“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.”
– e.e. cummings
Day 2 – part 1 1/2
Just down the road from the National Cemetery is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse overlooking the cliff tide pools.
These pictures don’t do it justice. There is so much more than the view.
It’s the mood of a harsh land beaten by the Pacific.
It’s the sounds of sea life as they call from overhead.
It’s the crashing punch when a swelling wave meets the rocky shore.
Then, above it all is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
Built in 1855, it was placed 422 ft above the sea, between the Gulf of San Diego and the great Pacific Ocean. At the time, placing it high seemed a good idea. A beacon for all the sailors. It was quickly discovered a place so high had issues with fog obscuring the light (whoops!).
Unfortunately, it was only a working lighthouse for 30 years because of that little blunder. It has been restored it to its original 1800’s condition, inside and out. Jason and I both have a love for lighthouses and this was the first I have ever toured.
I was not disappointed.
The house is small; four rooms and the light is not tall. There is a spiral staircase to the top.
And the view?
Incredible!
Of course, in the 1800’s, it wasn’t the same as now. No busy harbor, and no downtown San Diego.
And certainly, no Coastguard helicopters.
Just the little lighthouse…..
And the many ocean views….
So, I still want to live in a lighthouse, even an 1800’s one, preferably on the Pacific Ocean, but I am not picky.
One of the new lighthouse’s is pretty spiffy too, and they even used the grounds for the movie, Top Gun.
So what do you think? Do you want to live in a lighthouse? Have you been to Point Loma?
Living, Loving, Laughing.... 
love point loma, it reminds me that my heart belongs in San Diego! i posted about there recently.
http://sandbetweentoes.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/point-loma-and-fort-rosecrans-san-diego/
let me know what you think!
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Great post! Loved all the pictures. There were a lot of people there on the day we went and I couldn’t get a lot of the rocks that you did. Gorgeous!
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Wow, your pictures are just beautiful. I hope someday to get to California. One place I definitely want to see. Looks breathtaking.
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Yes, you should. It is very beautiful. There is something about the cold Pacific Ocean. 🙂
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OMG like half the world I have always loved lighthouses. And I even applied to live in a remote one after I got out of college because I thought it would be sooooo romantic to live in a dark cliff with no one else around but my thoughts!!lol. I think I need to be very glad that never happened:) But I still love looking at them! Beautiful pics!
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I didn’t know that story. How funny! I think you would have been a little lacking all by yourself, but it would have been cool for a little while. 🙂
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These pictures are so stunning. They make me feel like I’m there and can hear the waves crashing into the rocks. I loved how the rocks are layered by water and wind. What an amazing site. I’ve been to lots of East Coast beaches, but you make me want to visit the West coast.
Also, the views from the lighthouse do look like they were worth the climb. Amazing the history that lighthouse has witnessed.
Thanks for sharing your trip. I love these kind of posts. I feel like I’m almost there.
p.s.
I watching the hummingbird wars outside my window. I have two who are fighting over a feeder, even though we have multiple ones. I keep trying to catch a picture of the emerald back of one and he’s still too fast and too elusive; a worthy opponent of a camera bug:~)
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I am dying to capture photos of the hummingbirds. We have one that comes to the feeder, but as soon as someone says, “There is a hummingbird!”, I turn and it’s gone. That is definitely a challenge for the shutterbug. 🙂 I hope to see pics soon!
It’s funny you say that about the West coast, I have spent most of my coast time in Florida, Texas, and California. Not much in the East coast. I should definitely check it out. 🙂
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Exquisite photography, Angelia! While I wouldn’t want to live in a lighthouse (there’s the height issue), I love seeing them!
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This one wasn’t tall. It was built on a tall hill. You would be fine. Lots of flat ground around it. 🙂
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I love lighthouses.
The last one I saw was at Tybee Island, GA
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I’ve always wanted to go there! I hear it’s really nice. A friend of mine used to tell me about it. She had a boyfriend that lived there, and loved it. 🙂
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No. I don’t want to live in a lighthouse. And I don’t think I have ever been there. Not sure. If I have been there I was young and don’t remember.
Your pictures are stunning. Just gorgeous.
I find it odd that the light house is so small, the actually tower part. I always thought they were larger/higher. I guess the hill/cliff was what was supposed to give it height? And the cliff and the hill. Ha, proves that governing bodies have never really known what they were doing, right? Half-sighted.
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Right!! It seemed like such a great idea. 🙂 Apparently, it took thirty years to admit it wasn’t. I have not seen a small (short) one like that before, either. It was really cute. You might change your mind after you visit it and want to live there too. :-)) Ha.
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Angelia, these pictures are absolutely breathtaking. It makes me want to run to Point Loma right now (or travel by teleporter since I’m in Delaware). It looks like a great place to go think, pray and/or just take in all the beautiful scenery around you. All the things I love to do. I wants to go to Point Lommmmaaaaaa!
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You should! You should! It’s a wonderful place. 🙂 And thank-you!!
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Beautiful pics! I love lighthouses.
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Thank-you! I hope I get to photograph more.
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I completely forgot to mention that I stayed in a Cape Cod lighthouse for a few days. One of those days it stormed. The sky and water looked amazing!
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GET OUT!!! OMG! Soooo jealous. That’s now on my bucket list! 🙂
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Wow looks amazing, so much blue! Like the quote too!
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Thanks! The area had the bay on one side and the other side was the Pacific. It was perfect!
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That would be cool to live in a lighthouse. I’ve never been to the pacific, but would love to sometime… if you ever hit the east coast though this is one that I’ve been to that is in a fabulous area! when we went, it was all covered in mist… so cool. http://www.barharborinfo.com/things_to_do/lighthouse_tours/
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That is sooo neat on the cliff. I can imagine covered in mist would have been cool. I will definitely visit if I get out that way. :-))
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I have always had a lingering desire to live in a lighthouse. I have read too many romance novels, and listened to that Nickel Creek song (The lighthouse’s tale) way too many time. There is just something so romantic about a lighthouse. The tragedy they have prevented, but also the pain they have witnessed. They belong in stories.
On a side note- after looking at your unbelievable pictures, I really, really need to pull out my zoom lens. Those are just gorgeous!
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I think I’ve watched too many movies. You definitely need to get out your zoom. I use an 18-200mm that I love. 🙂
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Would I live in a lighthouse? The answer would be an astounding YES! The views are amazing around it. Great post that you put together!
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Thank-you! The views would definitely be the best! 🙂
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I think living in a lighthouse would be pretty awesome! What a cool place. I am so taken with the rich blues, lovely : )
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That’s what I love about the Pacific! Such a deep blue, it’s lovely!
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Great photo shoot! There is desirable, so beautiful ~
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Thank you!
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it would be awesome to live in a light house—totally agree with you there. again, you blow me away with your pictures 🙂 very jealous of your vacay in cali also 🙂
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What a great place…would love to live there.
Great Blog and awesome photography by the way…thnx for sharing 🙂
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Well, well,well. My pictures suddenly become pitiful comparing to yours. Hehe. It’s like posting the seagulls picture is costumary. The featured blog I included also posted pictures of seagulls. Hehe. I guess they really are extremely noticeable to that area.
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Crazy talk! Your pictures are awesome! I love seagulls. I’ll have to find my seagull eating a Cheeto photo. Lol. But it was taken in Galveston.
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