The Missions of California are a popular tourist destination for visitors throughout the state. And here in Santa Barbara it is no exception. The Santa Barbara mission is adored for its beauty and it is easy to see why. It is a muse of professional photographers and tourist's snapshots alike.
I grew up within walking distance of this place. While I must have driven by, thousands of times, it wasn't until I moved back to town that I came to appreciate its striking beauty. Now, I go out of my way to pass by the Mission and it's picturesque rose garden, to remind myself of this amazing architectural beauty that has become somewhat of a visual ambassador for our unique city.
The setting is just as special as the architecture, the hills behind mission canyon, framed by a pair of bell towers, and an ocean view from the mission's steps. The homes that surround the mission grounds, for me, add a special charm to the area. They are elegant and quaint at the same time, and neither the homes or the mission would be as beautiful without the other. Recently, my brother showed me an old path, cutting between two of the homes; a relic of the old presidio days. Legend has it, this is all that remains of the path from the mission down to the presidio.
The reason the mission exists, and it's history are somewhat controversial topics, that I am not going to address here. My purpose here is to appreciate the visual experience this place provides. As much for those who are visiting for the first time, as for people like me who pass by it everyday. Interestingly, I have never taken the mission tour, and I found that others who spent their entire childhoods nearby have never taken the tour either. Maybe this is because the mission is so much a part of our experience. We pass by it on our way to the dentist or the grocery store, the way people in other cities pass by a bank or mini-mall, reminding us how lucky we are to live in Santa Barbara, if we can only remember to keep our eyes open.
SR
