SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MISSION

          

The mission was founded in 1776 by Juniper Serra.  It has the distinction of being the oldest building in California still in use and one of the best known. The mission had fairly good success converting many of the local natives for a number of years

         

   The Criolla or “Mission grape” was first planted at San Juan Capistrano in 1779 and in 1783 the first wine was produced in Alta California at the mission winery.  Work on the stone church was begun in 1797.           

Tragedy struck the settlement when a series of earthquakes left “The Great Stone Church” in ruins.

         

The mission property was auctioned off in l841 to the brother-in-law of Governor Pio Pico whose family lived in the mission until l865 when Abraham Lincoln restored the ownership of the mission the to Catholic Church.

           

Soldiers quarters

During the early 20^th century the mission was restored and today the compound serves as a museum with the Serra Chapel within the compound serving as a chapel for the mission parish

 Some of the points of interest today are the wine and tallow vats, the old millstones, a hide tanning area, reproductions of plein air painting exhibit, Native American artifacts, a treasury, the padres quarters, the Serra Chapel and the bell wall.

           

The mission formed a shaky bridge for the Indians between the world of their ancestors and that of the Spaniards.  Many of the Indians who lived at the missions were treated more like slaves workings in the agricultural fields and a large number died from disease.

 We took time out for lunch at El Adobe.  On the way back to continue our visit at the mission we strolled through a huge antique mall.

            

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY VISIT

           

            Ed and I went to the Huntington Library to see the new exhibit about Junipero Serra and the Legacies of the California Missions with about 250 objects that included paintings, documents and Indian crafts.

            Junipero Serra was born in 1713 on the island of Mallorca. In 1749, Serra and several other Malloran Franciscans went to Mexico as missionaries.  In 1768 Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to the Californias. On the way he established the Mision San Fernando Rey de Espana de Velicata in Baja California.  When he reached San Diego he started the Mission San Diego de Alcala, the first of the 21 California missions. The Indians brought their cultural traditions of music and art to the mission but many perished due to disease. The decaying missions have become tourist attractions and a defining architectural motif for California.

VIRGINIA STEELE SCOTT GALERIES

Chimborazo by Frederic Church

             We had an easy drive to San Marino using the diamond lanes on the freeways, zipping along any congested traffic. We arrived at noon, opening time for the Huntington. After lunch at their café we went on to the missions exhibit as well  as the American art in the Virginia Steele Scott Gallery. Paintings included The Last Leg by Edward Hopper(left) and Breakfast in Bed by Mary  Cassatt (below)

We also spent time in the Chinese garden that included intricate wood carved panels.

Japanese Tea Pavilion has been recently added with decorated interiors

We finished the visit at the Conservatory with lush tropical plants including many blooming orchids.

            There is new construction going on that will include a new entrance, an education and visitor center, a lecture hall, an entry   garden and a new café.

            After an easy drive back to San Diego we had a Greek dinner at my house.

GETTY CENTER

We took this daytrip excursion with the La Jolla Community Center.  They provided a small van for a group of 8 of us.

            The Getty Center hilltop site in the Santa Monica Mountains has views of Los Angeles that reach as far as the Pacific Ocean and the san Gabriel Mountains.

            Visitors arrive at a tram station and enter from a set of steps that lead to the main rotunda building.  Travertine panels cover the walls of the buildings and many of the exterior surfaces are made of glass allowing light to the galleries with shades that adjust the light. There are five two story pavilions with numerous galleries showcasing the large collections.

             The J. Paul Getty Museum houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts and decorative arts. 

Monet

           

                      

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

Monet

La promenade by Monet

Before trial by Abraham Solomon

After trial by Solomon

Joseph turner

French 18th century

French 18th century

Central garden

            Outside there is a central garden, sculpture garden and a cactus garden.

            

LAGUNA BEACH WEDDING VISIT

Wedding couple

Laguna Beach Art Museum

            

Heisler Park

Seven 4 one boutique hotel

            We enjoyed a drive to Laguna for a wedding of the daughter of a friend of Ed’s.  Since it was on a Saturday during the summer the traffic was very heavy mid day going to Laguna Beach. It was a lovely wedding at the Methodist church followed by a reception with light refreshments. Since there was time between the wedding and a dinner later we visited the Laguna Art Museum which features diverse styles of art by California artists.                                                                                                                                                           There was time to enjoy the nearby ocean views at Heisler Park before heading to Seven 4 one boutique hotel for rest of the wedding festivities.                                                                                                          Appetizers were served on a roof top deck with an ocean view.  Later the guests moved inside to a large room with seating on the sides and a central area for socializing and dancing.  Dinner included a salad course that was served in a large martini glass followed later with the entrée that filled a martini glass with a mushroom dressing topped with cut filet mignon and prawns.  The drive back to San Diego was much easier with light traffic.