San Diego and Los Angeles

[margaine]

I took a few days trip south to visit San Diego and Los Angeles. I hadn't gotten the chance to go to San Diego, and hadn't seen some things in LA yet either.

This first set is for musi. In the San Diego maritime museum, there was a boat called The Star of India, built in 1863. It was set in the water in the museum, and it still goes out as well. Pretty interesting exhibits inside of what the cabins looked like way-back-when, when it was doing passenger or trading runs across the globe.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/1bf48d85.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/69275c68.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/1e4459b7.jpg

The museum also had a soviet B-39 submarine from the 1970s. I can't believe people would live down there! So strange and claustrophobic.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/c84040a7.jpg

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Here is a really awesome statue we came upon in San Diego. Because San Diego is a military town (or "city" more properly), there is a lot commemorating soldiers who have served and their experiences. This statue, "Unconditional Surrender" is only on temporary loan, but it fit the setting perfectly. I'm a sucker for the look and style of WWII, so I'd count this statue as one of my most favorite things ever. (although the statue-guy's face was a little creepy close up)

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/6ba1a59b.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/32f6446a.jpg

[margaine]

I also went to La Jolla (pronounced "la hoya"), a fancy town a bit north of San Diego. Lots of pretty cove/cave thingies. Some typical images:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/1ca76f08.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/02c6ce8f.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/3023b37c.jpg

And on the beach on Coronado Island, which is just off the coast of San Diego proper, there is this grand old hotel (still in operation) called the Hotel del Coronado. It is really incredible, and looks like it probably looks the same as it always did (built in 1888)

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/972502c6.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/a0ed7a2e.jpg

And last but not least, here are several images of and views from the Getty Institute in Los Angeles. It is an art museum, with pretty typical Western art up to the 1850s. The inside did not interest me nearly as much as the outside.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/d5b2b0ca.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/cc2db72e.jpg

It also had pretty large views, because it is located up in the hills over LA. The first big set of buildings here is a part of LA called Century City, and the set of buildings further in the background is downtown LA (the buildings that are greyed out with distance).

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/24575500.jpg

And of course - the crowded freeway! Typical LA.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p127/margaine/c8b3e90e.jpg

[Jez]

Thanks for sharing. :) Do you have a hi-res copy of the first photo?

I can't do submarines at all. Even looking at the photos makes me want to vomit. :p I love that hotel, though. Did you get to see the inside? According to Wikipedia, there is a supposedly haunted room there. Did you hear any stories?

[Star_Anise]

Awesome photos! Both places look lovely, and you have a great eye for interesting things. That statue is pretty cool, and that hotel too. Well, all of it looks great:)

[Jez]

Awesome photos! Both places look lovely, and you have a great eye for interesting things. That statue is pretty cool, and that hotel too. Well, all of it looks great:)

The photo the statue is based on is very famous here. Is it equally famous outside of the US?

[margaine]

Thanks for sharing. :) Do you have a hi-res copy of the first photo?

Hmm, I'm not sure if the original resolution is really that much higher. Maybe a bit - I can't remember what my camera is set to. Photobucket says the image I've shared is at 94% of the original.


I can't do submarines at all. Even looking at the photos makes me want to vomit. :p I love that hotel, though. Did you get to see the inside? According to Wikipedia, there is a supposedly haunted room there. Did you hear any stories?

No, unfortunately, we didn't see the inside of the hotel. There was a tour to see the inside, but it cost more than we wanted to pay (although it probably would have been very cool). I just read about the haunted room in Wikipedia too. But we just walked around the outside. I think there is also shopping and dining for non-guests, but I guess we were more interested in walking on the beach. :)

[Star_Anise]

The photo the statue is based on is very famous here. Is it equally famous outside of the US?

I've never heard of it before, but that could be localised ignorance on my part.

[musi]

Ah, great pictures! Thank you for the sailing boat ones, margaine! Me and husband enjoyed it :D


The photo the statue is based on is very famous here. Is it equally famous outside of the US?

I haven't heard of it either, but it looks lovely! :good:

[spiralthinker]

Yes, the boat pictures were beautiful. I have never been to California but I have plans to take a vacation to L.A. in a few months. One of my friends from college lives there he tells me it's amazing. I live in Indiana so there will be a BIG difference in the weather. I am really looking forward to it.

[Phantom Paragrapher]

Ive never actually heard of the statue but the whole military figure sweeping the women to kiss her, thats a famous picture in NZ -used alot to symbolise the WW2 and ANZAC.

[Phoenix]

Ive never actually heard of the statue but the whole military figure sweeping the women to kiss her, thats a famous picture in NZ -used alot to symbolise the WW2 and ANZAC.

That is the basis for the statue. The photograph also represents WWII here in the states. It is the celebration the day the victory of WWII was announced in New York City.

@margaine: I'm jealous of your trip to San Diego. I am originally from there. Fantastic photos to remind me of how great it looks in winter! Thanks.

[Winifred]

margaine, when were you in San Diego? We have that same statue in Sarasota, I used to pass it last winter. One article said it was returned from San Diego in 2008, but I'm wondering if they each have their own, now?

Funny, art critics in both places hate the thing, although the public loves it (I like it, great kitsch, imo!).

[margaine]

margaine, when were you in San Diego? We have that same statue in Sarasota, I used to pass it last winter. One article said it was returned from San Diego in 2008, but I'm wondering if they each have their own, now?

Funny, art critics in both places hate the thing, although the public loves it (I like it, great kitsch, imo!).

I was in San Diego in July 2010. Maybe they do each have their own.