Mission Travelogue - Santa Barbara Part TWO - May 2015

What's in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
~~William Shakespeare

If you're just joining us, we have moved across the street from the Santa Barbara mission and into the park and rose garden.  IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST POST - CLICK HERE

This little guy did NOT appreciate me moving for a closeup.  lol

Neither did this one.  I tried to get a closeup and I almost got stung for the second time that day.  But I love having the mission in the background.

So many shades of creamy yellow.  Like buttah.

Another with the mission in the background, but I managed to get at least one of the close roses (lavender one) and the mission pretty focused.

I crawled around on the ground to get this shot of an adorable mushroom village.  Worth it.

Focus on the mission from a distance.

Another reminder that leaves can be just as beautiful as flowers.

Colors Colors Colors

It's all about the framing.

Gorgeous rosebud with the mission reflecting the colors in the background.

One of my favorite shots of the day.

Pink and yellow satin ribbons

Red Velvet

Pinkish-White Linen

Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know of no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to hurt us.
~~ Voltaire

Small,wrinkly tissue-paper flower

The day was moving on and I had a long drive ahead of me.  I forgot to leave extra food for my cats, so I was on a schedule!  I walked back to the mission to take a few more shots.

Closeup detail of the Roman-influenced front architecture.  There is also a strong Moorish feel in the circular windows and the fountain.  There are four statues.  The top three which are set on points of a triangle, represented Faith, Hope, and Charity.  The statue in the middle of the photo (which stands in the middle of the triangle) represents St. Barbara and was added later.  

The long, front hallway. 

The requisite statue of Fr. Junipero Serra...except he's holding a palm tree in this one. lol

Lines.

Tiny pastel pink flowers growing at Fr. Junipero's feet.

Thorns seem to be the theme of the day.  

I spent a good 3-4 hours wandering around and just relaxing.  Even so, I didn't see a tenth of what there is to offer at the Santa Barbara Mission.  I'm definitely making another trip solely dedicated to the grounds around the Mission, the various parks, the beaches, the flower fields of Lompoc, the Dutch treasures of Solvang, and the horse and wine country of the Santa Ynez valley. 

Apparently that trip will need quite a few days.  :-)

xoxo

California Mission Travelogue - Santa Barbara Mission and Rose Garden May 2015

I love traveling around California and seeing the Missions in their various states of restoration.  Many years ago I visited Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County.  Founded in 1771, it was in a very natural state...looking very unlike the much restored Santa Barbara Mission.  I think it has had some work done on it since I was there.  *Makes note for upcoming road trip*

All the Missions are gorgeous and, although built in similar style for obvious reasons, each has a beauty and style, as well as things to see and explore,  that are all their own.  

For comparison purposes, I'll post a few shots from San Gabriel Arcangel.  Founded in 1771, it is 11 years older than the Santa Barbara Mission which was founded in 1782.

This photo is of the Campanario, or bell wall.  According to this website the oldest bells were cast in Mexico City in 1795.  

Most missions have this (or a similar) statue of Father Junipero Serra.  These were gifts of William H. Hannon - a Southern California real estate developer who gifted 100 statues to various places.

One last shot of San Gabriel Arcangel.  If you would like to see a few more shots, as well as some gorgeous coastal shots around Ventura County,  CLICK HERE

Welcome to La Mision de la Senora Barbara, Virgen y Martir (the Mission of the Lady Barbara, Virgin and Martyr) AKA: the Santa Barbara Mission!

Unlike San Gabriel's campanario, the Santa Barbara Mission has two bell towers; the only mission that does. 

The mission grounds are quite beautiful here.  Which is to be expected since Santa Barbara.  right next to the parking area is a little picnic area lined with gorgeous orange flowers with fuzzy pods.

Beside the mission, there is a little garden with native plants used in the Mission era.

As mentioned above,  all of the California missions have a similar design and all include a water fountain (or two).  I wanted to get a shot of this one, but there were too many tourists about getting in my shot.  So I contented myself with shooting the lily pads with their monetary offerings and fish swimming beneath. 

 This is the Mission lavanderia or laundry.  

Here's a bug on the silvery green leaves surrounding one side of the lavendaria.

The mission cross is set out on a wide expanse of lawn.  

At the end of the walkway leading to the park and rose garden, there was a lovely little garden with succulents and cacti.  

I think I found all the bees in California.  This tree had hundreds flying around it!  

These were growing in profusion...some were gigantic!

The rose garden was awash in color with what seemed to be more than 40 varieties of roses. 

A Bee on a purple-pink rose!  So much to love!

And another purple-pink rose with leafy bokeh. 

On that beautiful note, I'm going to have to save the rest of my visual adventure for the next post.  There are just so many great things to see at this Mission.  

xoxo