Converting the Natives - San Antonio Missions, Texas

[peacetraveler22]

In politics, life and history, people have always made valiant efforts to convert the masses to their ideologies, with religion as one of the core objectives. I already told you about The River Walk in San Antonio, but visitors to the region will also be encouraged to see the San Antonio Missions. The outposts were established by various religious orders, mostly Catholics, to spread Christianity among the local Natives. They also formed part of the colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th - 19th centuries. I've seen so many churches in Russia and all of my travels that they are of little interest to me now, but I took the time to visit one of the Missions during my business trip, and met some interesting locals in the process. These human encounters make any expedition worthwhile.

1. If you have limited time in any U.S. city, and no car, I recommend hopping on one of the local trolley buses. They transport you to various sites, and you can hop on and off as you like to explore by foot. They run on a constant schedule, with pick-ups every 15 - 20 minutes. You also get the added benefit of hearing local folklore by natives who have lived in the city for a long time. I stopped only at the Mission San Jose, which is considered the "Queen" of the Missions because it's the largest. All four Missions now form part of the San Antonio Missions National Park, and they are interconnected with walking and bike trails.



2. The grounds are immaculate, and I especially liked the entrance to the Native living compounds. The Spanish Missions were not only churches, but fully functioning communities, with religion as the binding theme and perhaps even a sort of controlling, brain-washing mechanism in my view. They were built primarily to expand Spanish New World influence northward from Mexico, and introduce native inhabitants into Spanish society.



3. The Missions flourished during the mid-1700's, but quickly declined due to inadequate military support, disease and increased hostilities between the Apaches and Comanches. The living quarters are very small and basic inside, originally made from simple mud and sticks, followed by adobe brick and later stone. The missionaries not only introduced the Natives to Catholicism, but also schooled them in the Spanish language, local government and trade skills. Yet the Mission was completely secularized by the early 1800's, with businesses and residents inside and outside the indigenous walls.



4. The San Antonio Conservation Society purchased the area in 1920 and soon after it was restored to near original form. Now it seems most locals visit just for the serene and green landscapes, which serve as creative inspiration. There are artists spread all over the lawn, sitting in chairs, painting the main church on the compound. I think this is not a bad way to pass the time in old age. :)



5. The main church was built in 1768 and made from limestone.



6. I like the design, as there are a lot of overlapping arches throughout. At times, it feels more like a castle than a church.



7. Inside, I was scolded by a nun for taking photos. Apparently it is prohibited unless you have advance permission from one of the priests. But this is just typical church decor, nothing unusual or compelling in my view. Christ on a cross, stained glass windows and a lot of gold.



8. Something unusual - there are only two remaining graves left on Mission grounds, sitting by the front door of the church. One is an unmarked iron cross and the other is the tombstone of Juan Huisar, who is believed to be the grandson of the artist who created the famous Rose Window inside the church. I don't have a picture of the stained glass window - well, the nun scared me into submission and I stopped taking photos. :)) When the grounds were restored during the Great Depression, the dead buried here were moved to other locations. I think it's really tragic and horrible, but personally I wish to be cremated and spread across some majestic mountain landscape, so that something similar does not happen to me.



9. Just last year, the San Jose Mission and the Alamo became UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and there is a heavy flow of tourist traffic. You can explore all of the Missions via bicycle if you wish, and they are available to rent right on site. I forget the cost, but they are very cheap. I think tourism is one of America's greatest strengths, building infrastructure such that it's comfortable and accessible for visitors in almost all circumstances.



10. I forget this man's name, but he stood right in front of the church with his easel and a fat, furry cat at his foot. He said local artists' clubs gather there weekly to socialize and paint, and there was a real camaraderie amongst them. I cannot wait until I retire.  I know many people are scared of it, that they will be bored or lose cognitive abilities if they quit work, but I can think of so many other ways to spend my time than sitting at a desk pushing legal papers and arguments...:)



That's it, a short report. Sometimes readers tell me I write too much history in my posts, so if you want to learn more about the history of the Missions, just google it. :) Tomorrow I'll try to tell you about Soligalich, Russia.