Do unquiet ghosts still linger here?
Peering through the painted glass?
Living in their pioneer world.
What tales would they tell of the wild, wild, west?
Would you dare check in and stay?
To hear what they would have to say?
Or would you just stop by for the day?
I, of course, would love to stay!
Cheers to you from the wild, wild, west~
Note: The pioneers built these homes and buildings, located in San Diego’s Old Town, from 1825 until the late 1890’s.
“I would like to live a Victorian life surrounded by exquisite clutter” Freddie Mercury
I want to go in their home to meet them. So, I could see good and bad ones. Haha! Kidding! 😀
I want to listen to them, if they are haunted, I have time! 😉
Oh, they’re so beautiful, and seemingly well maintained.
They Victorians were destined to be destroyed and were cut up and moved decades ago to save them. I remember the process well. The interiors are mostly empty, but due I believe, to be restored.
Very nice restoration of the town. It’s a wonderful feel of the western past. You would love “Black Creek Pioneer Village”. Even though it’s on the edge of Toronto, it captures pioneer days.
I love all things pioneer, and Freddie Mercury of course, some how they seem to go together! Now add your gowns, and we are in a living Victorian paradise. We would need to spruce up the hotel a bit though to be worthy, there is an old theatre that would be a better venue for your maspterpieces…..
Oh! An old theater…in an Diego?
Sigh…. San Diego.
Those walls have secrets! I’d volunteer to stay…..provided the interiors are not empty 🙂 Beautiful images, as always!
I would love to spend a week in any o them with my camera of course.
Me too, do you think we have a chance of arranging it for blogging photogs???? 😉
Cindy! Am I correct in saying you are a social worker? If so, we have something in common. I practiced counseling as a social worker many years ago. Peace! –Dennis
Yes I am, and pleased to meet you. There are a surprising number of clinical social workers lurking in blogdom and we meet up sooner or later, so welcome and happy to know another colleague~
The hotel is beautiful. Wonder how the inside looks like… A wild west town looks beautiful via your lens, Cindy!
Thank you Amy. I love staying in historic old buildings anywhere, I love the feeling of going back in time.
Thank you for sharing, Cindy. 🙂
Nice architecture. I’m sure there are a few ghosts hanging about.
I have never met a scary ghost……
Cindy, these old wonderful buildings for sure would have a lot of stories to tell. Thank you! Hugs! Veraiconica
Don’t you just wish we could listen to them? Hugz back to you Veraiconica~ <3
Cindy, yes I would enjoy listening t them. I often have these thoughts, when going through an antique store and looking at items from yesterday year. Hugs! V.
I love San Diego’s Old Town. I think your vibrant photos have further complimented these beauties.
Of course you are residing in the glorious Victorian capital of California, so I am well aware of your generosity!
Wonderful photos, Cindy…..these Victorians don’t quite look like our “painted ladies” here in New England….there’s a definite Pioneer American flavor added, though I haven’t yet put my finger on what it is….
I know exactly what you mean. My parents lived in Dover New Hampshire for many years and there is a definite New England vibe that I so love and is so distinctive~
Hah! I just moved recently from my home of several years in Dover, NH, back to my childhood home in the mountains of western Maine…..
It is a small world after all! <3
Love the pics Cindy …….felt warm and welcoming….I think the “Ghosts” would be friendly ones 😀
I definitely do too!
Those homes are very colorful and exquisite! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hugz back to you too and enjoy your Sunday night!!! 😉
I love the colorful buildings but the covered wagon is really wild Wild West. Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
We surely did as I hope did your clan. Heading over to your blog now to catch up on things…..
I remember those cluttered rooms; a few of the great aunts had them.
Ahhhh, you found the connection! Of course you did…..
OH wow I love the colors in these photos and this town is so quaint! I love little towns like this! My mom lives in one! Van Buren Arkansas. The movie the North and South was shot there with all the victorian buildings similar to these! Lovely lovely post as always Cindy! You visit the neatest places! (✿◠‿◠)
My daughter went to grad school in Lawrence Kansas. When I saw the town I couldn’t believe how retro and off the charts charming it was. Full of these gorgeous Old Grand Dame Victorians, meticulously maintained, a town with minimal crime, and the houses selling for a song compared to Caly. I asked my husband who grew up in Iowa City, and went to kindergarden in Lawrence, why we hadn’t retired here? America has small towns that are just remarkably lovely so I can imagine Van Buren and I will google image it now to see……
Oh yes and there is a train depot you can take an excursion train up to the top of the Ozark mountains. It’s really a beautiful place. I grew up in Fort Smith Arkansas. I love these old Victorian towns.
Such lovely photos! 🙂
I would like to see the Ozarks and those submerged coral formations in those clear lakes in Arkansas…..
What beautiful buildings….
When detailed hand craftsmanship was normal and everyday, nothing prefab or mass market…..
How I love the shivery images of ghost’s buildings and ghost towns. I must say San Diego’s are colorfully restored to bring imagined tales back to life. Thank you for sharing Cindy, with your glorious photographs.
Your photos of beautiful VA effect me the same way Dor. What utter historical charm and serenity!
Hi Cuz,
These pics remind me of the “painted ladies” in San Fancisco. That’s what I thought they were at first. I love this old architecture. There’s nothing more grand…, outside or inside. Houses like these have a soul ! 🙂
The green one’s my favorite !!!
I can see you fixing it up Paul. It would be so grateful to be in your talented hands. The inside is gutted.
SF’s Painted Ladies kick butt to be honest. There are so many and so well maintained, a major treat whenever we go to SF…….
Beautiful structures. You did a great job to visually tell the story if such history. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you much more for appreciating~
Beautiful Victorian homes, and a taste of the wild west. Excellent, Cindy! 🙂
So very thoughtful. Thank you~
怖い!
Watashi wa kōeidesu~
Nice! The homes have a lot in common with those on the other coast in Cape May Historic District, New Jersey.
There is so much I want to see. I have read about and seen photos of Cape May. I would love to visit~
Sounds like a blast living the past, seeing a ghost, or is he the host? 🙂
Oh clever girl! I love it!
Don’t these places seriously call to you? I love them!
I’m not sure what I would like more, to shrink down and be a Borrower and live in a miniature world, or travel back in time. to stay in each place I chose for just one night. I can stay anywhere for one night….;)
Beautiful and vibrant photos!
So glad you enjoyed them & cheers~
Reminds me in a way of the movie West Side Story!
That is because you are creative and intuitive and make non-logical leaps. In other words you think, differently…..
I hope you know how valuable you are.
Sometimes I suspect .. But then it passes. Thank you sweet Cindy. ❤️
<3
Very beautiful buildings !!
So glad you like them like I do!
What magical looking buildings, Cindy. They look straight out of a fairy tale! Cheers to you my friend!
Wonderful to hear from you, it’s been too long, heading over to your blog now~
I like the retro stuff… wish I could live there…
Can you imagine how much fun it would be to restore an old Victorian…..
As I age I start to reflect. Friends passing with harp songs and melodies.
Oh yes, it is important to live life with a clear awareness of death, it helps you to not waste time~
I’m so glad someone decided to preserve the buildings Cindy. They’re architectural gems. I love the stained glass window. I wouldn’t look out of place wandering through them in my frock coat and mutton chops.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Perfect imagery. I can see you there……..
Is it really scary to live there,Cindy?
Not even one tiny bit! 😉
That second house is particularly beautiful.
I love seeing the creative color combos when people restore these beauties. Often three colors, sometimes four. I love the bits of lavendar on parts of the trim….
Pinned that lovely Victorian Home to my Victorian & Romantic Homes Board on Pinterest, with this comment: “lovely images – as always – on Cindy Knoke’s “photos of my travels” Board.”
Thanks for taking time to stop by ADDandSoMuchMore to like my latests. I don’t know how you keep up with the blogs of all your fans – you clearly have a relationship to time I do not (I’m always WAY behind in my visits)
xx, mgh
Awwww, thank you and heading over to look at your board now! I love my blogging friends and spend zero time on all other social media (facebook, instagram, twitter etc) so my blog friends are my only online priority.
I am SO with you on “the socials.” I refuse to tweet, have no familiarity with Instagram, might as well not HAVE a Facebook account, it makes me so crazy I actually dread logging in – and I haven’t made a visit to LinkedIn this year.
My biggest time-sink is Pinterest hyperfocus – but it sure beats the bazillion magazine images I used to collect. Quick and easy!
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Great Pics!
Honored and most appreciative~
It seems these houses looking better than in their original time. Well maintained! I like Freddie’s thought, he knew what was that about. The house in London where he lived in his last time looks not too bad too.
Have you seen his statute in Montreux? Very smart man to have a home in Montreux!
I have not seen. He was smart and talented.
This was manifested in the whole.
Freddie was so ridiculously talented. I am so glad I saw Queen perform live. I like them more the older I get……
Who maintains them in such good condition; a private enterprise or local government? Thanks for showing them to us.
The city moved them and redid the facades. Most of them are derelict inside, hence the papered up windows. I do hear there is a move afoot to restore the interiors which would be so wonderful……
Thanks for sharing. And yes, I’d love to go to the wild, wild, West!!!
At least for a night!!! 😉
I love the homes!!
So glad you do!
This looks so nostalgic and I like the title of the post.
It is interesting how the dead still manage to speak to us with the things they leave behind…..
An old cowboy went ridin out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
Plowin through the ragid skies and up a cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders comin hard and he heard their mournful cries
Yippie i ohhh ohh ohh
Yippie i aye ye ye
Ghost riders in the sky
😀 Yippie y aye
Thanks for the view.
When are you coming west young man?? You need to hear the coyotes howl, and sagebrush roll, eat some prickly pear cactus, and drink some margaritas. An Englishman in the wild west. You would love it at The Holler, as long as you could eventually go home! 😉
Very tempting. But do you really want your stage coaches robbed. 😀
YES! I’ll help…….
Why I think I would love to come and stay! Lovely!
Yep, me too. We are already looking at the calendar to check in to the Cosmopolitan Hotel. I want to spend the night with the ghosts of the wild west~
Amazing, what a trip back in time. Lovely images and a smashing post, Cindy!
Awwww, so pleased you like it my friend & cheers to you~
Hey Cindy, didn’t “Ghost Adventures”, the paranormal show, visit the Cosmopolitan Hotel on one occasion? Interesting stuff though and beautiful architecture 🙂
My goodness, I have no idea. The Whaley House around the corner is said to be haunted. Jim & I are going to stay a night at The Cosmo and I hope I get to chat with a ghost!!
That will be good, I hope you have some ghostly experiences then 😀 Let us know!
Really lovely old buildings, Cindy. I’m sure that hotel has many stories it could tell. 🙂
We are going to stay, so hopefully I will hear some!
This was a very fun post, Cindy. Some really beautiful homes there in the Wild West. 🙂
Very happy you enjoyed my friend and cheers!
I liked the photos a lot, Cindy; especially the bright red store shelves lined with goods. And the Freddie Mercury quote struck me as funny, because he was so fast-paced and modern in his music.
I had to discipline myself to not include more photos of these store interiors, I am fascinated by the old stores, as far as Freddie, I think he was somewhat of a renaissance man, a man of formidable talents.
I sleep like the dead, so I would be fine. 🙂
But you could miss some potentially fascinating conversation….. 😉
My imagination supplies so many of my lacks. LOL
Imagination with beautiful photographs! Thanks – love your posts.
Awwww, people like you are why I love blogging! <3
Lovely pictures and definitely I would stay. If it was free that would be even better. Lets invite the ghosts to the party… come on in.. 🙂
All right, I’m in! When you flying over? I’ll pick you up at the airport. We’ll tell em we’re bloggers, we should at least get a discount, although I never have yet, two could be the ticket!
That is a good idea. I’ve heard on the local radio morning talk show mentioned about a hotel in some country in Europe a free stay if you are a social networker e.g. have so many followers. The rational behind this is they hope you to write good things about the hotel. That might work. Perhaps, we should try 🙂
Let’s do it! 😉
Are you a professional photographer, Cindy? I know you’re a retired therapist, but surely you do something with all your wonderful photos? They are amazing!
No I am strictly a newbie amateur who has a ton of fun posting them here for nice people like you!
Well then wow! How lucky for me! 😀
And for me! <3
Great photos an interesting glimpse into the past.
So happy you enjoyed & cheers to you~
What gorgeous vibrant colours in the Wild Wild West, and the sky is so blue. No snow where you are Cindy?
No snow, but it is RAINING NOW after horrendous drought. We live in a more western place at The Holler than Old Town which is part of downtown San Diego. People settled The Holler with the Homestead Act where they were given 40 acres and a mule. The homesteaders eventually left because the conditions were too rough out here which is quite unusual. We get some intense heat in the summer, very high winds, freezing temps in the winter, and lots of bugs. No snow though it surrounds us in the nearby foothils when it rains like now.
It does sound like difficult conditions Cindy. I hope your RAIN lasts long enough to soak in and help the plants. We have just had the hottest and driest November in 100 years. Then 100 kms north at Brisbane it rained last week and it turned into a devastating storm http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-02/brisbane-storm-damage-tally-passes-300-million/5934270 We only got a light shower. But more rain is forecast this weekend. Keep warm my friend. BTW do you have a mule???
Yes our drought has been the same, worst in recorded history,and after extensive drought, if lots of rain comes, you get mudslides and floods. Almost biblical. And well sort of yes, we badly want a donkey. They are “good” with the coyotes ie., they show them whose boss!! 😉
PS- Matt and I hung out with the wild cattle today. We braved the bulls. They were excited because they smelled the rain. I thought of you and your cattle….
I love seeing those old folk Victorian homes painted properly. The house here was once a painted lady but when the Neo-colonial style swept across the country after WWI everything was painted white. And white our old house has remained. Thanks for sharing the great pictures.
Are you going to paint it? It would be ridiculous fun to pick the paint colors and see the transformation.
Beautiful Pictures, big thanks Cindy….💗💗💗
Vielen danke!
Just magnificent! I would love to explore the insides of those amazing homes / architecture…. 🙂
They need to be rennovated inside. Can you imagine how fun it would be to be involved in that?
Appears to be a wonderful place … love the opening pic!
Very glad you do & cheers too!
This picture does indeed paint a thousand words; if only the building could talk!! I find old buildings to be curious places. Its almost as though you can feel the past seeping through the structure to greet you. I feel they always evoke an air of mystery and enchantment. Thanks for posting.
“Its almost as though you can feel the past seeping through the structure to greet you.” This is so beautifully expressed and exactly captures my feelings about old homes. Thank you for the awesome imagery~
Thank you Cindy, very kind of you. Thank you for the photo, it lends itself to inspiration! I love it.
Can’t wait to see what the inspiration yields~
A wonderful post as always, dear Cindy.
I truly like these photographs.
Sending you all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀
Gracias mi amiga inteligente y te apprecate !
I grew up next to an old 49er graveyard, Cindy. Plenty of ghosts. I spent all summer sleeping outside but had dogs and cats on my bed for protection. 🙂 Fun blog. –Curt
It’s a good thing the dogs and cats got along! I can see the cats colluding with the ghosts to get the dogs!!! 😉 There is a Homesteaders graveyard near The Holler, Betty Crocker is also buried there. Love glimpses into the wild west~
The cat was tough enough that the dogs thought it best to leaver her alone. And then there was the time I woke up in the morning with wet feet and discovered she had dropped a litter of kittens on the end of my bed. 🙂 –Curt
She full on trusted you, what an awesome memory & childhood you had~
I’m quite sure I could enjoy this place! Uh, it does have wi-fi, right? 😆
Exactly my requirements, ghosts great, no wi-fi, no deal! 😉
Great photos and I hope the place is lots of fun for us 🙂
Let me know what you think if you go!
I’d love to check in and stay! Coincidentally I was told today my workplace, which is a Grade 2 listed building, is haunted! It stemmed from my freaking out last night about a strip light in a corridor suddenly flickering and stuttering, creating all sorts of strange, scary lighting effects before it shut down forever…and apparently 2 people have died there in years gone by….I’m told that things move around on their own when nobody is there to move them and that there are secret tunnels underneath the building that were used in the war years by soldiers moving discreetly from place to place….things definitely go bump in the night! And nobody likes being the one to open up on their own!!
WOW!!! How intriguing. I don’t see why ghosts should necessarially be assumed to be scarey…..Who knows? Not me that’s for sure~
When I mentioned it to my friend tonight before I left he told me not to talk about dead people lol in case I caused vampires to appear! He was at home at the time… I think he might have been hiding behind his sofa! lol 😉
WOW, a vampire like Lestat???? How can we make him appear???? Ask your friend please…..
amazing, dear
Mucho gracias~
Love the story with the beautiful pics! 🙂
Then, I am very glad I posted! Cheers & thank you~
Great photos once again Cindy. I took my youngest son there for a weekend of exploring and of course the all important surfing lessons… 🙂
Oh yes, all the enriching lessons, remember how many we took them too?????? Laughing, seems like another lifetime~
C’est la vie!
I really like older buildings with such color, flavor and character. Cindy, these are beautiful photos and wish I lived closer to these locations, so I could explore. I have drawn hundreds of pen and ink drawings of Victorian and historical buildings. I like when buildings have intricate lacing and details.
Ooooooh love the pen and inks. Post more and more of them! People woud love to see them!
Your great photos brought back memories of of years in The Golden State. Thanks! 🙂
I love when photos trigger happy memories! This is our third Christmas together Bette. Happy Holidays and a happy and healthy 2015!
Abundant blessings to you and yours at Christmas and into the new year! <3
Merry Christmas to you~
I definitely must go to San Diego…:)
When, you do be sure and tell me and I’ll help you plan. I LOVE planning trips!!! 😉
So handsomely presented dear Cindy ! Gorgeous photos,all looks as if they are about to start shooting a film ! Nice nostalgia feeling my friend 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed them and appreciated your thoughtful comments!
Love these old houses and they’re preserved beautifully. Had to laugh when I read your comment by Freddie Mercury, too! Anita
Freddie was a most fascinating person! So happy you like the houses & cheers to you both~
Beautiful pictures!
Mil grazi & cheers!
Spectacular colors!
So glad you enjoyed as I do~
Beautiful!
Danke schoen!
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