12/15/11

It was a cold, dreary day...

in the small town San Juan Bautista when I passed through on my way to the Pinnacles. Nonetheless, I took pictures...

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San Juan Bautista is home to number 15 of California's 21 Spanish missions, founded on June 24, 1797. Mass has been served daily since its founding, by an unbroken line of pastors. San Juan Bautista = Saint John the Baptist.

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Hitchcock filmed the movie Vertigo's pivotal scene here, where Madeleine played by Kim Novak jumps to her death from the bell tower while hapless Scottie played by Jimmy Stewart can only watch. The bell tower was a contrivance. In reality, there is only a bell-wall. (Question: What other Spanish mission appears in Vertigo? Answer.)

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The chapel dates from 1803. The original adobe structure built at the founding is gone.

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There is a small garden in the center.

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Agricultural fields surround San Juan Bautista for miles and miles.

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4 comments:

Tira said...

Love the shots, very evocative

Bonnie Story said...

Incredible pics as always!!

Unknown said...

love your perspective & really appreciate your regular posts.

Jonah Winn-Lenetsky said...

Also, the mission lies right on the edge of the San Andreas fault. The mission has literally survived for hundreds of years on the edge of the fault.