Thursday, June 24, 2021
Another day, another chance to explore on my daily morning walk. Let's see what interesting sights downtown San José had to offer on this overcast morning.
I felt a tad weak so I headed quickly to a potential source of sustenance that I had spotted yesterday on my afternoon's stroll around the neighborhood.
It looked like a health food
emporium to me
DEFINITELY Lo-Cal
Apple Strudel was the correct call
It brought back great memories of my "apple-a-day" strudel from my days coaching the Thun Tigers in Switzerland.
Energized, I was off to see lots of interesting architecture, signage and art.
I like brick buildings
Fun looking street full of eateries
and funky shops
Two old school signs that
caught my eye
100% TRUE!
More eye catching signs
The Knox-Goodrich Building
made of sandstone in 1889
I absolutely LOVE ravioli!
President William McKinley
statue in a quiet park
President McKinley was assassinated
a mere four months after making this
speech in San José
The first of many wonderful
murals that I would spot today
The Bank of Italy building
built in 1925
This 14 story edifice was the second branch of the Bank of Italy founded in San Francisco in 1904, which later became the Bank of America.
Bank of Italy columns
That ship is the old school logo
of the Bank of Italy/America
More local color
Decorative art on a parking lot wall
AWESOME!
Looks like a good place to work
Heartfelt artist
This area was San José's Chinatown
At least until a fire of suspicious origins burned it completely down in 1887. At that time, many in the surrounding business community wanted the Chinese out of the area. After the fire and now homeless, the Chinese were forced to relocate.
If I had time for lunch, this tapas bar
would have been worth exploring
San José's Gold Exchange?
The sandstone San José
Museum of Art
It originally served as a United States Post Office from 1892 to 1933.
A pleasant looking entry
to the Museum of Art
I entered Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park
That is the colorful Tech Interactive Museum across the way.
This tablet commemorates that
California's first state capital building
once stood across the street
San José was the state capital from 1849 to 1851 before Sacramento became the hub of state political life/strife.
What the heck is that?
Ah, it's Quetzalcoatl, the
Plumed Serpent of the Aztecs
It is Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park after all.
Lots of majestic redwoods can
be found in northern California
Another great old sign
The California Theater
was built in 1927
It was getting late and I still had five more hours of driving before getting home to Camarillo. Thus, my walk came to and end but I did have one more stop to make in San José.
I needed to stop by the San José State
football offices
On Tuesday, while I was walking in Eugene, Oregon, I received a message from Joe Bommarito who is coaching in Germany with the European League of Football's Leipzig Kings. He needs to sign an import Center NOW!
I was about 200 yards from the University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium football complex, so I sought out and found the Ducks Offensive Line Coach Alex Mirabel to see if he had a recent alumni Center that might fit the bill.
No luck.
Today, I would try my luck with the Spartans coaches.
San José States Training Center
Another good looking college
weight room inside the training center
SPARTA!
Let's take a look at the football stadium
EXCELLENT!
A training session with lots of medicine balls was about to commence.
Inside the coaches offices
The spoils of recent
Spartan football success
Unfortunately, the Spartans also had no Centers to recommend for the Leipzig Kings.
I was now off once again, heading to another possible EuroBall recruiting spot . . .
. . . Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Home of the Mustangs
This is their beautiful, new synthetic turf practice field.
Lots of equipment in this end zone
The Cal Poly, SLO Stadium
has natural grass
Mustang Memorial Plaza
On October 29, 1960, a chartered aircraft carrying the Cal Poly, SLO football team crashed on takeoff at the Toledo, Ohio airport.
Sixteen Mustang football players, a team manager and a Mustang booster were killed in the crash. Another 22 Mustang passengers were injured.
This plaza outside the Cal Poly, SLO stadium is dedicated to their memory.
In the Cal Poly, SLO football
offices I met with Coach Paul Wulff
EUREKA! He had not one but TWO possible candidates to fill the Leipzig Kings Center needs.
When I finally arrived in Camarillo, I had a nice conversation with one of the two who just finished playing in the Spring League.
The wheels of progress are turning . . .
Cal Poly, SLO has a rich
football tradition
I had one more stop to make before the last push for home.
Mo's BBQ in Pismo Beach
They make the BEST BBQ sauces and Laurie said we were running low, so stopping here was a moral imperative.
More news from EuroBall . . .
The 2021c Italian DII Playoffs
start this weekend
Our 6-0 Varese Skorpions are hosting the 3-3 Sarzana Reds Jackets on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Central European Time/9:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The game will be live streamed and we will be watching and rooting for the Skorpions to continue their magical run.
As for my nine day road trip, it was . . .
AWSOME!
Thanks to my understanding and supportive wife Laurie for letting me have my mini-Jack Kerouac experience.
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