A Day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey > California > United States
The interior of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is reminiscent of movie sets from The Abyss. Everywhere are vivid cobalt blue portholes filled with coral and fish eye-candy. Walls of concrete support ceilings laden with complex tubing and pipes like that well-known 3D screensaver.
The modern industrial design punctuated with innovative exhibits suggests a strange fusion of romantic interest captured by classical structure. One might have guessed that the Aquarium repurposed an old sardine processing plant (i.e. Hovden Cannery) but in fact the building was specially designed and constructed in the early 80s, down to the fake fiberglass smokestacks. The architects and structural engineers went to great lengths to preserve the character of old Cannery Row while developing a state-of-the-art facility.
Many Anemones — uh, Amenities...
As an aquarium and terrarium builder this place fascinates me. It’s an artistic pinnacle of the craft, isolating nature at a point in time. The care and consideration for the marine population is evident in the relative spaciousness of the habitats. Into each aquatic masterpiece is invested much objective detail: a story, a theme, and a cast of costumed characters.
Every aquarium’s a stage...
My mom used to live in Monterey. When visiting we’d drop in to Cannery Row once in a great while to sightsee, check out shops or eat at seafood restaurants. Sometimes we’d take a leisurely stroll on the sandy walkways along the shore next to Ocean View Blvd and out to the park. The area always reminds me of La Jolla.
No Underwater Camera Needed!
Whenever I’ve taken underwater photos with a cheap disposable camera the photos come out horrible and I would never consider putting them up on Daily Venture. So at last I can use a decent camera to capture both the terrestrial location and marine subject matter of such a diverse experience as the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Of course, this collection of photos cannot possibly capture the variety of exhibits or animals present so I’d encourage you to visit the aquarium yourself if you haven’t already done so. It’s a convenient way to see marine environs without getting your wallet wet.
Sexy Jellyfish
On a visit years ago I came upon a floor-to-ceiling aquarium in a dark area. Inside were several dozen hot pink jellyfish rhythmically pulsating against a fluorescent blue background. They were all synchronized in their steady fight upwards against the downward flow of water, and the whole visual experience was quite sexual. My active imagination conjured up visions of curators having orgies amidst the erotic throbbing motion.
Aquarium Website & Map
The Monterey Bay Aquarium website has a wealth of information about the contents of the building and the organization itself. Check out the map too. Between two floors, the numerous aquariums, hands-on exhibits and activites both inside and outside, the aquarium is a captivating spectacle.
Tags Walkabout, Beaches, Ocean, Architecture
California Series | All United States Locations
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