(heading east on the 163 approaching the Cabrillo Bridge that links Uptown to Balboa Park)
Hey look, the building where I was born eons ago...
(The old Balboa Naval Hospital)
We were on our way to Balboa Park for a photography meetup that TC wanted to attend...
Parking sucked so Bert dropped us off while TC and I made our way to her meetup. Before doing so, I snapped a few shots of the famed Moreton Bay Fig Tree, located behind the San Diego National History Museum.
Whenever we had field trips to Balboa Park in elementary school, we would sit under this tree to eat our lunch. Oh yes, and we would also play under the canopy and walk all over the roots. Think of all the decades this has been happening (the tree is 100+ years old after all)...that would explain the fence surrounding the tree for its protection.
This tree is HUUUUGE.
It is 80 feet in height with an estimated girth of 42 feet; its canopy is 145 feet. The Moreton Bay Fig tree in Santa Barbara is slightly larger with a canopy of about 175 feet.
Placards around the perimeter:
The placard hasn't been updated. From an article I read dated in 2010, the tree was estimated at 100 years old.
More placards:
The fenced off portion is pretty widespread. I know it's for a good purpose, but if you were a kid in the 70's and 80's in San Diego, eating and playing underneath this tree during those Balboa Park field trips was a given...
From an older post of mine, an overhead shot of the tree while on the second floor of the SDNHM:
(photo from my "SDNHM" post from April 2007)
While TC was off doing her photography meetup, we walked around the park. Everyone was out here today it seemed.
The Botanical Building and the Lily Pond are one of the most iconic and photographed images of Balboa Park.
In the courtyard of House of Hospitality which houses the Prado restaurant is this well known work by local sculptor Donal Hord, "The Woman of Tehuantepec". It's been there since 1935.
This pigeon seems to like it.
The Timken Museum - Admission is free!
Looks like the fountains can now run water again. They'd been turned off due to the drought, but it looks like the restrictions were lifted I guess.
This was the first time we saw the electric wicker carts in action! The are called "electriquettes" and are available to rent ($25 an hour, what!).
(Awww, this couple was so cute; their daughter was seated in between them and she looked like she was having a good time)
From Balboa Park's link to these carts:
"In 1915, the site was the focus of much of the activity for the Panama-California Exposition and the star of the show that year were the Electriquettes--small wicker carts powered by electric motors––which visitors rented to travel the length of the Prado and enjoy the Plaza de Panama."
The carts made a comeback this year and run a whopping 2-3 mph! So no, you can't peel out, go off-roading or do donuts and run people over. Not at that speed. Just kidding.
Now you can probably peel out in this classic car though!
Article:
CoolSanDiegoSights March 31, 2015
plus this article featuring a map of the main highpoints of Balboa Park (including this tree):
"San Diego Walking Tour - Balboa Park" Travel National Geographic
Previous post featuring Balboa Park:
"Balboa Park on my birthday" April 2015
More info about the Electriquettes:
www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/electriquette
wickercarts.com/wp
Moreton Bay Fig Tree
Balboa Park (behind the SD Natural History Museum)
San Diego, CA 92101
Reviews from you know where
Bert and I had a nice time strolling around the Park. TC learned a few new things from the photography meetup as well. It was still pretty warm when we left the park. Summer in San Diego was still going strong even though it's already Fall.
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