BALBOA PARK IN SAN DIEGO

THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IN THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN BALBOA PARK. THE MUSIC FROM THE SAX PLAYER DRIFTED THROUGH THE PARK ON A PEACEFUL SUNNY DAY. 

FLAMINGOS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH

NOISE FROM WORKMEN IN AREA HAD THEM RUNNING WILD

SORRY FOR THE DUPLICATION BUT I WAS AFRAID TO DELETE THINKING THE WHOLE GROUP WOULD BE DELETED. JUST IMAGINE COOL JAZZ FROM SAX DRIFTING THROUGH THE PARK

 

One comment about Cuba before moving on

AS I WATCH THE EVENTS UNFOLD IN CAIRO I WONDER IF FIDEL IS WATCHING AND THINKING IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO ALLOW FREE ELECTIONS AND ESTABLISH DEMOCRACY INSTEAD OF WAITING TO BE THROWN OUT BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TIRED OF BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. THEY CAN, FIDEL, AND YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

 

Exploring San Diego

Nine years ago I left the mid west and settled down for a whole new life in San Diego, CA. I had a job but no friends. I didn't bring any furniture so I slept on the floor for six months. Little by little I established a new life here in Southern California. My 74th birthday will be in April. I retired when I was 70 and now live in a senior building with affordable rent and neighbors who are all over 62 so we have the same issues. In an effort to hang on to the savings I built up while working, I try to live on my fix income from Social Security. How? I gave up my car. No repair costs, no insurance, no fuel costs, and I never have to look for a place to park. My senior bus pass is $18 a month and I can get just about anywhere I want to go on the bus and trolley. I stay busy with volunteer work and since I still like to travel, I am interviewing today for a part time job so I can save some money to explore more of the U.S. as well as maybe Spain or Italy. As some of you know who have followed my blog, I am a photographer. My new posts will be my adventures in and around San Diego. I hope you enjoy it. 

Let the adventure begin with downtown San Diego:

DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN

BANKER'S HILL

Add caption

SAN DIEGO TROLLEY

More Photos from Cuba

I AM POSTING SOME MORE PHOTOS FROM CUBA. THESE ARE FOR THE MOST PART FROM CIENFUEGOS. ONE PHOTO IS OF A FELLOW TRAVELER DEEP IN THOUGHT WHILE RIDING A TRAIN THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SUGAR MILLS. IN ADDITION THERE IS A PICTURE OF CHE PAINTED ON THE SIDE OF A BUILDING IN A SMALL TOWN. A LITTLE PROPAGANDA IS AN ADDED FEATURE TO THIS PAINTING.

BACARDI BUILDING

BACARDI RUM WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST RUMS PRODUCED IN CUBA PRIOR TO THE REVOLUTION. THE ART DECO BUILDING IS BEGINNING TO DETERIORATE. I EXPLORED THE LOBBY AND MET THE HISTORIAN/BAR TENDER. I TOOK THE ELEVATOR TO TO 7TH FLOOR AND THEN WALKED THE LAST 3 FLOORS FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF HAVANA. THE HIGHER I CLIMBED, THE MORE DETERIORATION I SAW. 

BACARDI BUILDING HAVANA CUBA

STAIRWAY BACARDI BUILDING

INTERIOR OF STAIRWELL

LOBBY OF BACARDI BUILDING

DREAMING I'M IN THE FIFTIES HAVANA

LOBBY OF THE BACARDI BUILDING

                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                               

THE MALACON

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE ABOUT HAVANA WITHOUT INCLUDING ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ROMANTIC BOULEVARDS, THE MALACON. IT BEGINS WRAPPING HAVANA HARBOR WHERE THE PRADO ENDS AND WHERE THE OLD FORTRESS EL MORROW CAN BE SEEN ACROSS THE WATER. IT WAS STILL DARK WHEN I WALKED DOWN THE PRADO HOPING TO CATCH FIRST LIGHT. THE MALACON WAS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, OR MOST TRAFFIC, DUE TO HEAVY RAIN WHICH STILL HAD SEWERS CLOGGED. IT WAS QUIET BUT I MET A FEW PEOPLE ON MY WALK AS I WATCHED DAWN BREAK OVER HAVANA HARBOR.

LOOKING AT MORRO FORTRESS FROM END OF PRADO

90 MILES TO MIAMI

A WALK WITH ABUELA ALONG THE MALACON

EL MORRO

NATIONAL HOTEL IN THE DISTANCE

NATIONAL HOTEL

VERANDA OF THE NATIONAL

CHECKING OUT THE SEWERS

LOBBY OF THE NATIONAL

CLEANING OUT THE SEWERS