Baltimore founded in year 1729, was named after Lord Baltimore, a member of the Irish House of Lords and the founding proprietor of Maryland Colony. It was once a major manufacturing center, an industrial port and also the 2nd leading port of entry for immigrants to United States .
Baltimore Inner Harbor is American's oldest seaports and today the world newest travel destination. It has been one of the major seaports in United States since 1700's but started blossoming into a cultural center of Baltimore City in 1970's.
Coast Guard.
USS Constellation constructed in 1854 is a sloop-of-war and 2nd USA navy ship to carry this famous name. The original frigate was disassembled on 1853. It was moved to Pier I of Inner Port in 1969 and became the first tourist attraction.
Baltimore Inner Harbor covers not only the waterfront but includes all surrounding areas.
The Inner Harbor located in northern-central Maryland on Patapsco River close to where it empties into Chesapeake Bay
The Power Plant Live, a premier dinning and entertainment district, is a block away from Inner Harbor. It features a variety of restaurants and nightclubs surrounding a common plaza and the outdoor seating which often feature live performances.
Heavy traffic jam between Baltimore -DC everyday, taking hours to travel this 40 miles distance highway is a great suffering to all drivers and travelers.
I visited DC twice in year 2008. Compare to my first visit 6 yrs ago, it does not have much changes. The Potomac river is still flowing, traffic still heavy and the daily life momentum is still so speedy........ White House, Monument, Capitol Hill, Lincoln memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Museums still are the main attraction of most tourists But..... where is my feel for DC China town? Does it still exist ? The Magnificent representative Arch of China Town still so outstandingly erect at the entrance but within the area, I hardly can find a Chinese grocery shop and scattering around the corners are few typical Chinese restaurants only. Big stadium, new buildings, modern restaurants and new constructions has taken over the traditions. No hearing of fusion Asian languages anymore....will DC China town extinguished?
Another difference is the growth of Korean town. During past few years, Korean migrants increased so tremendously in DC that they had gathered enough population to form a town of its own. They have their super markets providing all kinds of Korean needs including part of Asian supplies, their saloon house, their laundry shops, their food center and they even have a 24 hours open Korean restaurant in town serving a tradition Korean cuisines. Many of them not even speak good English, they communicate in their own language. They stay there they live there, exactly like those Chinese in china town those years . This is their second home. Is it the replacement of China Town???
Captain White Seafood City is a DC fresh catch market supplying Chesapeake Bay's daily fish and sea produces from Atlantic Ocean.
The DC fresh catch market selling fresh catch sea products from Atlantic Ocean! All Kinds of fresh seafood, you name it, you get it !
The popular blue crabs sold in bucket, lived or cooked, snow crab sold in whole or just legs, its your choice, no difference in cost!
The fresh brussel sprout are quite rare in Asian market .
I had a short visit to San Diego recently. What amazed me most was not the splendid bay beaches, or the delicious Mexican tortillas cuisine, or the fantastic ideal climate. It was the way the elders and people with disabilities were treated. As an Asian, I hardly can believe that the facilities existing in all areas especially in public transports are so well-made and complete for the conveniences of those special care-needed person(s). They were able to enter or get out off the vehicle in a wheel chair or with walking stick or supporter just with little help from driver. They can go outing independently in this city, without any company. The special seat and space are always there available for them and their wheel chair. I feel so touched and warm in my heart. I wish I have a good karma to become a resident of San Diego, if not for this life, please for next........I think I have fallen in love with this pleasant city, the warm atmosphere, the healthy food, the mild and sunny climate and most important the people.
San Diego was a Spanish name. It was the first place European claimed for when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed in 1542, and was incorporated as a city in 1850 after American's victory in Mexican War. It became world-known after the opening of Panama Canal in 1915-16
San Diego is the second largest city in California and was greatly influenced by the culture of Spanish and Mexican.
San Diego Bay, one of the finest harbors in the world, is a busy commercial port, a naval hub, a spot for many military activities and an attraction of tourists. It attracts millions of visitors every year.
San Diego lies on Pacific coast with beautiful natural bays which are fully protected from ocean by the tip of a high peninsula .
San Diego has the nation's largest naval and tuna-fishing fleets, huge shipyards, and ships + boats of many kinds.
It is a big city, yet retains a small town atmosphere, developed, beautiful and unspoiled.
San Diego Airport
Enjoy a panorama night scene of San Diego with a cup of wine at the top levels of Hyatt Hotel Lounge.
Beautifully recreated buildings and masterfully preserved adobes in the Historic Heart of San Diego, indicated the era of golden west of 1700's.
Old Town is the site of the San Diego first settlement and also the birth place of California. Its a place to enjoy rich culture and heritage of the city.
Trolley is the bright red streetcars that travel through downtown area to southern suburbs and Mexican border. It is the best means of transport in town. A $5.00 ticket a day will let you leisurely stroll down all streets and places within the area. Its economical and convenient!
Mexican, Spanish, African and traditional Indian Caucasian handicrafts stores are at every corner in Old Town. Mexican culture and heritage are as rich and as colorful as shown in this Bazaar Del Mundo Shops. The costume, floor and table mat, vases, towels and all home accessories are so artistic and striking in color.
A pink straight line along the main street was a 10 miles walkaton campaign to raise fun for breast cancer patients.
All participants were in pink, the indicative color for breast cancer supporters worldwide.
The unique open escalator and the well known San Diego Convention Center stand at the same location with San Diego's city administration buildings and most of the famous hotels, at the heart of downtown area.
San Diego downtown by the eastern shore of San Diego Bay is a bustling site and an attraction spots to all visitors. Most of its guests enjoy the harmony atmosphere with its bright red passengers train, lines of tall green palm trees and its buildings in gold in the evening sunset hours.
Seaport village basically is a miniature Mexican town, making up by graphically designed little cute handicraft and souvenir shops and food stores plus a small open air stage where public was entertained with Mexican songs and dances.
Many big cities have China Town or Asian Town but San Diego has an Italian town. Shops and restaurants are opened by Italian, selling and offering things and food from their country.
Along the street at Little Italy, you may see many Italians enjoying and relaxing under the afternoon warm sun as comfortable as at their homeland. The Authentic Italian ice-cream made fresh from the shops was so tempting.
Filippi's Pizza Grotts at Italy Town offers one of the best pizza at town and other traditional Italian dishes. They also sell a lot of Italian food items at front counter. The pots hanging at the restaurant's ceiling were inscribed with customers names and comments. Its unique and innovative. While in the other restaurant named Rockin' Baja Lobster, they offer the best lobster tortillas. Guests enjoyed the food as well as the very Mexican atmosphere.
The beautiful flower blossomed along the street of San Diego City is named as bird of paradise and is the love of all Asian florists. The sole duty of the traffic police who used this three wheeled blue-white vehicle is to issue tickets to those packing offenders.
Balboa Park is the nation' s largest urban cultural park, including the world famous San Diego Zoo with 3000 animals in a lush tropical setting and rare species roaming wildly at their natural habitats setting. Lovely gardens and many cultural attractions are within its 1200 lushly planted acres.
There are more than 20 museums in Balboa Park with collections from fine art to aerospace history.
Besides the landscaping gardens, some of the cultural institutions and stunning architecture are also the legacy of two important exposition:- The 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition and The 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition.
Bolboa Park is a horticultural paradise presenting a fascinated architectural history of the southwest. Its Old Globe Theater is the home of summer Shakespeare festival.
The Park is also the home to 15 major museums and several performing arts venues.
The bell tower in the park tinted with gold color under sunset beam light.
Magnificent views of Pacific Ocean shoreline from Ocean Views Restaurant.
Ocean Views Restaurant situated directly in front of La Jolla Cove, pampered their guests with one of the best dining locality. . Guests are served under ocean breeze with authentic Mexican cuisine. While enjoying the food, guests are intoxicated in such a gorgeous scenery of Pacific Ocean. It was worth while to wait 45-60 minutes and pay for the price to be honored with the seats.
Big quantity of slumbering seals make this natural rocky platform as their home.
La Jolla Beach.
Site of natural rock formation looks as if a window to Pacific Ocean.
Giant wave from Pacific Ocean heating hard and loud at La Jolla rocky beach.
This is Pacific Ocean! Watch it, hear it and feel it.
Seals enjoying sea wave at La Jolla Beach.
The bathing birds.
Sea World is an animal theme park, oceanarium and marine mammal park. It was founded in 1964 by four graduates of California University, whose original idea was to make an under water restaurant. The idea though was not feasible at that time, it expanded to a 22 acres marine zoological park along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego.It hosted 400,000 visitors in its first year operation after an investment of 1.5 million dollars.
It hosted 400,000 visitors in its first year operation after opened with an investment of 1.5 million dollars.
The 320 feet Gyro Sky-Tower was built in 1969. The ride gives passengers a 6 minutes view of Sea World, its attractions and San Diego Bay. It rises at a rate of 150 ft per minute while spinning slowly.
The park was first opened with 45 employees, several dolphins and sea lions with two seawater aquariums.
Its time for dolphin and whale show. Audiences seated at Dolphin stadium enjoyed the incredible performances by these animals.
Audiences seated right at center put on the blue raincoat to be prepared for getting wet by the animals.
There are 5 species of Dolphins at Sea World.
Each dolphin is given with a name.
Dolphins in show
Audiences are allowed to interact with the animal by purchasing fish to feed them.
Free access to pet the dolphins.
The main attraction in Sea World performances is the Killer Whales Show. Eight of the killer whales are housed in 7 million gallon habitats known as Shamu Stadum. Shamu is the name of the first killer whale brought to Sea World in 1965 and now it is used as a stage name.
Shamu Stadium.
The performance of Killer Whales.
Killer whales was acting right in front of the audiences in Shamu Stadium.
Beautiful Fuji Park sponsored by Fuji Film of Japan and the little children carts parking lot, specially allocated in kind consideration for the mothers. This is the only place I ever encounter for this service.
Sea Lion and otter stadium
The show was on !
Lady trainer and the seal, the key performer waving to all audiences.
San Diego Mission Bay and the lineup birds getting ready to share the food with the entertainers and performers.
The most popular place at Mission Bay is the Sea World in Aquatic Park, where visitors encounter and interact with forms of marine life and their wonderful entertainment.
While watching hundreds of red flamingo cove under the rain, another interesting attraction, the 4-D Theatre near the bay shore is waiting for you.
Penguin family
SeaWorld Wild Arctic exhibit is home to two polar bears in which one was acquired from Germany Zoo and the other from New York Buffalo Zoo in year 1995.
Walrus and Manatee at Wild Arctic exhibit.
Fish corner where you can closely watch the shark with the sharp teeth at their jaws.
Large quantity of huge size black stingray freely swimming inside the pool just within your reach. Its not harmful to have contact with them but not the dangerous sharks.
