California Missions – Circadianreflections Blog

On the Mission Trail

July 27, 2010July 27, 2010Posted in California, Nikon, TravelTagged California Missions, El Camino Real5 Comments

My local power company shut down the power in the neighborhood to replace transformers and repair the lines. So I thought it a great time to go explore two Missions I spotted along Hwy 101 while driving down to visit my son that I didn’t have time to stop and visit then.
I called two friends to see if they were free to join me. I was in luck. We had a lovely day with a picnic lunch here, and fit in 3 Missions not 2!

What the information below doesn’t tell you about this Mission is that it is surrounded by a Military Base and you use their road to get to the Mission. We were told we would need all sorts of ID and proof of vehicle ownership to get to the Mission, but as it turned out they’ve changed the check point so the turn off to the Mission is just before you need to show all your ID. You do pass right through their training grounds though. It’s interesting to see in itself!
Nikon D300s and Nikon D90
Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S
Nikkor 70-300mm AF-S VR

© Copyright 2010 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
For the historians:
Mission San Antonio De Padua
Located on eighty pristine acres on what was once the Milpitas unit of the sprawling Hearst Ranch, Mission San Antonio de Padua sits within the “Valley of the Oaks” on California’s scenic Central Coast.
The rugged Santa Lucia mountains backdrop this historic mission, where ancient oak trees, their branches dangling webs of Spanish moss, frame the fully restored adobe buildings which include the Church, museum, cloister, fragrant peristyle garden and outbuildings.
Founded as California’s third mission in 1771, it has been said that of all the California missions, San Antonio de Padua is the only one that would be recognizable today to its founder Blessed Junipero Serra. Mission San Antonio de Padua sits upon holy ground, virtually unchanged for more than two centuries.
The mission and its environs have been truly blessed by its secluded location. Offering visitors a true “look back in time” Mission San Antonio de Padua rewards travelers with peace and tranquility far from the hustle and bustle of our modern world and everyday lives.
Come, experience California as it used to be…

~ Mission San Antonio de Padua

A gallery of all 21 photos of this mission is located here:

On the Mission Trail.

July 8, 2010July 8, 2010Posted in California, Nikon, TravelTagged California Missions, ChurchesLeave a comment

Continuing on my Mission adventure while visiting Big Baby Boy in southern California we went to Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano.

Here are some photos of the newer chapel and grounds. I’ll post photos of the ruins soon, Here’s some history to pique your interest though.

HISTORY

Mission San Juan Capistrano has been the home to many people over 230 years of history. Its history consists of memories and stories of its past inhabitants and present visitors. It is a place of historical, cultural, and religious significance, as well as a place of inspiration and education.

The story begins in 1775, when Mission San Juan Capistrano was first founded by Father Lasuen, on October 19th. But just a few weeks after the party of padres and soldiers arrived, they received word of the revolt occurring in San Diego. The founding padres, and soldiers decided to leave San Juan Capistrano, and go back to San Diego to help there. Once things had settled in San Diego, Father Serra personally led a party to re-found Mission San Juan Capistrano on All Saint’s Day, November 1, 1776.

Mission San Juan Capistrano, became the seventh of twenty-one missions to be founded in Alta California. Like the previous six missions, San Juan Capistrano was established to expand the territorial boundaries of Spain, and to spread Christianity to the Native peoples of California. Unlike the British colonies on the East Coast of North America, who brought people from their homeland to form colonies, the Spanish believed they could transform the Native peoples into good Spanish citizens. The idea was to make colonial outposts called missions, led by Franciscan padres and Spanish soldiers. The missions would be a center of learning and training of Native peoples. The Spanish government and Catholic Church wanted to convert the people to Christianity, train them in Spanish or European lifestyle, so that the Native peoples would eventually live in towns and pay taxes, like good Spanish citizens.

In 1984, a modern church complex was constructed just north and west of the Mission compound; the design is patterned after the old stone church, and is twenty percent larger.

~Mission San Juan Capistrano

I have 11 photos posted here.