Tag: weddings

A small Moorish garden of outstanding beauty.

The Casa del Rey Moro garden is a small gem in Balboa Park.
The Casa del Rey Moro garden is a small gem in Balboa Park.

In the 1920s, prominent San Diego architect Richard Requa visited Europe. During his extensive tour, he carefully observed a Moorish king’s garden in Ronda, Spain. A book that he later authored stated: “In my travels about the world, I had found three gardens of outstanding interest and beauty… The finest of these is in a small town in southern Spain called Ronda. Viewing it for the first time, there came instantly to mind the spontaneous exclamation, ‘I hope to die before I see anything more lovely.'”

Inspired by what he’d seen, Requa designed the Casa del Rey Moro garden (House of the Moorish King) for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego’s Balboa Park. In 1997 the garden and adjacent House of Hospitality were rededicated after a major renovation. The garden, today a popular wedding spot, includes a replica of the wishing well in the Guadalajara Museum of Gardens.

Balboa Park is an enormous place full of competing attractions. It’s strange how I always feel compelled to walk through the Casa del Rey Moro garden!

View from House of Hospitality balcony of The Prado restaurant's outdoor seating near the garden.
View from a House of Hospitality balcony of The Prado restaurant’s outdoor seating near the garden.
A wishing well frames two elegant, classic fountains.
A wishing well frames two elegant, classic fountains.
The garden is a reproduction of the Moorish gardens in Ronda, Spain.
Beautiful elements are reproduced from a Moorish garden in Ronda, Spain.
A close up photo of one picturesque fountain.
A close up photo of one picturesque fountain.
Visitors read about the history of the Casa del Rey Moro garden.
Visitors read about the interesting history of the Casa del Rey Moro garden.
In my travels about the world, I have found three gardens of outstanding interest and beauty...
“In my travels about the world, I have found three gardens of outstanding interest and beauty…”
One can see why this venue is extremely popular for weddings.
One can see why this venue is extremely popular for weddings.

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Hundreds of vows, one Valentine’s Day arbor.

Brides, grooms and guests approach County Administration Building on Valentine's Day.
Brides, grooms and special guests approach County Administration Building on Valentine’s Day.

Today I took the trolley to Qualcomm Stadium to check out the very cool Lunar New Year Festival. Before catching the trolley at the Little Italy station, I walked around the nearby County Administration Building and its beautiful waterfront park. Every year on Valentine’s Day, hundreds of weddings are performed here. According to an article I read, this year 187 ceremonies were scheduled!

I didn’t stay long, and I kept a respectful distance from those who were tying the knot, but I did manage to get a few decent pics!

This soon-to-wed couple is interviewed by a television reporter.
This happy soon-to-be-wed couple is interviewed by a television reporter.
People enter and leave San Diego's County Administration Center in bliss.
People enter and leave San Diego’s County Administration Center in bliss.
The first ceremony takes places at the small wedding arbor in the waterfront park.
The first ceremony takes places at the small wedding arbor in the waterfront park.
Love is in the air, and across the street at the waiting taco shop.
Love is in the air, and across the street at the waiting taco shop.

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