Went on a East Coast to West Coast and back road trip last year and stopped in so many beautiful places. My heart is still in Santa Fe but San Juan Capistrano was beautiful as well.
I can’t see the salmon…
Mission SJC is among the best preserved missions in California. It’s a great place to visit, as well as an awesome event venue, and a treasured piece of California history. However, the Mission system was instrumental in wiping out native cultures, enslaving their people and the eventual conquest of their lands and way of living, in the name of God, of course.
It was eye-opening being there with my partner who is part native. Very beautiful but very sad at the same time.
Also, is your username a reference to the Jurassic 5 rapper, Chali 2na?
That’s interesting that you liked Santa Fe so much! I visited once and while I liked it ok, I will probably never feel the need to go back. The homogeneous architecture (pretty much every building is the same color and style) made the place seem so stale and boring, and a little creepy, to be honest.
What about Santa Fe is a draw to you? Maybe I missed something.
We stopped there for Meow Wolf which was great in its own right, but we stayed at an AirBnB in Nambe which was turned into a farm and was run by the first woman fire chief of Santa Fe. She made us earrings and gave us goat milk, eggs, and a half loaf of sourdough that she made. Her husband is a Native elder, too. Getting to watch her dance her horse, getting to milk the goats, and learning about her life was possibly the highlight of the whole trip. Also a storm rolled in the night before we left and it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
Beautiful! Lucky enough to live around there. What a great reminder to appreciate the views that are so easy to take for granted.
Thanks for sharing!
Fun fact: Counter-Strike’s de_inferno takes inspiration from this mission.
wow, Where is that ??
The mission San Juan Capistrano in the city of the same name. Southern California
Were the swallows back when you were there? Like in that old Ink Spots song?
They leave in October and return in March, so they should have been there when we went in July, but we didn’t see any. I guess they are more noticeable on the days they migrate?
