San Juan Bautistsa
We drove into San Juan Bautista at 7 am and the sun was shining, which was pretty amazing as fog was
surrounding the area. South of Gilroy we hit light fog and it looked thicker ahead. We were convinced San Juan Bautista would be blanketed in fog.
As we left the highway and entered the town Tom said ‘turn the clocks back 20 years’ and it’s true. Straightaway we encountered the first chicken, ambling across the road in front of us. Before too long we had seen at least another 20, either in groups, pairs or on their own, wandering around.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
The main street, Third Street, was almost deserted. All the cute little shops were closed and may be open by 11. We passed the Mission Cafe with the Open sign in the window. Last time we were here it was closed so we will come back later for breakfast. We decided to take a walk beforehand to take advantage of the sun. Who knows when the fog will roll in.
We headed towards the Mission along Mariposa Street, walking along the side of the Plaza Hotel and the two story outhouse at the back. The building is looking a bit dilapidated and in need of a new coat of paint. At the corner of Mariposa and Second Street is a small park and I walked across the road to check it out. There were a few chickens scavenging around and in one corner is an old settlers cabin but as the park doesn’t open until 10 I’m not able to get a closer look. There is an old rustic seat on the outside of the park at the crossroads which I had never seen before though, from the look of it, it has been there some time.
While I stood there taking photos, someone behind me said ‘Good Morning’. I turned and there were three young men, two of them in identical smart black and white pin striped suits with white shirts and white dress shoes. They looked so out of place there. I discovered that there 14 more young men around wearing the same suits. They belonged to a Mexican band from Santa Cruz and they have just cut their first disc. The reason for their visit is to take photos for the cover of their album and they were just off to Salinas to take more photos.
Tom was taking pictures outside the Mission so I wandered past and paused in the rose garden, peeped through the gate to the cemetery and gazed at the stature of St John the Baptist, raising his arms to heaven. At this time of the day, with the early morning sun blazing down on him, he looks glorious.
At the back of the Mission, alongside the original El Camino Real, are overgrown concrete bleachers. At one time El Camino Real was the route linking all the Californian Missions with Santa Clara Mission to the north and San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo - which was the headquarters and second Mission to be built - to the south. I climbed over the metal guard rail and walked along the bleachers amongst the brambles. Along the way I helped myself to a few blackberries. They are past their prime and were small but also very tasty. I am sure there were good pickings to be had a few weeks ago.
I sat down and started to write but spent most of my time gazing over the farmlands and especially a field of golden sunflowers in the foreground. The sun was still shining but the fog was out there in the distance.
After a while I walked back and found Tom. I told him about the sunflowers so we took a walk along the old road to get closer. Tom wandered off and I found some more blackberries. There were some bigger fruit here but all out of reach. If only I had a walking stick with a hooked handle.
It’s time for breakfast so we walked back to the Mission Cafe (see Breakfast Blog).
Afterward we took a walk along Third Street, where the shops were still not open. I noticed there were a few empty shops and the Inca Line one of my favorites specializing in goods made with alpaca wood - was gone for ever. Also missing was the wooden statue of the top half of a man wearing a read hat outside the Casa Juan de Anza House on the corner of Franklin and Third Streets.
The only shop open is the San Juan Bakery where we bought a French loaf, which was still warm from the oven and smelt wonderful, and an along poppy seed pound cake.
There are many more people around now so it’s time to head home. It’s been another wonderful morning, going back in time, in the magical San Juan Bautista.
August 27 2008 05:56 pm | Special Places
