Ocean Mesa at El Capitan, Santa Barbara, CA:  Visited Mission Santa Barbara this afternoon. This morning the marine layer was back.  We were shrouded in clouds and fog.  And it was chilly.  By the time we drove the 20 miles to Santa Barbara it had dissipated and I no longer needed by jacket.  This old mission was beautiful with the mountains as a dramatic backdrop.  And the older homes in this area are really beautiful, partially hidden by walls and manicured shrubs.  After the mission we drove to Old Town, parked, and had dinner at Anderson’s bakery.  The menu was eclectic German and Scandinavian.  I had schnitzel and I can’t pronounce what Mike had.  It was good.  We even had dessert.  After dinner we walked around Old Town a little.  A really cute area of tony restaurants and shops. Drove the 20 miles back to our park, and the marine layer was just coming back—or maybe it never left.  It was 68 degrees.  

The marine layer moving in, shrouding the hills around us.

Stopped to take the picture of the marine layer, and she came running up.  Isn't she cute?

Mission Santa Barbara--founded in 1786.  The first buildings were built in the 1790s, some of which still exist today.

Fountain built in 1808

Beautiful lily 

The center courtyard.  The cemetery in back contains the burial sites of early Santa Barbara settlers, including Juana Maria who was buried here in 1853 following her rescue from San Nicolas Island, where she was abandoned and survived alone for 18 years.  Wow!  I want to read that story!