The memory of Spanish San Francisco

California boasts an ancient Spanish heritage forgotten, too often, on either side of the Atlantic. Past trips this time proposing a route from San Francisco to Caramel tracked by the U.S. west coast that memory of famous adventurers.
Alcatraz

The trip

California boasts an ancient Spanish heritage forgotten, too often, on either side of the Atlantic. Past trips this time proposing a route from San Francisco to Caramel tracked by the U.S. west coast that memory of famous adventurers.

Two and a half centuries before the U.S. incorporate their domains California, a Extremadura, Sebastián Vizcaíno, had already taken possession of these lands on behalf of the Spanish Crown. One hundred sixty-seven years after, a Lleida, Gaspar de Portolà, was the first European to see the San Francisco Bay, to sail for the first time 1775 other Spanish, Seville's Juan Manuel de Ayala, on board the "San Carlos", baptizing Alcatraz Island. The founding of the city was quiet company, one year after, a descendant of Basque, Juan Bautista de Anza.

The rich history of Spanish presence in California is rich in pioneering expeditions and forgetfulness. "Journeys to the Past" wants to rescue this time from the back of oblivion by a handful of men who helped forge the idiosyncrasies of San Francisco. This is, as, a tour of the Spanish past of the city of gold fever and earthquakes, trams and the Golden Gate, impossible streets and gay pride. A trip to the Spanish roots of a fascinating city.

The oldest building in San Francisco has a Spanish label. The Mission Dolores stands at the intersection of the street of the same name and 16th St

The oldest building in San Francisco has a Spanish label. The Mission Dolores stands at the intersection of the street of the same name and 16th St. His immaculate adobe walls are an example of resistance: have survived the numerous earthquakes that have rocked a city accustomed to making ends meet on a powder keg, the San Andreas fault. Completed in 1791, in its day was the sixth of the twenty raised by the Spanish missions along the California coast. The distance between the two could meet in a day's ride. His driver was a famous Majorcan, Fray Junipero Serra, whose memory is still very present in all of California. The Franciscan, born 1713, was the first evangelization of those lands now U.S. territory, but did not see it finished as he died seven years before. The missionary was traveling on the issue of Juan Bautista de Anza, descendant of Basque (his grandparents were from Hernani), that moved overland from present-day Arizona to California High Apaches across the domains of the Sonoran Desert and Colorado River.

Fray Junipero in Mission Dolores

The religious compound is unmistakable, with four columns, their wooden balconies and the cross that crowns the roof. Next to Mission Dolores, stand the two towers of the church built over a century later, in 1918, that one would bring back memories of La Giralda. The mission was born under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi, but the proximity of the dam was eventually mutate Dolores its name to the unhealthy gap.

The traveler pays the five dollars religiously input costs and, after touring the small museum coached with explanations in Spanish of a parishioner (San Francisco's rich Spanish colony often relieve visitors of Shakespeare's language patter), directed his steps towards the old cemetery where lie many of the early settlers. No wonder, always thought that cemeteries, with markets and cantinas, are the best people radiograph.

From the old wooden tombstones there remains no trace, nor about the statue that marked the place where they lay, in a common grave, 5.000 overcome by indigenous measles epidemics 1804 and 1826

From the old wooden tombstones there remains no trace, nor about the statue that marked the place where they lay, in a common grave, 5.000 overcome by indigenous measles epidemics 1804 and 1826. Yes another statue still stands, of a circumspect Fray Junipero Serra picks up her rosary under the cingulum and an anonymous who has posted a scapular neck. A bronze plaque recognizing him as "founder and president of the first missions of California". The Spanish imprint is also seen in the windows of the new church, where the names of various saints are written in Castilian.

A Seville on the island of the pelicans

One of the landmarks of the city, the most noticeable near the Golden Gate, owes its name to Seville. Alcatraz Island was named by Juan Manuel de Ayala, that Lieutenant, on board the "San Carlos", noticed a rocky islet flown by dozens of sea birds as you walk through San Francisco Bay, in August 1775, the place where now stands the famous bridge.

To reach the old prison is to take a ferry at the dock 41 (Pier 41) de Fisherman´s Wharf, the ultimate waterfront of San Francisco. The crossing takes only ten minutes and costs around twenty dollars. There is also the possibility of paying other 16 for a headset with explanations in Spanish about the history of Alcatraz.

The traveler will repair the old prison museum in a Spanish flag adorned with the banner of Castile, which leaves poor record of our sovereignty over Alcatraz until, in 1821, the loss of New Spain (Current Mexico) also entailed the transfer of the domain of the Corona California. Twenty years later, Mexico would be forced to leave in the hands of the burgeoning United States, New California after a humiliating military defeat.

Monterrey, former capital of Spanish California

The footprint of Fray Junipero Serra is also very present in Carmel, a town located 220 miles south of San Francisco where he was mayor Clint Eastwood. There still stands the Caramel Mission, Old Mission San Carlos Borromeo Carmelo River (that hence the name of the city). The museum, that housed the first library in California, is inescapable.

Originally, the mission was built in the nearby town of Monterrey, former capital of Spanish California, and arrived 1770 the issue of Lleida Gaspar de Portolà and Fray Junipero Serra, that is buried within its walls. To establish the presence of that mission built Spanish, still one of the most beautiful churches in California, and a presidio. Century and a half before, other Spanish, Sebastián Vizcaíno, had already taken possession of these lands on behalf of the Crown.

Today, Monterrey, which still retains its old colonial buildings of Spanish and Mexican past- well worth a stroll through the shopping area of ​​Cannery Road and San Carlos Beach, dotted with docks where dreams are scattered Traveller.

Sunset in Caramel

Currently traveling on Highway 1, along the California coast, from San Francisco to Caramel is a relaxing experience. From Fisherman's Wharf daily buses (70 per person). When the vehicle reaches congestion manage to work Sweeny Ridge, where the expedition of Portola became the first Europeans to spot the San Francisco Bay in November 1769. Nearly a century before, the pirate Francis Drake had passed by without noticing her way to Point Reyes, which was anxious to repair his ship.

The landscape, really spectacular, than offset the hours of road. If you choose to make the trip in one day, advise some time left to stroll leisurely through Caramel and watch the sunset over the Pacific waters from the beach (Carmel City Beach).

The road

If no one wants a hole in the pocket, it is customary to fly to San Francisco with stops in New York. Since the city can rent a car to come to Caramel or opt for the bus, as already discussed above. If you have time it is best to spend the night in Caramel and return the next day at San Francisco.

A nap

In San Francisco, recommend Hotel Vertigo (formerly York Hotel), in 940 the Sutter St. (www.hotelvertigosf.com). During the ban was a local underground and today offers nightly shows at the Plush Room cabaret, where the morning breakfast is served. On the stairs of the hotel were filmed at 1958 scenes in "Vertigo", Alfred Hitchcock, film an episode that has come to name the establishment.

A table set

Near Union Square, the San Francisco Shopping Centre, the Wind´s (Geary Street) serves a great pasta at a good price. The beer is exquisite, the place is lively and fast service.

Highly Recommended

-Shop around the docks of Fisherman's Wharf is required, if only to enjoy a Dungeness crab or stuffed bread soup Boudin Sourdough Bakery's famous.
-From Monterrey, advised to approach Pacific Grove, which begins the 17-Mile Drive, a tour of California's most exclusive.
-A very interesting book about the Spanish presence in the U.S. is Flags distant: exploration, conquista y defensa por España del territorio de los actuales Estados Unidos», Fernando Martinez Lainez and Carlos Canales Torres. Editorial Edaf. Madrid 2009.

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