fun in the sun with Junipero Serra

This is one of my favorite pictures I've taken with my Nikon D60 so far. This is an old statue of Father Junípero Serra, arguably the single most important historical figure in California's history, at Orange County's Mission San Juan Capistrano, which I visited for the umpteenth time in January.

Unlike Seoul or Tokyo or Boston or Firenze, Orange County (and much of the rest of California) doesn't have much in the way of old things, but this "Jewel of the Missions," built in 1776, is certainly one of them. It's a fascinating but peaceful place that takes the visitor away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, and it's definitely a change of pace for visitors hitting Disneyland, Universal Studios, etc.