August 2018 Photos: St. Mark + Dr. Seuss

Geisel library quote

We were in Italy a year ago, and I’ve been thinking about the trip and the stories I still want to tell.

Venice - San Marco

The Lion

I recently posted a photo of the bronze winged lion that towers above Venice’s main square, Piazza San Marco.

Because the mythical creature is the symbol of St. Mark/San Marco, who is the patron saint of Venice, it has come to also represent the city itself. (And you can spot winged lions all over the place!)

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Geisel library quote

The Lorax

Anyway, the other August photo I wanted to share is a panoramic shot from inside the Geisel Library in La Jolla (San Diego).

It’s a glass wall covered with facts about Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) and the history of the unusual building.

Geisel library

My favorite part was this quote from The Lorax:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Piazza San Marco in Venice

When you think about it, that sentiment about caring enough to take action is oddly in line with something St. Mark (quoting Moses) wrote:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”



 

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July 2018: San Diego Shadows

Dragon tree shadows on the sidewalk

I think the fantastical plants I kept seeing around San Diego are called “dragon trees”.

coronado dragon trees

On the way back from Coronado Beach, I noticed the playful-looking shadows they cast on the sidewalk. So, once again, I stopped in my tracks to take a photo of the ground.

La Jolla Cove sunset

Other photo favorites from July include a sunset in La Jolla (San Diego) and Quijote looking at the ocean.

Dog at the beach

Have you seen anything interesting on the sidewalk lately?


Microblog Mondays: Write in your own space

Everyday Magic

Vine on Pasadena wall

There are Instagram accounts where every photo looks a bit like a fairy tale.

Rain on window

I typically don’t follow them. It’s like they’re trying to create this illusion of perfection.

Instead, I want to see the real-world magic – the rain on the window, the dried vine that looks almost lacy, the pattern of the light through the blinds, the flowers my nephews picked for me. The beauty that’s all around us.

That’s what I want to share with you.

 


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June 2018: Spreckels Organ

Pipe organ in Balboa Park, San Diego

In the middle of Balboa Park in San Diego is an outdoor concert pavilion and the structure that houses the pipes of the Spreckels Organ.

It was built in 1914 and hasn’t changed much since then. I posted a photo I took 15 years ago of some of the detail wok on the outside before our recent trip to San Diego. It didn’t look different.

Spreckels organ In San Diego

One of its claims to fame is that it’s the world’s largest outdoor organ. Which makes me wonder how many there are in the world.

Have you ever seen an outdoor pipe organ?


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Escaping the Heat

Phoenix San Diego map

Beach in La Jolla, California

Arizona highway

A 5.5-hour drive will take you from the blistering Phoenix summer to a beautiful day in San Diego.

Phoenix to San Diego map

When we made the trip the first week of July, I recorded parts of it (like I did en route to Pasadena a couple years ago).

View of the road through our windshield.

Ocotillo Trading Post

driving into the sunset

This time, I used Instagram Stories to shoot video – capturing location and temperature info at the same time.

View of sky and trees in the rearview mirror.

It was 104F (40C) when we left Phoenix and 73F (22 C), when we arrived in San Diego. Big difference!

Windansea Beach San Diego

You can watch a 1-minute version our journey from the desert to the ocean either below or on Travelcraft Journal’s YouTube.

Do you ever feel like escaping the summer heat?

 




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