San Antonio Part II

 Day 2 in the San Antonio area took us to Mission San Jose, a National Park Site.  They had a ranger walk that we took from the Mission to Espada Dam.  The Mission built this dam with a weir, to back the water up to the channel to go to the Mission.  The Mission was built 1/2 mile from the river so as not to flood, but could still direct the water to the Mission.  Every time I visit a site like this I am amazed at how much they did with so little “technology”.

Along the walk we saw the modern dam, seemingly being protected by the birds.  

This next picture is the original dam built for the Mission.  I tried to get the channel and the dam in the same picture, but it just looks like a picturesque scene.  I am including the plaque that explains the dam.  If you zoom in you can read it fairly clearly.  

When we were at the dam we had some time to roam.  The infrastructure on the trees is evident in these pictures of the top and the roots.  

When the hike was over we went across the street to the Sip and Sit for a hot beverage before going to explore the Mission.

Mission San Jose’s purpose was to convert the indigenous people to catholicism.  Within the security of the walls that doubled as housing, the transition from traditional hunter-gather society evolved.  New forms of shelter, food and trades were becoming the norm.  

The priest and friars lived in the Mission church building with many luxuries, while all others lived in much lesser accommodations, hence emphasizing the status of the clergy.   

I found this one particular part of the building extremely interesting.  The common folk or neophytes were not allowed in the church until they converted to Catholicism, which was a long process of learning tenets and receiving sacraments.  The Clergy would stand at this Rose Window and teach and preach to the neophytes.  It seems that you would want to be much more welcoming and understanding to people you want to convert.  Instead the neophytes worked hard all day building and maintaining the Mission, but were not welcomed into the church to learn and grow into the religion.

There is so much history in these Missions that is hard for me to express in words. So here are just some pictures of the building and a map of the grounds.  The detail in the building and meanings behind the carvings is beautiful and interesting.  

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a nature lover.   I found this tree quite interesting, its weaving and going back into the ground and back up.  Wonder what weather conditions caused all the twists and turns. 

Til next time.