Suspension Bridges

The other day I was remembering a suspension bridge that I use to go on in San Diego.   One day I had the whole family with me which is unusual since they are scattered around the country.   My mom lived in Phoenix and my brother lived in Lakeland.   Going from left to right is my daughter, my brother, me, my late wife, and my mother.

Out of curiosity I did a search on the internet for the suspension bridge to see if it was still there and what condition it was in.   I believe it is called the Spruce Street bridge.  This was a real suspension bridge that swayed and undulated up and down  when I walked across it.   But it wasn't one of those rope bridges with broken rotten wooden planks to walk on.   Not like the one in the picture below

It was a modern one.   Although I did have a small amount of apprehension about the wooden planks.

The bridge was pretty high as it passes over a canyon below.

So exactly where is it located?    Well one hint is that it is on spruce street in San Diego.   If you come in on the east side you will be right at one end of the bridge where the picture was taken with my family.

If you look right in the center of the photo below you can actually see the suspension bridge.    Isn't Google great?    I use it all the time.

I also stumbled across a terrific site with lots of pictures of the suspension bridge and canyon that it goes over.

http://hiddensandiego.net/suspension-bridge.php

Years ago Mary and I were at Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Mary was a good sport to go out on this primitive-style suspension bridge so that I could get a picture.

This isn't the only suspension bridge that they have at Animal Kingdom.   This one really looks even more primitive.

Take a close look at the planks in the bridge.   Do you see a broken one?   Scary. 

So you think this is just a decoration and not really used?   Gong!   Wrong, it really is used for the Wild Africa Trek that people can go on.   Oh yes, alligators and crocodiles.

I think that anybody who crosses this rope-style bridge should get a certificate of bravery.

If you should go on this please don't trip and fall sideways over the side between the wires.

But wait, there's more.   The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a beautiful Disney resort hotel with an Africa theme to it located right next to Animal Kingdom.   And they have an actual suspension bridge inside the hotel.   Incredible.   I haven't seen this bridge in the Animal Kingdom Lodge but perhaps on one of my future trips to Animal Kingdom I will go to the Lodge to see it.

Well, I guess that you have heard enough about suspension bridges.   You can see them in San Diego or Walt Disney World near Orlando.   Have a great day.   Lew

Swastika Building

It was the late 70's when I lived in a community on the south side of San Diego called Chula Vista.   A pleasant area with an even more pleasant climate.   Remember the song "It Never Rains in Southern California"?    Well, from my own personal experience I can tell you that it is true (except for August).   I liked going to a beach called the Silver Strand.   The Silver Strand is a long strip of land running in a north-south direction.   To me it resembles a barrier island with the Pacific ocean on the west and San Diego Bay on the east.  

 I always enjoyed walking down the beach.   It was a beautiful beach.

When the surf was “up” the roar of the pounding waves was deafening but I loved it.  

Little did I know that there was a building nearby shaped like a giant swastika.   I never had a clue as to its existence.

Can you see the swastika?    Maybe this picture will help you find the building.    What do you think, does it look like a swastika to you?

Now you can definitely see it.

And to make things even more incredible is that the building is located on the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.   This is where the Navy Seal teams are trained.  

By the way here is a picture of an LST1195 (Landing Ship Tank) that got beached on the Silver Strand Beach.

The building was built in 1967 and someone spotted it on Google in 2005.    The Navy said that they could alter the building so that it would no longer have the swastika shape but it would cost $600,000 to make the alterations.   I stumbled across the Swastika Building (as it is sometimes referred to) on the internet.   I used Google maps to see for myself by typing in Swastika Building Coronado.   Here is a link for you.   The internet plus Google maps are just amazing.   Have a good day.   Lew
 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swastika+Building/@32.6761323,-117.1598725,453m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x80d953271e9a688d:0xca697b9e0d2ba359!8m2!3d32.6761278!4d-117.1576838