San Diego/San Juan Capistrano (July 19 - 21)

I can't believe it has taken me this long to post about this trip.  It was back in July!  We actually went to visit some friends in Rancho Santa Fe, which is just about 30 minutes north of San Diego.  It took us about 2+ hours to get there.  This particular family had moved from our town over a year ago now.  Their son and Charlie were in the same Kindergarten class and I would visit with the mom occasionally when we first moved to California.

Graham and Charlie had such a good time catching up with their friends:

I think Graham and Charlie really enjoyed all their toys and also the big backyard!  Can someone say "Zip line"??!

How cool is that! And we actually ended up going back the next day (after our 7-hour long playdate!) because I had accidentally left my sunglasses at their home.  We not only got to see my mom-friend again but also, the boys got to play on the zip line again!  Also, we were directed to a market that has the best tortilla chips ever!

It looks like we can't get these chips around here.  Might be another road trip when we get a chance! In the meantime, it's nap time while we drive to Dana Point:

Hmm... wait, where are we going?

Oh wait, no - we're off to see the San Juan Capistrano Mission.  We're parked but it's time to play first:

We're at Los Rios, which is a historic district in the city of San Juan Capistrano. Some buildings are dated back to 1794 and is officially the oldest continually occupied neighborhood in the state of CA!

Hats on! It's a warm one today:

We cross the railroad to get to the Mission.  We have to remember that it's an active rail track:

No way... Mission is closed today - on a Tuesday?!  So we are just busy looking around the gift shop.  Almost went home with one of these, but picked out a nice mug instead:

Trying to get some shade while waiting for the traffic light.  Charlie is so funny here - leaning up against Bobby:

It says "Old Mr. Tree circa 1800".  Woah!

There's a few shops and restaurants along this street in Los Rios:

Oh wait, the train is coming! And there is a little gate that comes down:

Okay, time to look for some food.  We found an "Elephant ear" instead!

And then we found some apple beignets.  We would have sat at the restaurant but it was closing. At 3pm?! Sheesh!

The beignets were not quite the same as the ones you would get in New Orleans, but they were pretty yummy no less with the caramel sauce.  Yummm...

Okay, off to Dana Point to find our hotel!  Thankfully it's not too far.  Once we settled down a bit, the boys and I went to find the beach while Daddy had to work a bit.  I can't remember what this little façade was about now: 

We have no idea exactly where we are going.. .just follow the logs:

We see some sand and a lifeguard tower.  Found the beach!

Got to take a we-fie first, minus daddy :-/

Not a lot of sand here.  So strange!  Must have had an erosion issue here.  That seems to be an issue along some of the California coastline now:

It is super rocky at the bottom:

Hmmm... Graham thinks it's a great idea to roll down the hill.  You should have seen his rash-guard/shirt after. Yikes...!

Charlie is trying to make a little rock tower:

These boys love the beach:

Time to walk back to the hotel! Glad Daddy brought us some towels before going out to pick up some dinner:

Dinner! Glad there's some extra space in this hotel room:

The next day, we are finally off to see the San Juan Capistrano Mission.  But first, photo op :-)

I'm so glad we are finally able to visit this Mission.  I believe these bells signify the El Camino Real. Yup, looks like the name means "The Royal Road" and it marks the 700 mile historic California Mission Trail that connects 21 missions, 4 military forts, and several pueblos/towns from San Diego all the way to San Francisco!

We're looking for some fish in the pond:

This place is so pretty:

And massive!  It's crazy to think this mission was founded in 1776.  That was so long ago!  And unfortunately, it did not survive very well after a couple of earthquakes: 

Mommy and boys selfie:

 I wonder if that was an entryway before:

There's Daddy for our family we-fie!

Looks like the Mission has events planned here.  What a space!

I always find it amazing how much smaller people were back then.  Look how short these doorways are:

But look, these people were already into built-in shelving even back in the 1800s!!!

Hi Graham!  I am still inside one of the rooms as Graham is already outside in a hallway ready for the next thing:

We enter "Serra's Chapel" where it has been documented that Junipero Serra celebrated Mass.  There's a pipe organ towards the back, on the 2nd floor:

The ceiling is so cool!

Oh, and the "Golden Altar" or retablo is amazing.  I don't know why I don't have a close up of this.  It is gleaming gold as the sun from the windows is shining through:

So this altar is actually older than the Mission itself.  It was originally carved in Barcelona, Spain in the 1690s and then installed in the Chapel in 1922.  It came in 396 pieces in 10 boxes and it took 18 months to put back together as it didn't come with any instructions.  Ha ha!  They actually had to raise the roof because it was taller than the original building.  And now that I'm reading more on it, the retablo was actually resurfaced with bronze leaves in 1993. As the gold chipped off, much of the clay backing was revealed and it was then coated with gold paint that eventually started to tarnish.

Here are some bells of the Mission in the Secret Garden.  Too bad we didn't hear them although I'm not sure if they ring them anymore:

The familiar long hallways that we keep seeing in all the missions we have visited:

It's crazy to think that every single brick here was made by hand and then all laid by hand.  Every arch too... that's a lot of work!

Towards the back, there's a seating area and then this HUGE cactus tree!  Woah!!!

Okay, time to head out.  Graham and Charlie actually have a swim lesson later this afternoon so we had already checked out of our hotel room and are all ready to head back home.  But just before that, I spot some more of these tiled steps.  Makes me wonder what we really could have done with our front stoop:

Obviously too late now, but at least I don't have to worry about anyone falling over the new steps.

What a fun trip!  So glad we were able to visit our friends and then also see the Mission. I'll have to see what else is on our to-do list for California :-)