2007-01-13-Saturday
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 Index
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Saturday, January
13,
2007
Sightseeing in Balboa Park
and en route through Uptown
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2007-01-13-Saturday |
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Saturday, January
13,
2007 |
SAN DIEGO—As I reflected on the photo journaling I have been doing, I realized
that one of the hardest thing for historians to imagine is the day-to-day life
of a city in the past—especially the ephemeral images of the passing
scene. So I've decided that in addition to taking photos of important
sites, I also will take photos of things which today may seem commonplace, but
which many years later may prove to be interesting windows for future historians
of our times. Some of these images are blurred because they are taken through a
windshield, usually while the car is stopped or going at a slow rate of
speed. Today I went back to the archives of Balboa Park, taking Interstate
8 to State 163 to the University Avenue exit, then following 6th Street down to
Laurel and crossing the Cabrillo Bridge into Balboa Park, turning right at the
traffic circle in the Plaza de Panama and parking in the large lot behind the
Organ Pavilion. En route to the archives which are located in the Casa de
Balboa, I passed the Organ Pavilion, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the back of
the House of Hospitality, through the Cafe del Rey Moro Gardens, and then
transited a courtyard between the House of Hospitality to the Casa de Balboa.
Here is a link to a map
of Balboa Park.  
 BILLBOADS—Kudzu.com is a new concept which invites people to go to the internet to read reviews of service establishments. Billboard was at the intersection of Mission Gorge Road and Friars Road. Another billboard, advertising an upcoming concert of Christina Aguilera, was on the University Avenue offramp of State Highway 163. The Dead sea Scrolls billboard is at the corner of the 163 offramp (which becomes 6th) and University Avenue. The Art Deco mural above the City Deli sign (with the hint of a Jewish star) has made the building a city landmark. This is the heart of the Hillcrest section of town, also known as part of the Uptown community. 
 PORTABLE ADVERTISING—A truck calling on people to repent their lifestyles (aimed against gays and lesbians) is parked along 6th Avenue near Balboa Park. At corner of 6th and Laurel, a sign twirler attempts to gain the attention of passersby for a new condo develooment. 
 BALBOA PARK WEST ENTRY—From Sixth one transits the Cabrillo Bridge through the West Gate of Balboa Park. One one of the walls was a poster advertising an exhibit on the Museum of Man's 90 years of preserving culture. One then passes into the Plaza de Panama, where a traffic circle goes around a fountain. The House of Hospitality is at the right. One turns right at the fountain, and approaches the Organ Pavilion: where free organ concerts are offered every Sunday afternoon.  From the parking lot, pedestrians walk past the back of the Organ Pavilion amid lush vegetation. 
   
  THE SPRECKELS ORGAN PAVILION—Given by a member of the Spreckels sugar family, it is said to have the "sweetest sound." Walking around its western and northern perimeter, I took these photos--the two of the small fountain in front of the northern perimeter fence showing the tribute paid to the workers of the 1936 California-Pacific Exposition. The bottom shot was taken later in the afternoon as I returned to my car.  
 
 JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN—This is a gift from San Diego's sister city of Yokohama. It is next to the Organ Pavilion. The tea house is accessible to the public; the gardens themselves require an entrance fee. The plaque and sign can be enlarged by clicking on them.     FLORA—Plantings along the walkway contrast with a natural canyon landscape (behind the House of Hospitality. Statue of El Cid stands guard at the southern portion of the Plaza de Panama.  THREE LANDMARKS—The Statue of El Cid, the Mission Revival House of Charm, and the Baroque California Tower of the Museum of Man—all suggesting the Americas during the Spanish colonial era. 
   CASA DEL REY MORO GARDENS—Below the House of Hospitality is a popular area for weddings to be peformed, as this rehearsal attests. A popular restaurant, The Prado, occupies part of the House of Hospitality. On one of the landings from the restaurant to the wedding area is a gargoyle. Walking east one finds a plaque about the history of the Casa del Rey Moro (The House of the Moorish King). Click to see an enlarged image.       The courtyard between the House of Hospitality on the left and the Casa de Balboa on the right is little known as are these views of their towers, and through the arches of the walkway to the Botanical Building. If one looks back, one can see a tiled fountain. Emerging onto the Prado, I saw a police car parked in the walkway to the south entrance of the Casa del Prado. 
 Exhibits by archives room of San Diego Historical Society include a large bas relief map of San Diego, with San Diego bay and Mission Bay clearly featured here. On an opposing wall are large blowups of historic photographs, including of downtown San Diego and the Hotel del Coronado. 
 Emerging from the archives onto the Prado in the afternoon is always a treat, because it is one of the greatest places in San Diego to people watch. Here a tuxedoed man shepherds three girls in white gowns, and on right a guitar player who does it with his feet while he serenades passersby.  Returning to my car in the Organ Pavilion Parking lot, I found the view of the Air and Space Museum to be an invitation to return and explore other portions of Balboa Park. There is always more to see! |