21/04: San Diego - Day 2
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
First item of fun on the agenda for today was a harbour cruise. We opted for the 2 hour cruise --- the first hour was the southern half of the harbour and the second hour was the north half of the harbour.
A view of the harbour. Two ships from the Princess Cruise Lines were docked.
In the south half of the harbour are a lot of ship yards, many of them with contracts with the US Navy which meant we saw a lot of ships, some in the water and some in dry dock but all of them being worked on. One of the most interesting for me were the "stealth" ships. These are ships that are designed to fool radar into thinking they are a fishing vessel not a naval ship. I've posted a side view and a front view so you can see how the design may confuse radar.
The main part of the hull is small.
The surfaces are slanted which prevents some of the bounce back to radar.
The bridge to Coronado Island.
A non-military ship in the harbour.
There is a large military base in the northend of the harbour including a dry dock for submarines and helicopter and airplane training areas. Until you are in the harbour you don't realize how much military is in San Diego.
Practicing hovering --- I think this helicopter was hovering for most of our cruise in the north end of the harbour.
There are other things going on in the harbour that are not military related.
The bait dock is a good place to rest.
After the tour it was time to relax and enjoy some lunch. John and Carol desided to take us to a beach restaurant called The Green Flash. Guess it's been a while since they had been there as it had changed ownership two years ago. The restaurant has a new name but John and Carol say the ambience is still the same --- fun, loud, surfer hangout --- even at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon.
John and Carol enjoying a margarita.
The beach.
Testing the water ---- it is COOOOOOOLD!!!!
Returning to downtown San Diego, John, Ed and I decided to take our evening constitutional and check out the new library. Somehow, Ed didn't take a photo of the outside of the building so I'll have to get him to do that tomorrow as I think it is unique and beautiful. The building is nine stories high with a sphere on top. Floors six and seven is a high school. The ninth floor houses an outdoor patio, art gallery, geneology area and a rare book room.
Looking at the sphere from the 9th floor patio.
The eighth floor has a reading room that has the sphere as it's ceiling.
Looking down on the reading room.
The library is an amazing looking building but also appears to be functional with lots of books, magazines and computers. As there were a fair number of people in the library during our visit I think it is also well used.
A view of the harbour. Two ships from the Princess Cruise Lines were docked.
In the south half of the harbour are a lot of ship yards, many of them with contracts with the US Navy which meant we saw a lot of ships, some in the water and some in dry dock but all of them being worked on. One of the most interesting for me were the "stealth" ships. These are ships that are designed to fool radar into thinking they are a fishing vessel not a naval ship. I've posted a side view and a front view so you can see how the design may confuse radar.
The main part of the hull is small.
The surfaces are slanted which prevents some of the bounce back to radar.
The bridge to Coronado Island.
A non-military ship in the harbour.
There is a large military base in the northend of the harbour including a dry dock for submarines and helicopter and airplane training areas. Until you are in the harbour you don't realize how much military is in San Diego.
Practicing hovering --- I think this helicopter was hovering for most of our cruise in the north end of the harbour.
There are other things going on in the harbour that are not military related.
The bait dock is a good place to rest.
After the tour it was time to relax and enjoy some lunch. John and Carol desided to take us to a beach restaurant called The Green Flash. Guess it's been a while since they had been there as it had changed ownership two years ago. The restaurant has a new name but John and Carol say the ambience is still the same --- fun, loud, surfer hangout --- even at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon.
John and Carol enjoying a margarita.
The beach.
Testing the water ---- it is COOOOOOOLD!!!!
Returning to downtown San Diego, John, Ed and I decided to take our evening constitutional and check out the new library. Somehow, Ed didn't take a photo of the outside of the building so I'll have to get him to do that tomorrow as I think it is unique and beautiful. The building is nine stories high with a sphere on top. Floors six and seven is a high school. The ninth floor houses an outdoor patio, art gallery, geneology area and a rare book room.
Looking at the sphere from the 9th floor patio.
The eighth floor has a reading room that has the sphere as it's ceiling.
Looking down on the reading room.
The library is an amazing looking building but also appears to be functional with lots of books, magazines and computers. As there were a fair number of people in the library during our visit I think it is also well used.