Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo

Everybody who grew up in California remembers what California Mission they did the report and model on in fourth grade.  Mine, Mission San Miguel.  As the American Revolution loomed on the East Coast the California Coast was relatively undisturbed by Europeans until in 1769, seven years before the Declaration of Independance, when Spanish missionaries set up the first mission in San Diego.  Between 1769-1823, twenty-one missions were set up along the coastline to convert the Native American population.  The Spanish had been in the west, and Mexico, since the 1500's moving northward only to established the province of New Mexico and my beloved capital Santa Fe in 1609.  It wasn't until The Gold Rush in 1849 that California experienced a population boom and entered the Union as the thirty-first state in 1850.

Set in the beautiful village of Carmel along the Northern Central Coast is Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, built in 1770 as the second California mission. 

One of my favorite factiods about the missions is that terrecotta tiled roofs came into play in California because of Indian attacks on the missions.  When we built our house it was a MUST that we have a Spanish tiled roof to pay homage to our California history - I'm kooky like that! 

For sentimental reasons my most beloved mission is San Juan Capistrano in Southern California.  Growing up in that area of Orange County it became a favorite that my mother and I frequented quite often until we moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Even when Mr. Rogers and I were first married we would spend many afternoons strolling San Juan Capistrano and visiting the charming shops.  Perhaps it is my Spanish roots or my love of history, but just sitting in their courtyards gazing at the beautiful gardens and watching the children run around and explore is quite satisfying to me and makes for quite a relaxing afternoon.