Mission San Juan Capistrano

Yesterday I visited Mission San Juan Capistrano.  I have generally negative feelings about the California Missions, as they turned out to be a really bad deal for the native Americans who lived there.  On the other hand, the missions are some of the oldest and most beautiful structures in California.  San Juan Capistrano was built in 1776!  I guess, for me, visiting a mission is like visiting an old southern plantation, like George Washington’s Mt. Vernon.  On the one hand, I feel disgust, and on the other, I’m reminded of some important history, and a (thankfully) bygone way of life.  So, the feelings are mixed, I suppose.  I took some pictures of the old mission…