During a recent business trip to San Francisco, I made a visit of a few days to friends who live near Campbell, CA. I took the Caltrain down to San Jose – an easy and relatively cheap (at around $9 one-way) way to get out of San Fran towards Silicon Valley.
While their kids went to school, my friends and I made a trip to the coast where, among other things, we visited the town of Carmel. No Clint Eastwood sightings – bummer! But we decided to check out the Carmel Mission after having lunch in the charming downtown area. I had been to the Santa Barbara Mission over a year ago so I was curious on how this one would compare.
Entering the mission grounds
As luck would have (is it really luck??), this was two days after the canonization of Fr. Junipero Serra who worked, died and is buried at the Carmel Mission. The timing was definitely great; I only wish Pope Francis had canonized him where he is buried!
Fr. Serra is buried along with others in the altar area
St. Junipero Serra looms large!
The Carmel Mission is smaller than the one in Santa Barbara but by no means less charming or interesting. As with probably most missions, the center of the mission is the church with a cemetery next to it. Usually there is a vast space or courtyard in the mission and buildings, many of them much newer used for different functions.
Rudimentary graves
Along the church’s wall
As you enter, you are properly warned that you could be at risk for an earthquake. Only in California would the obvious need to be stated in the form of a warning!
Be warned!
As you can see, it was a clear, beautiful day (I assume this is typical for California) and I am so glad we got to enjoy visiting the mission at such a historical time!
Glorious skies!
What a beautiful place! Great photos! I haven’t explored much of California (just LA and San Diego), but clearly I need to make my way here. That earthquake sign is scary though.
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Beautiful clouds over the mission. Reminds me of the song Burn Down the Mission by Elton John. I would be singing that song constantly if I visited here.
Traveling Ted recently posted..North Dakota walleye fishing in Devil’s Lake
i visited cali for the first time this year (twice!) and cant wait to get back. i havent read much about carmel, but the mission looks beautiful! something to put on my list for my inevitable return.
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I’m such a bad Catholic. What’s the difference between a mission and a church? Whatever the answer, it looks like a gorgeous setting, earthquake signs and all!
Francesca (@WorkMomTravels) recently posted..Fly fishing the Holston River with North Fork River Outfitters in Bristol, Tennessee
Northern California is my favorite part of the state. I’m not a fan of Southern. I’ve always wanted to visit Carmel and this article reinforces this desire. Great spot!
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Raul,
I was just talking about these missions from my travels in Mexico…. amazing how the Spanish made missions all the way up the California coast…. thanks for highlighting this one and also, what a last image… those clouds look like paint brush strokes…awesome.
stay going back to cali, Craig
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