California Door
In March 1760, a couple of hundred men left Mexico to found the first Spanish church in California. Their leader was a Franciscan Jesuit priest named Father Junipero Serra. This first of 21 missions was built here in San Diego and was called Mission San Diego de Alcala. All the missions were about a day's walk apart along a road called El Camino Real.
No way this is the original door because the mission was burnt by natives in 1775 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1803 and another one in 1812. Plus the mission was moved around 1774.
Here's an online tour of the San Diego mission.
There's something adventurous and potentially life-altering about passing through a door. Literature is loaded with doors and characters who cross thresholds.
For a look at some doors around the world, Frank Gardner, the brainchild of these door posts, has links at My Painted Box. Elizabeth helped organized this blogging event and has links too at The House in Marrakesh.
I leave you with a couple of Spanish proverbs dealing with doors:
"When fortune knocks upon the door, open it widely."
"Shut your door and you will make a prison."
Posts
What a gorgeous contrast of colour in this pic! It somehow makes me think immediately of red blood on white snow. After reading your posting with the pic, I still think of that interpretation!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely!
Gemma
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, I have read Shirley Maclaine's book about el camino many years ago, and what an experience the walk is..
I just love your door, its so solid, yet softened with the passing years, i just imagine the lives that were affected through passing through that door?..
regards,
xx
Yes, I know, the walk in Spain is what I am talking about, is there any connection?..
ReplyDeletexx
This could be in Majorca - love the combination of the flowers with the doors. Thanks for the visit to mine!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting history behind your door. I don't know enough about the Spanish heritage in the US.
ReplyDeleteAlso the second quote is really moving.
Yes, lots of symbolism to doors.
i love that your post contained a bit of history, a bit of wisdom, and a sprinkling of proverbs! Great wooden door, I would love to have a front door like that, warm and welcoming, but ominous!
ReplyDeleteI love this door Barrie, and the history behind it. Even if it isn't the "original" that was brought from Mexico, it is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI also love these Spanish proverbs. So very, very true.
Now, about those red "choosing boots"....Hee!!!
doors can be so mystical and filled with expectation. i love doors...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful door and wonderful tale about the history.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Barrie.
Ahh...my home town and beloved mission. The grounds are always so peaceful and colorful, and it is amazing to think of the missions being founded at the same time as all the Revolutionary War events were happening on the other side of the continent.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that the Franciscans came and stayed (why not, it was gorgeous!) while later those on the east coast pushed and strained to head west.
Gorgeous photo, Barrie. I've always loved the mission architecture.
ReplyDeleteI actually used to live quite close to this mission and would visit it often. :-)
Great post!
Oooh, I want a door like that...:)
ReplyDeleteGreat door. How about this proverb:
ReplyDeleteSilence is the doorway to the soul. :-)
WOW....
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post and stunning photo.
ReplyDeleteDoors, archways, gates, hallways, thresholds, they speak to us on so many levels, don't they?
Outside and inside blur.
Beautiful door and wise quoates.
ReplyDeleteFranciscans are so cool.
ReplyDeleteHi Barrie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this door. I have been to most of the missions except for this one. Liked the Spanish proverbs too!
Constance
I enjoyed your photograph and your history of the Spanish missions. I also liked the proverbs!
ReplyDeletethat thing looks pretty darn solid. I like the flowers in the foreground.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the door Laverne & Shirley had when they moved to California
ReplyDeleteLucky for me that the Doors of the World have opened to show me your work and world. I'm enjoying this trip around the globe and meeting such wonderful artists and bloggers. I love your photograph and your words. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I have seen this door in person....though it's been a couple of decades! I love the California missions.
ReplyDeleteYour two Spanish proverbs are so appropo!
Yes in so many books a door is a path to a whole new world
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo. I lived in San Diego when I was a child, but don't think we visited the mission.
ReplyDeleteI love the missions. When my son had to study them in 4th grade, I had a great time helping him with his project. My father is a water color artist and has painted the CA missions for decades. I have several of his paintings in my home. As children, my parents would take my sister and I to visit the missions-I'm pretty sure I've been to them all.
ReplyDeleteI loved the proverbs and thanks for the ARC, I'm really looking forward to reading it!
I know this will sound....strange...but I love doors. I really do....esp. OLD doors. I have about 40 old oak doors in my garage...I got them from my high school before they tore it down. Ya, I was going to sell them....but for some reason, 2 years later, I still have every. single. one. of. them.
ReplyDeleteI love doors.
Thank you for giving the history behind your photo of the door. Doors and their design speak a language all their own... I thought immediately upon seeing yours that it looked Mexican or Spanish! Thank you too for the quotes. They are very powerful reminders of how to live life.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Joanne
Barrie-- Love the history behind that door.
ReplyDeleteHey, your upcoming book sounds really exciting! How fun to meet another writer here in blog-land! :-)
I just recently visited a California Mission. I know some people really enjoy these places but to me the history of the place was really difficult to overcome.
ReplyDeleteThis door is certainly beautiful though. Thank you for sharing it.
Nancy
Love the door. Thanks for the history behind it and the Spanish proverbs are right on.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post very much. Thank you!
ReplyDeletePaz
Beautiful photo, gorgeous doors, lovely flowers, and it looks like nice weather as well (she says a bit enviously).
ReplyDelete:-)
Beautiful post, Barrie. I never thought much about the symbolism of a door - opened or closed. I do now. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHeidi
I grew up in So. California, so the missions were a big part of my life. What fun to see this one again and to be reminded of the history.
ReplyDeleteI remember studying the California missions in 4th grade. It was one of my favorite subjects. They are all so beautiful. Luckily, I have been able to visit many of them.
ReplyDeleteI love old doors, and this one is exceptional. The history behind it is so interesting. Thanks for sharing this and the links that go with this. I will have a lot of fun exploring to do tonight!!
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing?
XOXOX
The door is gorgeous. And I LOVE the comments.
ReplyDeleteHi, Thanks for visiting me...must be thrilling getting published???>..keep up the coffee & writing dates ..
ReplyDeletexx
Paying you a visit after yours to my blog. Interesting post. My husband and I really enjoy visiting historic buildings, and now that we have moved to Southern California, I am looking forward to visiting the many missions.
ReplyDelete