Arrivederci Baby

Bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce. BORING! Today was reserved for relaxation. I had to be at UCSD in the evening so I decided to take the day and spend it in San Diego for my annual trek to Coronado to see the Christmas tree. Serendipitously it was the same day the the infamous 'bomb house' in Escondido was being burned so I could not take the 15, my usual route, into San Diego. Instead I cut across on the 76 that took me into Oceanside and right by Mission San Luis Rey. I haven't been there in years and it was a beautiful day and I had the time and no one to answer to so I decided to stop in. This is my favorite - I have seen all of three missions so that doesn't really say much.

Hello Gorgeous

Entry

I took several pictures of the altar and none of them are level. Odd.

The Mission Colonial style of the mission is enhanced by some wonderfully bright painting on the walls of the church

I was told that this Lady of Guadalupe was painted in the 1700s. Note more gorgeous wall painting.

They have a lovely garden but it is reserved for those at retreat there. It includes the first pepper tree planted in California. Too bad. I hate pepper trees. SLR is an active parish.

The Bell Tower and a clear blue sky on a perfect day


A new feature in the cemetery. The cemetery has been in use, off and on, from the early 1800s through present.

After leaving Oceanside I continued to Coronado. There was a wicked fog bank hanging off of the coast but it never hit land while I was there. When I left UCSD that night it was pretty foggy, though.

I didn't realize that they had a rink during December at the Del. Considering it has been hitting the 70s that is quite a feat.

The tree this year seemed to have a red and white theme. Gorgeous as usual.

I went hog wild crazy and had a beer in the bar while I was there. Met a couple from Nebraska who did not realize that the Del was an ongoing concern. They thought it would be a museum. And for those who remember, the Prince of Wales room is no more. It has been converted to a store.

Big surf and fog bank- this looks out towards Pt Loma and you can barely see it.

My new hero.

This geranium gets watered about twice a year and continues to thrive despite that abuse. I want to be like the geranium.