Cindy and I continue our tour of the southland in San Juan Capistrano where our primary destination is the Mission San Juan Capistrano (missionsjc.com).  The mission was founded in 1776 by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order.  Enjoy the visual tour…

Mission San Juan: The Plaza

Mission San Juan: The Plaza

The day is hot but the ruins are beautiful and we’re able to hide in the shade in various spots.  The walking tour costs us $9.00 per person and includes an audio tour via a handheld device.

The Bells…

Mission San Juan Capistrano was established to expand the territorial boundaries of Spain and to spread Christianity to the native people of California.

View from the Plaza

“The Great Stone Church”

This was dubbed as the “American Acropolis” by architects due to its Greco-Roman style.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

The Plaza and the “Great Stone Church”

There are many terrific perspectives for photography in this area.

“Great Stone Church”

The Plaza

Mission San Juan Capistrano was named after an Italian saint named St. Giovanni da Capistrano (“John of Capistrano” in English) who was born in 1386.

“Great Stone Church”

“Great Stone Church”

This is a close-up shot of the texture of the walls.

Fossils Embedded in Walls

The Plaza

Cindy at a Fountain

Fountains are a prevailing theme in our tours together.

Cemetery…

Perimeter of Buildings

Mission San Juan Capistrano is the 7th mission of the 21 missions.

Gate

Serra’s Chapel

Serra’s Chapel: Interior

Serra’s Chapel

Serra’s Chapel: Signage

Courtyard: Archways

It was worth waiting for tourists to leave this walkway.

Courtyard: Lawn area

Primitive Dining Room

The fathers would dine in this modest dining room.

Trash turned into shelves…

“Where is Brer Rabbit?”

Ouch!  This plant lined this entire walkway.

Wine Room: Fashion from Spain

Wine Room: Spanish Empire Flag

This was the earliest produced wine in California.  Some say it was the best and some say it was the worst.

Wine Room: Vat area

The area below the painting is where wine barrels were stored.  The temperature in here is 60 degrees Fahrenheit and I am LOVING it!

Catalan Furnaces

Leon Rene: Composer of Song…

Leon Rene was the composer of the song “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano”.  Cliff swallows arrive at the Mission every March 19th.  These birds migrate from Goya, Argentina to San Juan Capistrano.  They can fly up to 600 miles per day.

The Mission Grounds…

Dilapidated Barn in Downtown SJC

Art Deco Office Building in Downtown

I think of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot character every time I see cool Art Deco architecture.

We are unable to find our restaurant while walking in downtown so we opt for a readily available wannabe Panda Express meal.  I know it is extremely rare for me to give up on the quest for delicious eats but this is why you will see no food mentioned in this particular post.  And of course after eating we find the cafe in question about 150 feet away from where we ate our “Whitey Mcghee” Chinese meal.  😦

SJC: Train Station

SJC: Railroad Tracks @ Station

SJC: Signage near the tracks

SJC: Hidden House Coffee

This area near the tracks is super cool with stores, cafes and restaurants which would be appreciated by hippies, Bohemians and many other LA transplants.  There is a petting zoo around the corner which you can “kind of” smell which was plenty good enough for us.  No petting any dirty goats today…

Hummingbird Cafe

Las Catrinas Gift Shop

The Tea House

Rustic and Cool are Everywhere Here…

Hummingbird Cafe: Back Patio

Hummingbird Cafe: Back Patio

We “sniff in” at the Hummingbird Cafe (949-443-5090) for a lemonade and an iced coffee on their patio.  The iced coffee is alright but more like a hot coffee they chilled which was semi-bold enough for an iced java.  I’m not sure how their chef survived today as hot air resembling an overly ambitious furnace blows our hair back as we walk past the kitchen area.

View into neighbor’s yard from patio…

SJC: Train arrives at the station

THE END!