CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP

Starting in San Diego and heading north until I run out of gas! (And I don't mean my car; I mean me!)
​

LA PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN
PART 26 ​- see map below

Going back in time to Spanish California

There are places in California where traveling back in time is relatively easy. All you have to do is visit one of the 21 Spanish missions built in the 18th century by Native Americans and Spanish friars. Restored and rebuilt several times, these missions - with their chapels, museums, courtyards and amazing relics - really have the power to take you back in time. So the 18th century, back when California was still part of Spain, is all over the state, waiting to be re-experienced! CLICK: READ MORE

Retrocediendo en ​el tiempo a la California española

Hay lugares en California donde viajar al pasado es relativamente fácil. Todo lo que tienes que hacer es visitar una de las 21 misiones españolas construidas en el siglo 18 por nativos americanos y frailes españoles. Restauradas y reconstruidas varias veces, estas misiones - con sus capillas, museos, jardines y reliquias increíbles - realmente tienen el poder de llevarte al pasado. Así que el siglo 18, cuando California aún era parte de España, está por todo el estado, ´esperando a ser re-experimentado! ​CLIC: LEA MAS

SANTA INES
PART 25 - see map below

Built to relieve other overcrowded missions

You would think that after visiting many of the Spanish missions in California, you could expect the next one to be a repetition of what you have already seen. But you would be wrong. They are all quite different, and still quite beautiful and educational. Each one has its own fascinating story, its own architecture and each of their museums is a history course! CLICK: READ MORE

Construida para aliviar otras misiones superpobladas

Después de visitar muchas de las misiones españolas en California, podrías esperar que la próxima será una repetición de lo que ya has visto. Pero estarías equivocado. Todas ellas son muy diferentes, aunque hermosas y educativas. Cada una tiene su propia historia fascinante, su propia arquitectura y cada uno de sus museos es un curso de historia. CLIC: LEA MAS

SANTA BARBARA
​PART 24 ​- see map below

The Queen of the Spanish Missions

When you arrive, you feel like you've entered a photographer's paradise. Everywhere you look, you feel like you should take a picture! Established by Spanish Franciscans in 1786 and having undergone several reconstructions, Mission Santa Barbara is still recognized as The Queen of the Missions, "because of her majestic beauty." And the title is appropriate. This Mission features a "Sacred Garden," a church, a cemetery and a museum  displaying original objects and art treasures from the Early California Mission Era. And it's all beautiful. You don't want to leave! CLICK: READ MORE

La Reina de las Misiones Españolas

Cuando llegas, te sientes como si hubieras entrado a un paraíso de fotógrafos. ´Dondequiera que miras, sientes que debes tomar una foto! Establecida por franciscanos españoles en 1786 y después de haber pasado por varias reconstrucciones, la Misión Santa Bárbara sigue siendo reconocida como la Reina de las Misiones, "debido a su majestuosa belleza". Y el título es apropiado. Esta misión cuenta con un "jardín sagrado", una iglesia, un cementerio y un museo que exhibe objetos originales y tesoros artísticos de la Era de las Misiones de California. Y todo es hermoso. ´No quieres irte! CLIC: LEA MAS

EL PRESIDIO REAL DE SANTA BARBARA
​PART 23 ​- see map below

The Birthplace ​of Santa Barbara

The architecture resembles that of a Spanish mission, with its white, adobe walls and rows of family living quarters surrounding an open plaza. But missions often are built like forts, and this time it is indeed a fort that we are visiting. We may be in downtown San Barbara, California, a beautiful, modern American City, but we are also at the 1782 Presidio Real de Santa Barbara, the last military outpost built by Spain in the New World and a huge tourist attraction. ​CLICK: READ MORE . . .

El Lugar de Nacimiento de Santa Barbara

La arquitectura se asemeja a la de una misión española, con sus paredes blancas de adobe y filas de viviendas de familias que rodean una plaza abierta. Pero las misiones a menudo se construyen como fuertes, y esta vez es un fuerte que estamos visitando. Podemos estar en el centro de San Bárbara, California, una hermosa y moderna ciudad estadounidense, pero también estamos en el Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara de 1782, el último puesto militar construido por España en el Nuevo Mundo y una gran atracción turística.
​CLICK: READ MORE . . .

FATHER SERRA CROSS
​PART 22 ​- see map below

On a hill, overlooking ​the land he shepherded

From the summit of this hill, standing next to the Father Serra Cross, one can see the land that Junípero Serra shepherded. Overlooking Ventura County, the City San Buenaventura, and the Pacific Ocean, this California landmark, also known as "The Cross of the Hill," recognizes the many accomplishments of the Franciscan missionary who led the way to the Spanish colonization and evangelization of California.
CLICK: READ MORE ...

En una colina, ​con vistas a la tierra que pastoreaba

Desde la cima de esta colina, de pie junto a la Cruz del Padre Serra, uno puede ver la tierra que Junípero Serra pastoreaba. Con vistas al Condado de Ventura, a la Ciudad de San Buenaventura y al Océano Pacífico, este hito de California, también conocido como "La Cruz de la Colina", reconoce los muchos logros del misionero franciscano que abrió el camino a la colonización española y la evangelización de California.
​CLIC: LEA MAS ...

SAN BUENAVENTURA
​PART 21 ​- see map below

Survived Earthquakes and Pirates

In spite of earthquakes, a tidal wave, a fire and even pirates, Mission San Buenaventura, a beautiful Franciscan mission established very close to the Pacific Ocean in 1782, is still standing in downtown Ventura, California. Of course, most of it has been rebuilt. But the ninth and last California mission established by Father Junípero Serra is still serving the San Buenaventura community.
​CLICK: READ MORE ...

​Sobrevivió​ Terremotos ​y Piratas

A pesar de los terremotos, un maremoto, un incendio e incluso los piratas, la Misión de San Buenaventura, una hermosa misión franciscana establecida muy cerca del Océano Pacífico en 1782, sigue en pie en el centro de Ventura, California. Por supuesto, la mayor parte ha sido reconstruida. Pero la novena y última misión de California establecida por el Padre Junípero Serra todavía está sirviendo a la comunidad de San Buenaventura. ​CLIC: LEA MAS ...

SAN FERNANDO ​REY DE ESPANA
​PART 20 ​- see map below

​Teaches California's Colonial History

The architecture is that of an old Spanish mission, but the buildings are not as old as they seem. Mission San Fernando Rey de España, on the north end of Los Angeles county, lets you see what other California missions probably looked liked when they were relatively new. And that's because although this mission was established on Sept 8, 1797, it has been mostly rebuilt over the years, including the church which was totally rebuilt -as a replica of the 1806 original - in 1974! CLICK: READ MORE ...

​​Enseña la historia colonial de California

La arquitectura es la de una antigua misión española, pero los edificios no son tan antiguos como parecen. La misión San Fernando Rey de España, en el extremo norte del condado de Los Ángeles, nos permite ver como lucían las otras misiones de California cuando eran relativamente nuevas. Y eso es porque, aunque esta misión se estableció el 8 de septiembre de 1797, en su mayoría se ha reconstruido a lo largo de los años, incluyendo la iglesia que fue totalmente reconstruida - como una réplica de la original de 1806 -- ´en 1974! CLIC: LEA MAS ...

HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
PART 19 ​- see map below

​Strolling the Hispanic Walk of Fame

There are almost 80 Hispanic stars on the Hollywood Walk of fame. The problem is finding them among more than 2,600 stars embedded on a 15-block section of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street - especially since there are hundred of people usually walking over them! The stars, embedded on the sidewalks on both sides Hollywood and Vine, honor the superstars of American music, movies, television, radio and theater. And there are a good number of Hispanics among them. If they were all together, it would be enough for our own Hispanic Walk of Fame!
​CLICK: READ MORE ...

Caminando por el Paseo Hispano de la Fama

Hay casi 80 estrellas hispanas en el Paseo de la fama de Hollywood. El problema es encontrarlas entre más de 2.600 estrellas incrustadas en un tramo de 15 cuadras de Hollywood Boulevard y tres bloques de la calle Vine - sobre todo porque hay cientos de personas caminando sobre ellas! Las estrellas, incrustadas en las aceras a ambos lados de Hollywood y Vine, honran a las superestrellas de la música, el cine, la televisión, la radio y el teatro de Estados Unidos. Y hay una buena cantidad de hispanos entre ellas. ´Si estuvieran todas juntas, sería suficiente para nuestro propio Paseo de la Fama Hispana!
​CLIC: LEA MAS ...

 LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES
PART 18 ​- see map below

A walk through Mexican-American History

Properly located in the heart of the Los Angeles historic district, next door to Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church and across the street from the plaza that marks the center of the city, there is Mexican-American history museum that deserves everyone's attention. It's called La Plaza de Cultura y Artes - words that don't really need translation - but, of course, all of its wonderful exhibits are bilingual. CLICK: READ MORE

Un paseo por la historia mexicoamericana

​Convenientemente ubicada en el corazón del distrito histórico de Los Ángeles, al lado de la iglesia católica Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles y frente a la plaza que marca el centro de la ciudad, hay un museo de historia mexicana-americana que merece la atención de todos. Se llama La Plaza de Cultura y Artes - palabras que realmente no necesitan traducción - pero, por supuesto, todas sus maravillosas exhibiciones son bilingües. CLIC: LEA MAS

EL PUEBLO DE LA REINA DE
​LOS ANGELES
​​PART 17 ​- see map below

​Hispanics had to be imported

Back in 1781, when king Carlos III of Spain ordered the creation of a new California town, the Spanish Governor of Las Californias, Felipe de Neve, decided that it would be named "El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles." Neve selected a site near the  Porciuncula (Los Ángeles) River and laid out the town streets. In typical Spanish style, the layout consisted of an open central plaza, headed by a Catholic church and surrounded by buildings creating a town square. CLICK: READ MORE

Hispanos tuvieron que ser importados​

Allá en 1781, cuando el rey Carlos III de España ordenó la creación de una nueva ciudad en California, el gobernador español de Las Californias, Felipe de Neve, decidió que se llamaría "El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles". Neve seleccionó un sitio cerca del río Porciúncula (Los Ángeles) y tendió las calles del pueblo. En el estilo típico español, el diseño consistía en una plaza central abierta, encabezada por una iglesia católica y rodeada de edificios. CLIC: LEA MAS

SAN GABRIEL ARCANGEL
​PART 16 ​- see map below

A Mission that Launched Cities

Its beautifully maintained buildings and gardens, and its proximity to Los Angeles easily make Mission San Gabriel Arcangel one the most popular in California. And yet what makes this mission truly special is the people who first gathered here on their way to other places. This is the fourth of 21 California missions, established by Padre Junípero Serra in 1771. But this is also the place where two groups of Spanish-led settlers gathered before going on to establish San Francisco and Los Angeles! CLICK: READ MORE

Una Misión que Lanzó Ciudades

Sus edificios y jardines bellamente mantenidos y su proximidad a Los Ángeles fácilmente hacen que la Misión San Gabriel Arcangel sea una de las más populares en California. Y, sin embargo, lo que hace que esta misión sea realmente especial es la gente primero que se reunió aquí en su camino a otros lugares. Esta es la cuarta de las 21 misiones de California, establecida por el padre Junípero Serra en 1771. ¡Pero este es también el lugar donde dos grupos de colonos dirigidos por españoles se reunieron antes de continuar a establecer San Francisco y Los Ángeles. CLIC: LEA MAS

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
​PART 15 ​- see map below

The Home of the Missing Swallows from Argentina

Internationally, Mission San Juan Capistrano is known as the seasonal home of the swallows. But not just any swallows! These are undocumented immigrants who come flying across the border every year, all the way from Argentina! Hundreds of swallows normally showed up around March 19 and stayed through the summer. But unfortunately, most of them have stopped coming!
 ... CLICK: READ MORE

El hogar de las golondrinas desaparecidas de Argentina

A nivel internacional, la Misión San Juan Capistrano es conocida como el hogar de temporada de las golondrinas. ¡Pero no cualquier golondrina! Estas son inmigrantes indocumentadas que vienen volando y cruzan la frontera cada año, desde Argentina! Cientos de golondrinas normalmente se aparecían alrededor del 19 de marzo y se quedaban durante el verano. ¡Pero desafortunadamente, la mayoría de ellas han dejado de venir! ... CLIC: LEA MAS

SAN ANTONIO DE PALA
PART 14 - see map below

A Sub-Mission to Reach the Natives of the Interior

Back in the begining of the 19th century, when Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was flourishing and its Franciscan friars wanted to extend their reach to more Native Americans, they decided to build an "asistencia" (sub-mission) some 23 miles further inland, in a native village called Pala. They decided to name it after Saint Anthony, and thus, San Antonio de Pala was founded on June 13, 1816 by Padre Antonio Peyri, who had guided San Luis Rey for many successful years.... CLICK: READ MORE

Una Asistencia para Alcanzar Los Nativos del Interior

En los comienzos del siglo 19, cuando la Misión San Luis Rey de Francia estaba floreciendo y sus frailes franciscanos querían extender su alcance a más nativos americanos, decidieron construir una "asistencia" (sub-misión) a unas 23 millas más hacia el interior, en un pueblo nativo llamado Pala. Decidieron ponerle el nombre de San Antonio, y por lo tanto, San Antonio de Pala fue fundada el 13 de junio de 1816 por el Padre Antonio Peyri, quien había guiado a San Luis Rey por muchos años exitosos.... CLIC: LEA MAS

 SAN LUIS PART 13 - see map below

The King of the California Missions

Some 40 miles north of San Diego, just east of the City of Oceanside, in an unincorporated community known as San Luis Rey, the Great Hispanic American History Tour found one of the last missions built by Spanish Franciscan friars in California: San Luis Rey de Francia. If you had assumed the California missions were built in geographic order, from south to north, then you expected to find the second mission, following San Diego de Alcalá. But the California missions were not built in geographic order ... CLICK: READ MORE

El Rey de las Misiones de California

A unas 40 millas al norte de San Diego, justo al este de la Ciudad de Oceanside, en una comunidad no incorporada conocida como San Luis Rey, La Gran Gira por la Historia Hispanoamericana encontró una de las últimas misiones construidas por frailes franciscanos españoles en California: San Luis Rey de Francia. Si había asumido que las misiones de California fueron construidas en orden geográfica, de sur a norte, entonces esperaba encontrar la segunda misión, siguiendo a San Diego de Alcalá. Pero las misiones de California no fueron construidas en orden geográfica... CLIC: LEA MAS

SAN DIEGO​ PART 12 - see map below

An American Town Named After ​the
​Saint from Alcalá

The 15th century Spanish Franciscan friar San Diego, who spent time as a missionary in the Canary Islands, spent the last few years of his life in Alcalá de Henares, a city near Madrid, the capital of Spain. He died there in 1463 - some 29 years before Columbus discovered the New World. He still is buried there. It is there that he is credited for miracles. It is there that the Catholic Church proclaimed him a saint in 1588. That's why he is known as San Diego de Alcalá. And that's why so much of southern California bears that entire name. CLICK: READ MORE

Un Pueblo Americano
Lleva el Nombre del Santo de Alcalá

El fraile franciscano español del siglo 15, San Diego, que pasó un tiempo como misionero en las Islas Canarias, pasó los últimos años de su vida en Alcalá de Henares, una ciudad cerca de Madrid, capital de España. Murió allí en 1463, unos 29 años antes de que Colón descubriera el Nuevo Mundo. Él todavía está enterrado allí. Es allí que se le atribuye milagros. Es allí donde la Iglesia Católica lo proclamó santo en 1588. Por eso es conocido como San Diego de Alcalá. Y es por eso que gran parte del sur de California lleva ese nombre completo. CLIC: LEA MAS

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

PART 11 - see map below
​Balboa Park: Candy for your eyes ​amid a painful controversy!

If you are an out-of-towner, when you get here, you instantly become jealous. "Why can't we have a park like this in my hometown," you ask yourself. But unless you live in San Diego, you are out of luck! There is only one majestically beautiful, Spanish-motif Balboa Park, the city's "crown jewel." CLICK: READ MORE

PART 10 - see map below
Chicano Park: Mexican-American history painted under highway ramps

Their canvasses are not made of cloth and they often take the shape of a the letter T. They are gigantic murals painted on cement overpass support columns, but they are works of art just the same. And they tell the story of the Mexican-American experience! CLICK: READ MORE ...

PART 9 - see map below
​Even at the beach in San Diego, you can't ​avoid Spanish history

Some of my friends have been asking if - amid all the historic sites in my travels - I have taken some time to go to the beach. After all, this is California! And so I started asking people in San Diego where I should go. “What’s the best beach around here?” I kept asking. And wouldn’t you know it? The answer was always the same: "Coronado Beach." CLICK: READ MORE  . . .

PART 8 - see map below
​Old Mission (Padre) Dam: California's First Aqueduct

A few years after moving Mission San Diego de Alcalá to its present location to be closer to water, in 1774, its Spanish padres realized the water still wasn't close enough - not to maintain the crops and livestock of their growing mission. And so, to make the water come to them, they decided to build a "Mission Dam" ... CLICK: READ MORE . . .

PART 7 - see map below
​Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá: California's First Spanish Mission

We had to make a few stops before coming here. But finally, The Great Hispanic American History Tour has arrived at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the 21 Spanish missions built in California between 1769 and 1823, and the one that gave birth to this beautiful city. So if this was the first one, why didn’t our tour begin here? Good question!
CLICK: READ MORE . . .

PART 6 - see map below

Junípero Serra Museum Transcends the Story of ​a Great Man

Throughout this country, most people don't even know who he was. But in California, almost 250 years after he came here, Padre Junípero Serra is still a household name. In fact, among many Christians and historians, his name is revered. Considered California's founding father, Serra is credited for opening the gateway to the Spanish colonization and evangelization of the state, starting in 1769, by building a series of missions, some of which eventually became major cities. CLICK: READ MORE . . .

PART 5 - see map below
​Presidio Park: The Birthplace of the Spanish Colonization ​of California

Of the original landmarks, there is nothing left to see here. And yet this beautiful hilltop park with great views of San Diego is the place where this city was born. After an overland expedition from Baja California, Mexico, this is the spot chosen to build a fort, the San Diego Presidio, and a mission, San Diego de Alcalá, in 1769 by Spanish Army Commander Gaspar de Portolá and Franciscan Padre Junípero Serra. This is now called Presidio Park, and it requires steep driving and even steeper hiking to get to its summit. But when you get there, wow! READ MORE . . .

PART 4 - see map below
​It took more than 2 centuries

Before we go on with The Great Hispanic American History Tour, and our current exploration of California, it must be noted that more than two centuries passed between Spain's initial exploration of the West Coast and its first attempts to establish settlements there. ​READ MORE . . .

PART 3 - see map below
​Cabrillo National Monument

On the East Coast, we think of Juan Ponce de Leon and Pedro Melendez de Aviles, if we think of them at all. But on the West Coast, there is another Spanish/Portuguese  conquistador who gets much more attention. De Leon discovered Florida in 1513 and Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine in 1565, but in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to explore the coast of California. The Great Hispanic American History Tour is visiting the Cabrillo National Monument. Are you coming? CLICK: READ MORE

PART 2 - see map below
Old Town San Diego
State Historic Park

Back in the early 1800s, when San Diego was a Mexican pueblo, the area now known as "Old Town" was the heart of the village. And San Diego has not forgotten. Now a state protected "historic park," preserving buildings erected from 1820 to 1870, Old Town commemorates the city's Hispanic heritage. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with its many ancient homes turned into shops, restaurants and museums, is one of the most visited California state parks . . . READ MORE

PART 1 - see map below
​At the U.S.-Mexico Border, International Friendship Park

It's the place where the United States and Mexico meet the Pacific Ocean, where the border fence takes a dive into the beach, where the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo divided two countries to end the Mexican-American War. But International Friendship Park, the mostly deserted beach on the U.S. side of the Mexican border, is also a very sad place, a place where our immigration fiasco is vividly on display every weekend, where people are allowed (by the U.S. Border Patrol) to talk to friends and relatives on the other side, and where holding back tears becomes very hard . . . READ MORE . . .

The road traveled:

To enlarge these maps, click on them!

MAP 5

Tour stops:

26. Mission La Purísima Concepción
​25. Mission Santa Ines
​24. Mission Santa Barbara 
23. El Presidio Real de Santa Barbara

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MAP 4

Tour stops:

​23. El Presidio Real de Santa Barbara
22. Father Serra Cross
21. Mission San Buenaventura
​20. San Fernando Rey de España

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MAP 3

Tour stops:
​
​20. San Fernando Rey de España
19. Hollywood Walk of Fame
18. La Plaza de Cultura y Arts
17. El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles
16. Mission San Gabriel

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MAP 2

Tour stops:

​16. Mission San Gabriel
15. Mission San Juan Capistrano
14. Mission San Antonio de Pala
13. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
12. University of San Diego

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MAP 1

Tour stops:

​12. University of San Diego
​11. Balboa Park
10. Chicano Park
9. Coronado Beach
​8. Old Mission (Padre) Dam
7. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá
6. Junípero Serra Museum
5. Presidio Park
3. Cabrillo National Monument
​2. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
1. International Friendship Park/Mexico border

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Please take a look at our redesigned California Road Trip page (this page). It is much cleaner and easier to follow. Mind you the entries are listed in reverse order, with the latest on top.
• Good news: I can assure you that this phase of The Great Hispanic American History tour will go on, as promised, to cover all of southern California.
• Better news: I have returned to my home in New Jersey! For the last few weeks, I have been driving and visiting Hispanic heritage sites much faster than I’ve been able to report on them. And so I’ve come home with enough notes and photos to keep our journey going for several more weeks and many more entries. In the end, you will be surprised to see how much ground I have covered!
• This means that you can expect the tour to continue visiting sites well north of Los Angeles, as planned.

• As you may have noticed, sometimes it takes me a few days between postings. The main excuse is I have been on the road. But I belong to many FB groups, and when I try to share my postings with too many of them, FB blocks me from sharing for three days! (It happened recently when sharing the posting about Chicano Park). It is clear to see that my site is not commercial, that I don’t make any sort of profit from it, but FB is constantly trying to sell me advertising. It’s very annoying. It becomes even more annoying when they block you from sharing history postings, because they think they are spam! It forces me to extend my group shares over several days. This is why you constantly see me asking for your help in sharing my postings, especially with FB groups. And so, although I’m home now, my posting may not be more frequent, because FB won’t allow it.

CALIFORNIA POR CARRETERA

Comenzando en San Diego y dirigiéndome hacia el norte hasta que me quede sin gasolina! (Y no me refiero a mi auto, me refiero a mí!)

​Queridos amigos,
Tengo la intención de pasar un tiempo en un viaje por carretera, explorando el patrimonio hispano de California. Esta sería la segunda fase de la Gran gira por la historia hispanoamericana que realicé por todo el país en 2014.

On my way to San Diego, to continue my Great Hispanic American Tour. Will you be following me, and sharing my postings? I’m starting Sunday at the Mexican border and making my way north for at least the next two weeks!

CALIFORNIA
​ROAD TRIP

Starting in San Diego and heading north until I run out of gas! ​(And I don't mean my car; I mean me!)

Dear friends,
I intend to spend some time on a road trip, exploring California's Hispanic heritage. This would be the second phase to the Great Hispanic American History Tour I took across the country in 2014.

Como recordarán, recientemente pedí a los seguidores de este sitio que sugirieran lugares que yo necesitaba visitar, ya que tenía la intención de cubrir todo el estado en un solo viaje por carretera. Sin embargo, la lista ha crecido tanto como mi deseo de estudiar estos sitios cuidadosamente, sin tener que apresurarme. Por lo tanto, he decidido comenzar donde todo comenzó para que los exploradores españoles llegaron a California, San Diego, y dirigirme hacia el norte, tomándome el tiempo visitando sitios de herencia hispana, al menos hasta que llegue a Los Ángeles y un poco más allá. Sospecho que el norte de California será mi excusa para hacer otro viaje a la costa oeste en un futuro cercano.
 
En preparación para este viaje, ya he compilado una lista de posibles paradas, comenzando con las 10 enumeradas arriba, en el área de San Diego. ™Qué te parece? 
 
Durante mi viaje, aunque no espero escribir artículos extensos desde la carretera, publicaré breves informes, fotos y algunos videos de cada uno de estos lugares. Se publicarán en esta página y NECESITO TU AYUDA para promover este esfuerzo. Por favor, sigue mi aventura por el sur de California y compártela con tus amigos!

As you may recall, I recently asked the followers of this site to suggest places I needed visit, as I intended to cover the whole state in one single road trip. Yet the list has grown as long as my desire to study these sites carefully, without having to rush. Therefore, I have decided to start where it all began for Spanish explorers reaching California, San Diego, and to head north, taking my time visiting Hispanic heritage sites, at least until I reach Los Angeles and a bit beyond. I suspect that northern California will be my excuse for taking another trip to the West Coast in the near future.

In preparation for this trip, I have already compiled a list of possible stops, starting with the 20 listed below, from San Diego to Los Angeles. What do you think?

During my trip, although I don't expect to be writing long articles from the road, I will be posting short reports, photos and some videos from every single one of these places. They will be posted on this page, and I NEED YOUR HELP promoting this effort. Please follow my southern California adventure and please share it with your friends!