This is my last blog post for two weeks since I am taking a break from social networks (twitter, Facebook, XT3, tumblr, etc.). My Thesis is due at the end of this month, I am waaay behind because of other coursework I've had, and I need to really want to finish it with a couple of days to spare (just in case I need to edit some things) so I need to be completely cut off from distractions. Thank you to my big sis,
Angelica, for the tips. :)
Before I get offline for the next two weeks, I wanted to share some pictures I took at
Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA. I took the train up this past Wednesday since I wanted a break from the stress of school and I wanted to go somewhere from my Spring Break. It's only 2 hours-ish from L.A. so I was able to come back the same day.
Santa Barbara is beautiful. I would move there if it wasn't so expensive. The Mission is a couple of miles from the beach. If you don't mind the walk, it's doable (from the Mission to the beach or vice versa). If I could do it, and I was in the beginning stages of this darn cold, you can. :) By the way, (fun fact) this is the ONLY Mission in California that is still run by the Franciscan Order.
The view of the beach from the Mission is breathtaking. I don't think this picture does it justice. (By the way, click the pictures to see the bigger versions of them.) :)
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This is the exterior of the Mission. I tried to get a picture without people but it was a tourist-y day. :)
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Upon closer inspection of the plaque on the church façade, we see this:
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This is at the entrance to the interior of the Mission. It tells you how far the other nearby Missions are.
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Part of the interior of the Mission. I believe this is the garden/courtyard.
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Same garden/courtyard, different angle.
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Because I'm a dork, various cacti on some steps next to the chapel.
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This beautiful sculpture was found on the way from the garden/courtyard into the cemetery.
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The bell tower from the cemetery.
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Sign from the cemetery, heading towards the chapel.
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The chapel altar. There wasn't much light and I couldn't use this flash. Sorry.
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One of the many gorgeous paintings in the chapel.
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The three Archangels.
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Sculpture of Jesus coming out of the tomb and St. Mary Magadelen seeing him.
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Sculptures of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi. Yes, that is natural light coming in.
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The chapel from the back. It looks a lot brighter than it looked in person. Glad it came out well. :)
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A painting of Our Blessed Mother in Heaven.
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Painting of the Crucifixion of Our Lord.
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A view of the exterior of the Mission at the southwest edge of the grounds. This was the last one I took before we walked back towards the beach.
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I would've taken more except that I ran out of room in my camera and I didn't want my camera phone to die before we got home. I am planning on going back at some point and taking more pictures though, so stay tuned.
I hope to slowly work my way through all the Missions. I've already visited the
San Fernando Mission and I posted not just one set of photos but
two. I think either Ventura or San Juan Capistrano will be next. :)
Okay, I should really get some rest (ugly, slow setting cold; I even missed Mass today because it was too cold in the morning and my mother was worried I would get pneumonia). I will probably blog again around the 25th of March. I will only post something before then if something major happens.
I hope you all have a great rest of Lent (I'll be back before Easter). If y'all can say a little prayer that I can get through my Thesis (and other schoolwork) in the next 2 weeks, I'd greatly appreciate it. :)
As always, thanks for reading and God Bless. :)