Hello Hivers,
"It's in California". This is Part 2 of our nature and architecture walk along Balboa Park, built more than a hundred years ago, restored for posterity - truly a "thing of beauty".
For Part 1, please read it here
The San Diego Museum of Art
We passed by the Plaza de Panama and came upon this museum with yet another intricately decorated facade and bare walls. The top of the entrance even showcases full-body sculptures of the leading artists in Spain in the 17th century. The Museum of Art holds a broad collection of Spanish and Italian old masters, as well as South Asian paintings.
On the right side of the Museum of Art are interesting sculptures called The Solar Bird and Odyssey. These are part of an exhibition called Art of the Open Air.
Botanical Building and Lily Pond
Behind and around these historic buildings, we came upon Balboa Park’s most famous Botanical Building, also called San Diego’s crown jewel. Constructed for the 1915 Expo, the building is covered with 12 miles of wood lath - thin, narrow strips of straight-grained wood. It is one of the largest lath structures in the world. This 106-year-old building was fenced off today and is closed for renovation. Major make-over coming up!
Fronting the Botanical Building is the Lily Pondor lagoon, which boasts of water lilies, goldfish, and Japanese koi. It is probably the most photographed area in the Park.
We stayed here for quite a bit, taking pictures, and just taking in the beauty of the surroundings.
Natural History Museum (the NAT)
Moving on, we came across this oldest scientific institution in southern California, known to display over 200 bone structures from a wide variety of animals- the NAT.
Built in 1933, it was designed as a complete rectangle but money was tight, so it became an L-shaped building.
We scaled up a few steps into another open space at the end of Prado St and came upon the Bea Evenson Fountain. The water was turned on. It was so refreshing. Like, little children, we walked a full circle around it.
Casa del Prado
Having reached the end of El Prado St, we sauntered back to where we started. But on our way back we encountered yet another Spanish colonial building. Of course, we couldn’t help taking more pictures.
If you look up you’ll see weight-bearing features carved as human figures. It looks like these figures are using their arms to hold up the building’s eaves.
This house is now home to a 640-seat theater and a number of youth arts organizations. It was last reconstructed in 1971 and consists of two separate buildings; an open arcaded court separates them.
Alcazar Garden
Last on our journey, just before reaching our parking lot, was a visit to this walled formal courtyard garden, said to be reminiscent of the romantic gardens of the Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain.
There are hedge garden beds, ornate fountains, and Moorish tiles.
Back to the parking lot, we called it a day. It was totally exhausting, but it was fun. Famished, we grabbed a quick bite at nearby Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.
It was nighttime when we finally headed home. Before we hit the freeway, look at our last encounter - looks like the home of HIVE!
So long, hivers! I know it’s been an exhausting read! Thanks for staying!
[//]:# (!pinmapple 32.705231 lat -117.156535 long balboa park, san diego d3sc
