San Diego, CA (1/22/2018)

Barrio Logan is a neighborhood in south San Diego that has been largely Hispanic since 1910, when refugees from the Mexican Revolution arrived here.  More recently, it is the location of choice for many who have come to the U.S. illegally.  A neighborhood park, Chicano Park, has become the place where art has been used extensively to communicate the thoughts, feelings, protests and memories of the residents.  Since the park is largely underneath the Coronado Bridge, the concrete support piers have been used as the "canvas" for more than 60 murals depicting a variety of messages.  Without speaking Spanish, and with no knowledge of local issues past and present, I am unable to interpret most of them.  However, some are pretty clearly revolutionary in character, while others are simple memorials to loved ones or heroes.  I took lots of photos here, because the artwork is very impressive, but won't overwhelm you with too many of them.

That same day, I visited another type of memorial, the Mount Soledad War Veterans Memorial in La Jolla.  This unique memorial is the only one that honors all veterans of all wars in which the U.S. has been involved with a photo of the veteran on a tile.  Numerous walls are there for tile placement.  I am guessing that the veterans must be/have been local residents, otherwise the number would be more than the memorial could handle.  However, this is not stated in the memorial's description.  Mount Soledad is one of the highest points around, so it provides great views of La Jolla and most of San Diego.

Some readers may remember several travelogues over the years featuring Mormon Temples, particularly those in Utah.  However, the church has more than 160 temples all over the world, including one in San Diego.  Once I learned of it, I was determined to visit and photograph it.  Each temple has unique and spectacular design, and this one certainly lives up to that standard.  Whether you consider it beautiful or garish, you have to agree it is unique and spectacular.  As usual, I made two visits, one in daylight, then again around sunset until dark.,

While there, I met two church elders, Leroy and Janice Dennis.  These lovely people are serving a one-year mission in San Diego, slitting time between the temple's information kiosk and the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town.  I was so impressed by this couple, I decided to give them one of the photos of the temple.  So, the next day I went to Old Town to show them the photos and let them choose one for their gift.