The colorful doors of Spanish Village!

If you want to see lots of colorful doors in Balboa Park, head over to Spanish Village Art Center. Most of the studio doors are painted with different bright colors.

Just as each artist’s work has its own unique character, so do their studios.

(A few of the doorways have a wonderful round shape. I almost expect Bilbo Baggins to pop out of one!)

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Souvenirs from the Panama-California Exposition.

The San Diego History Center had a variety of colorful artifacts at their table during a recent city event. As I was viewing some of their historical displays, I was shown two souvenir collections of photos and artwork that were sold to visitors during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park.

One collectible was a small packet of 16 Miniature Souvenir Views of America’s Exposition, San Diego, California. The other was the Official View Book of the Panama-California International Exposition.

I took a few photos without thinking at the time that I would post them to this blog. I should have taken more. Oh, well.

Enjoy this brief look!

(Click my photos and they will enlarge for greater detail.)

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Art students oil paint by the Lily Pond.

During my Labor Day weekend walk through Balboa Park, I saw that small windows to beauty were being opened beside the Lily Pond.

Students of Watts Atelier of the Arts in Encinitas were in front of easels oil painting.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

A beautiful garden untouched by winter.

I walked through the Balboa Park Administrative Courtyard this February morning. As usual, it was quiet. Few people were about.

The grass was green and many flowers were blooming, as if this special place cannot be touched by winter.

In this little-known paradise it always feels like spring.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

A few odd photos in late December.

Here are a few odd photos that I took today as I walked about Balboa Park–and some of these are indeed odd!

December Nights is over and people are busy getting ready for Christmas, so fewer visitors are milling about the park.

We are entering that winter season when Balboa Park is a bit quieter, a bit more peaceful. I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve already posted several blogs over on Cool San Diego Sights, and I’m just about blogged out today, but I wanted to share a few more photos.

I’m leaving out captions. Insert your own!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Shadow magic at Natural History Museum.

I was walking through Balboa Park this evening shortly before sundown, just letting my eyes wander at random, when I noticed all sorts of complex shadows around and upon the San Diego Natural History Museum.

The fantastic shadows and effects of light appeared to me like strange magic. So I took a few photographs…

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

House of Hospitality courtyard garden replanted!

Some say the House of Hospitality is the heart of Balboa Park. I can understand why. Visitors who pass through the courtyard colonnade might feel they’ve wandered into a beautiful dream.

The House of Hospitality’s fantastic architecture, interior garden and iconic sculpture by Donal Hord appear like a painting of paradise. An eternal canvas into which the living step–if only for a moment.

With the recent refreshing of the historic garden’s four corner planters, the Spanish Colonial courtyard is more alive and welcoming than ever.

Originally created for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the House of Hospitality was rebuilt by architect Richard Requa for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. In 1997 the building was recreated as accurately as possible from historical documents.

Before sunset today I walked about the courtyard, read a sign which described the garden’s revitalization, then climbed stairs to the second floor balcony.

Sunlight was slanting into the outdoor courtyard, turning many of its trees and plants bright green. And high above it all, up in the blue sky, shined that eternally amazing tower…

Sign explains how aging plants in the House of Hospitality’s courtyard garden were replanted and refreshed, with the help of Urban Corps of San Diego.

At the center of the House of Hospitality’s courtyard is Woman of Tehuantepec, a 1935 sculpture and fountain by Donal Hord.

In one of the four planters is a time capsule placed on September 13, 1997, to be opened May 29, 2035, the centennial of the California Pacific International Exposition.

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Lots of smiles, fun and beauty in Balboa Park!

Photographer aims at beautiful fountain in the Casa del Rey Moro Garden in Balboa Park.

Today I found lots of smiles, fun and beauty as I walked around Balboa Park! But what else is new? Every visit is wonderful!

People walk down El Prado past the amazing Casa del Prado.

Heavenly wedding photography near the Lily Pond in Balboa Park.

Smiling ladies with the San Diego Museum of Art were getting art supplies ready for a youth event this evening.

More smiles from volunteers at a table outside the Balboa Park Visitors Center.

A coffee mug with hearts for eyes outside the House of Hospitality. It must be almost Valentine’s Day.

Bonsai in the always beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden.

For fun, enter the San Diego Air and Space Museum! They’ve got a new interactive exhibit about Speed!

Fantastic beauty seen by few visitors, from the parking lot behind the Casa de Balboa.

Almost time to head home. I hopped on the green Balboa Park shuttle at the Plaza de Panama.

And as I departed, I got a bonus smile!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Another day gently ends in Balboa Park.

Another day nears its end in beautiful Balboa Park.

I got off work a couple hours early today. To enjoy the remaining daylight, I headed over to Balboa Park.

A late January weekday was gently drawing to a close.

Late light on the Casa del Prado’s colonnade.

A bit of daylight remains. People meditate on some grass in Balboa Park.

A quiet late January afternoon at the Plaza de Balboa and Bea Evenson Fountain. The San Diego Natural History Museum shines in the last rays of sunlight.

Joggers pass through the Plaza de Panama as the sun falls behind the House of Charm.

Sunlight illuminates the rear of buildings lining El Prado, as seen from the Japanese Friendship Garden.

A group of smiling mariachis walks near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

The Tea Pavilion has closed for the day. Time to sweep leaves from the patio.

People enjoy the remaining daylight near Joan Miro’s sculpted Solar Bird, near the entrance of the San Diego Museum of Art.

The sun is getting ready to set. Clouds become luminous behind the California Tower.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Passion, life and inspiration in Balboa Park.

Walk around beautiful Balboa Park and you will discover passion, life and inspiration. Everywhere.

Please enjoy some photographs that I took over the weekend.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy even more Cool San Diego Sights by following me on Facebook or Twitter!

Do you like to read original, thought-provoking fiction? To read a few stories about life that I’ve written, click Short Stories by Richard.