Pictures!

Here are some pics from the San Juan Capistrano Mission. But I've gotta tell you a quick story.  Back in the 1800s the priest that founded the mission (Serra, I believe) was walking down the main street of the town and saw a merchant knocking down the mud swallow nests around his shop.  The priest asked why he was doing it and the man replied that they were noisy and made a horrible mess. The priest asked where would the birds go now that he has knocked their nests down? The merchant said he didn't care as long as they didn't come back to his shop. The priest said they would always be welcomed at the Capistrano Mission.  Years later a love song was written about the swallows return from Argentina every year and the place became famous for it.  As Ed and I were strolling through the mission a children's guided tour came up behind us. The tour guide was telling the story and one of the children asked to see a nest and the tour guide said 'we don't let them nest here anymore because they were ruining the walls.  I had to leave the area because I was laughing so hard....