Mission San José (12/26/2014)

It's our last day in San Antonio and we fly out today, but there's time for one last stop at Mission San José..."The Queen of the Missions." It is "the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus. Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago."

Here we are inside the courtyard of the mission, looking at the actual church building (which is owned and run by the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio while the rest of the grounds are taken care of by the National Park Service).

In the "corners" of the mission are circular bastions. Defenders would stand on the wooden platform and shoot through the small round holes while cannons were pointing out the larger holes at the bottom.

This is the "Rose Window" probably named for a person and not for its shape or color.

The entrance to the church.

Inside the church.

The Rose Window from the inside looking out.

One of many beautiful Christmas decorations, this one is under the Rose Window.

Did you find 2 Patricias?