july 4th weekend, 1997, was my independence day celebration. on friday, i packed a few things and grabbed my friend danny and headed down the el camino real.
i've always had a curiosity of learning more about the california missions, my indigenous, and my european heritage. the only mission i had ever been to was san gabriel because that one has special significance to me and my family...my grandfather's grandmother is buried there!
my goal is to make it to all 21 missions. i've seen eight so far and i can't wait to complete the string of them. it's sorta of like a spiritual awakening inside of me when i think about them. i am incredibly anti-catholic. i was raised a christian, but now i feel liberated spiritually since i renounced it. what is it about this piece of history that fascinates me?
i feel my ancestors around me when i visit a mission. i feel the humbleness, simplicity, and pride of my indigenous mothers amd fathers married with the arrogance, ignorance, and greed of their european spouses and masters.
below are the pictures of the ones i've been to.
Mission La Purísima Concepción, Lompoc
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledád, Soledad
Mission San Antonio de Padua, King City
Mission San Antonio de Pala, near Palomar Mtn.
Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura
Mission San Diego de Alcala, San Diego
Mission San Fernando Rey de España, San Fernando (gotta scan dem in!)
Mission San Francisco de Asís, San Francisco
Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma, Sonoma
Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, San Gabriel
Mission San José de Guadelupe, Fremont
Mission San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista
Mission San Juan Capistrano, southern Orange County (gotta scan dem in!)
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo
Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside
Mission San Miguel Arcangel, San Miguel
Mission San Rafael Arcangel, San Rafael (gotta scan dem in!)
Mission Santa Bárbara, Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Clara de Asís, Santa Clara
Mission Santa Inés, Santa Ynez
Mission Santa Ysabel, Julian
more to come soon!