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A day in Balboa Park

Canine couture
Canine couture

I try to live my life in accordance with the famous quote attributed to Walt Whitman: "Be curious, not judgmental."

On a recent visit to Balboa Park, camera in hand, I came across a plethora of interesting characters. I found myself extremely curious and tried my best not to be judgmental.

Sidewalk preacher

I spent thirty minutes talking to a man who wholeheartedly believes he is one of the prophets described in the book of Revelation. He told me that he is regularly visited by Jesus Christ himself, and has been commanded to give up all his worldly possessions and spend his days reading scripture verses at the top of his lungs to random Balboa Park visitors.

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Jay, the atheist

On the other end of the spectrum, I spoke at length with a man who refers to himself as Jay, the Asshole Atheist. He belongs to an atheist group that sets up a booth with a large banner near the Botanical Building that reads "Ask an Atheist." The group engages in lively discussion with passersby. He had a terrific sense of sarcasm. We talked about whether he feared death and his response was, “I’m just pissed that the party will continue without me.”

Apart from those two, I also spied a wedding party taking photos at the Organ Pavilion. The brides dress is stunning. I especially appreciate that she allowed her bridesmaids to pick the style of their dresses as long as they remained in the blue/gray family.

Librarian

Near the Prado I spoke to a librarian, a San Diego native, who currently resides in Boston. She got her first tattoo at 18. "I have been collecting them ever since," she told me with a laugh. Her favorite tattoo is on her arm. It's a Lord of the Rings tattoo written in Elven script.

Lastly I spoke to an older man who was accompanied by three Chihuahuas dressed in elaborate costumes complete with bedazzled goggles. His wife handmade each outfit and plans to launch a doggy clothing website where she will sell and create custom dog couture.

Of all the places to spend the day in San Diego, Balboa Park is among my favorites.

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Canine couture
Canine couture

I try to live my life in accordance with the famous quote attributed to Walt Whitman: "Be curious, not judgmental."

On a recent visit to Balboa Park, camera in hand, I came across a plethora of interesting characters. I found myself extremely curious and tried my best not to be judgmental.

Sidewalk preacher

I spent thirty minutes talking to a man who wholeheartedly believes he is one of the prophets described in the book of Revelation. He told me that he is regularly visited by Jesus Christ himself, and has been commanded to give up all his worldly possessions and spend his days reading scripture verses at the top of his lungs to random Balboa Park visitors.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Jay, the atheist

On the other end of the spectrum, I spoke at length with a man who refers to himself as Jay, the Asshole Atheist. He belongs to an atheist group that sets up a booth with a large banner near the Botanical Building that reads "Ask an Atheist." The group engages in lively discussion with passersby. He had a terrific sense of sarcasm. We talked about whether he feared death and his response was, “I’m just pissed that the party will continue without me.”

Apart from those two, I also spied a wedding party taking photos at the Organ Pavilion. The brides dress is stunning. I especially appreciate that she allowed her bridesmaids to pick the style of their dresses as long as they remained in the blue/gray family.

Librarian

Near the Prado I spoke to a librarian, a San Diego native, who currently resides in Boston. She got her first tattoo at 18. "I have been collecting them ever since," she told me with a laugh. Her favorite tattoo is on her arm. It's a Lord of the Rings tattoo written in Elven script.

Lastly I spoke to an older man who was accompanied by three Chihuahuas dressed in elaborate costumes complete with bedazzled goggles. His wife handmade each outfit and plans to launch a doggy clothing website where she will sell and create custom dog couture.

Of all the places to spend the day in San Diego, Balboa Park is among my favorites.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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