San Juan Capistrano

Today we had to go to Corona Del Mar so on our way back we decided to stop by San Juan Capistrano and walk around the mission. For those of you who somehow missed this cartoon when you were growing up, there used to be this MGM cartoon called "The First Swallow" which was a story about how the birds started migrating to the mission every year.

This is, in fact, a real place and yes - it is actually known for the annual return of the swallows which leave and then return every year on March 19th. The Mission, established in 1776, was the seventh of twenty-one missions established in California by the Church to try and indoctrinate the natives. It's really impressive because the stone church, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812, still stands (somewhat) partially in ruins. Walking around the park parts of it feels like you're touring the Alamo and then you turn a corner and feel like you're looking at some Roman ruins. If you're ever driving around the south end of Orange County and there's traffic on the 5, take one of the Capistrano exits and go get your learn on.