKenzie plays gypsy music on his guitar near Seaport Village.A balloon twister guy heads off on his bike.Kids examine a kite near a tree at Embarcadero Marina Park North.Almost like a dream. Perhaps you can tell why I love San Diego.People with dogs on the grass, the Coronado Bay Bridge in the distance.A crow on some roots.The silvery Marriott Marquis and Marina. No rain in the afternoon, but dramatic clouds linger.Back near Seaport Village, I spotted this cool Popcorn Bar!Today is the second day of Seaport Village’s annual busker festival. George Gilbert from Fort Myers Beach, Florida entertains a good crowd.I always seem to see a snowy egret at this same spot in the Marriott Marina.Workers string some lights near the Marina Terrace.A pinwheel and a smile! You can’t go wrong with that combination!It’s a Wonderful Life.But getting old does present difficulties.The Flame of Friendship sculpture gleams up on the San Diego Convention Center.Walking along.Trees and clouds seen from Embarcadero Marina Park South.A large gull near diners at Burgers, Bait and Beer.Here come Spirit of San Diego and Admiral Hornblower. Both are coming from the South Bay on a harbor tour.A water taxi comes in from Coronado. That huge yellow Dole Atlantic ship is loading containers at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.Those empty containers being loaded by the ship’s crane will fill up with bananas eventually and come on back to San Diego.A look up at the Hilton San Diego Bayside from its side that faces away from downtown.Near the bayside entrance to the Hilton there’s a place to take photos. Greetings from San Diego.Another perfect early March day on San Diego Bay.
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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!