Tag: water

A few morning birds around the city.

Someone waits on a sidewalk among pigeons early one morning in downtown San Diego.
Someone waits on a sidewalk among pigeons, early one morning in downtown San Diego.

In the city of San Diego, the early bird catches the worm. And an early morning walker takes many photos!

One cool aspect of living in downtown San Diego is the proximity of various rivers, estuaries, bays and, of course, the Pacific Ocean. One meets a host of different aquatic birds, including ducks, gulls, herons, cormorants, least terns, and other graceful inhabitants of air and water.

Here are a few fun photos that have gathered in my computer.

One of many pigeons in the city.
One of many pigeons in the city.
Small birds on sunlit grass one morning along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.
Small birds on sunlit grass one morning along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.
A black-crowned night heron perched atop the Pier Cafe.
A black-crowned night heron perched atop the Pier Cafe.
A seagull stands on Broadway Pier over San Diego Bay.
A seagull stands on Broadway Pier over San Diego Bay.
Strangely, a great blue heron stands in the southwest corner of Balboa Park one morning, watching people walk up a path.
Strangely, a great blue heron stands in the southwest corner of Balboa Park one morning, watching people walk up a path.
Ducks hang out by the pool in the San Diego Museum of Art's May S. Marcy Sculpture Court.
Ducks hang out by the pool in the San Diego Museum of Art’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Court.
A mother duck and two ducklings walk among leaves on the Our River mural in Mission Valley.
A mother duck and two ducklings walk among leaves on the Our River mural in Mission Valley.
Morning ducks near the Children's Park Fountain.
Morning ducks in Children’s Park downtown.
A morning walk past the Children's Park Fountain near many birds.
A morning walk past the Children’s Park Fountain near many birds.
Gulls enjoy a beautiful morning in the city.
Gulls enjoy another beautiful morning 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!

A dramatic sunset from Star of India.

This evening I enjoyed watching the sun set as I rested for a few minutes on the always amazing Star of India. The brilliant sunset behind slanting ropes made for a few dramatic photographs.

San Diego’s beloved, famous tall ship is surrounded by such beauty.

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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 day full of dreaming by the water.

Dreaming together by the sparkling water.
Dreaming together by the sparkling water.

A slow, lazy day. One last November day of unseasonably warm weather. Like many, I had the day off from work.

A quiet stroll along San Diego Bay.

A day for dreaming by the water.

Reflected light is all we see. A dream of light flows from the hand of painter Paul Strahm.
Sitting in sunshine above the water. A dream of light flows from the hand of the always friendly painter Paul Strahm.
The undefinable essence of dreams.
The undefinable essence of dreams.
A vision beyond the reach of a pier.
A vision beyond the reach of a pier.
Light on water invites meditation.
A firm foundation and quiet moment. Light on water invites meditation.
More quiet time by the water.
Time vanishes near the water.
Ripples in a strange reality.
Ripples in a strange reality.
Moving together past a burst of beauty.
Moving together in the walk of life, past a burst of beauty.
Almost like a dream within a dream.
Almost like a dream within a dream.
Enjoying this magic, wonderful life together.
Enjoying this magic, wonderful life together.
Reading words by the tranquil water. Sensing deeper truths.
Reading words by tranquil water. Perhaps sensing deeper truths.
Another day of dreaming by the water.
Another day of dreaming by the shining water.

Today two ideas for short stories came to me like a dream. As I sat on a bench by beautiful San Diego Bay, I penned a few passing words.

I believe the titles will be The Failed Heart and A Dangerous Noise. When these stories feel finished–if that feeling ever comes–I’ll publish them on my writing blog Short Stories by Richard.

Beautiful photos of downtown from Coronado.

Late Sunday morning I rode the Silvergate ferry across San Diego Bay to Coronado. I wanted to sit by the water for a couple of hours and read.

On my way from the Coronado Ferry Landing to my favorite bench at Tidelands Park, I watched as moving clouds seemed to transform the beautiful downtown skyscrapers into a shining, ever-changing dream. I took many photos as I went.

When it was time to make my way back to the Ferry Landing, the sky had become more blue, and glass windows in the skyline reflected brilliant sunlight. As I waited for the next ferry to arrive, I walked north past the pier and took even more photos.

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Light, water and sunset at Waterfront Park.

Looking west toward San Diego Bay at sunset, from the north section of Waterfront Park.
Looking west toward San Diego Bay at sunset, from the north section of Waterfront Park.

November already. It’s getting dark earlier and earlier.

After work today, when I got off the trolley at the Little Italy station, the sun was almost ready to set. So I hurried across Pacific Highway to the quiet north half of Waterfront Park to take in the beauty.

Looking south past the lighted fountains toward the County Administration Building. It soon will be dark.
Looking south past the lighted fountains toward the County Administration Building. It soon will be dark.
Light along a splashing fountain at the park as darkness approaches.
Light along a splashing fountain as darkness approaches.
Jetting water lit brightly from beneath. Looks like sparklers!
The jetting water is lit brightly from beneath. Looks like sparklers!
Looking north along the fountains of Waterfront Park.
Gazing north through the beautiful fountains of Waterfront Park.
To the east, nearby building windows and Niki de Saint Phalle's colorful Serpent Tree gleam, reflecting late light.
To the east, nearby building windows and Niki de Saint Phalle’s colorful Serpent Tree gleam, reflecting late light.
The lights are on. The north end of the handsome County Administration Building is ready for night.
Lights have come on. The north end of the handsome County Administration Building is ready for night.
A blazing sunset beneath palm trees on San Diego's Embarcadero, as seen from Waterfront Park.
A blazing sunset beneath palm trees on San Diego’s Embarcadero, as seen from Waterfront Park.

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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!

Optical magic at the Bay Overlook.

I took a few photos today at Tuna Harbor Park’s popular Bay Overlook. The sun had fallen low. Sunset colors were rising.

Glass, water, clouds and sunlight created optical magic.

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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!

Dreams of gold on the darkening blue.

Admiral Hornblower on blue San Diego Bay gleams in the last rays of daylight.
Admiral Hornblower on blue San Diego Bay. It gleams in the last rays of daylight.

This evening I glimpsed dreams of gold on the darkening blue…

The darkening ship moves across the water toward a golden sunset.
The ship moves across the darkening water toward a golden sunset.
Youth row a Maritime Museum longboat as the sun sets, perhaps dreaming of finding pirate gold.
Young students row a Maritime Museum of San Diego longboat as the sun sets. Perhaps they dream of finding pirate gold.
Rowing forward across the water, all together as if in one shadowy dream.
Rowing the longboat forward across the water. They move together, as if in one twilight dream.
A trail of gold gleams behind a ship heading into evening darkness.
A trail of gold glistens behind Admiral Hornblower as it moves into the mysterious distance.

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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 good day to catch mackerel in OB.

Fishermen enjoy a perfect September day along the Ocean Beach Pier. Today everybody was catching mackerel.
Fishermen enjoy a perfect September day along the Ocean Beach Pier. Today everybody was catching mackerel.

Today was a good day to catch mackerel in Ocean Beach. Fishermen were pulling up shining prizes all along the OB Pier.

What was their secret? Cut bait, a little patience, slathered sunscreen, and perhaps a cool beverage and some music. Nothing more. (Not even a fishing license. It’s free to fish from a San Diego pier.)

The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier was built in 1966 and is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast. Its reach into deep water makes it an excellent place to catch a wide variety of fish.
The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier was built in 1966 and is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast. Its reach into deep water makes it an excellent place to catch a wide variety of fish.
Not everyone was fishing. Some were just out enjoying the sunshine. A guy on a bike looks down on the busy beach.
Not everyone was fishing. Some were just out enjoying the sunshine. A guy on a bike looks down on the busy beach.
This guy caught a silvery mackerel. They were really biting today along the entire length of the pier.
This guy caught a silvery mackerel. They were really biting today along the entire length of the pier.
Young and old alike were having success!
Young and old alike were having success!
Below the pier, there seemed to be as many surfers as mackerel in the ocean.
Below the pier, there seemed to be as many surfers as fish in the ocean.
Some kids at the OB Pier's T-shaped end catch another nice mackerel!
Some kids at the OB Pier’s T-shaped end catch another nice mackerel!
This guy caught one, too!
This guy caught one, too!
A curious glance backward as a photo is taken of a prized catch!
A curious glance backward as a photo is taken of a prized catch!
It appears catching that mackerel was a lot of fun!
It appears catching that mackerel was a lot of fun!

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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!

Beautiful white sails on San Diego Bay.

Please enjoy these photos of beautiful sails out on San Diego Bay.

During my busy weekend I went on a harbor cruise aboard the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic Pilot boat. (Become a member of the museum and you get all sorts of complimentary tickets!)

I saw dozens of white-winged sailboats soaring across blue water.

It seemed like a dream.

IMG_7890z

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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!

Festival of Sail tall ships at sunset!

I was lucky to get some amazing photos this evening!

After work I took a walk along the Embarcadero, knowing that most of the visiting tall ships had arrived in San Diego for the 2017 Festival of Sail. What I hadn’t expected was an absolutely glorious sunset.

The following photos concentrate on a cluster of just three ships, including the museum’s Spanish galleon San Salvador, and the Exy and Irving Johnson, the twin brigantine flagships of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute. I walked back and forth along the water as the sun slowly descended into the fiery clouds.

If you’re in San Diego this weekend, make sure to check out the Festival of Sail near the Maritime Museum. You can tour lots of cool tall ships from up and down the West Coast and other historic vessels. And there will be cannon battles on the bay, special harbor tours, kids activities, tons of food and probably some roving pirates! The event runs Friday through Labor Day. As an enthusiastic member of the museum, you can bet I’ll be there!

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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!

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