Another Peek of San Juan Bautista

I enjoy wandering around San Juan Bautista and peeking at the gardens there. Don't you just like the feel of this garden?

Unbelievable. The week in San Juan Bautista is over and I hadn't even scratched the surface. Not to worry, I'll be posting photos of the quaint town more often. To see other spots shown this past week, click here.

Fremont Peak State Park

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

That high peak is in Fremont Peak State Park. The peak, also known as Gavilan Peak, is over 3,100 feet high. From up there, you can see the San Benito Valley, the Salinas Valley, and Monterey Bay. On a very, very clear day, you might see the Sierra Nevadas.

The park offers hiking, picnicking, and camping fun. It's also a great place to see the stars. The Fremont Peak Observatory Association gives evening and solar programs to the public throughout the year. For more about them, check out this link.

For more info about Fremont Peak State Park, click here.

The Wild Chickens of San Juan Bautista

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

The chickens run wild in San Juan Bautista. All over town. So be careful as you drive up and down the streets. And, if you happen to be eating outdoors at a picnic table or on a restaurant patio, don't be surprised if a chicken suddenly stands beside you. 

Plaza Hall

This week, I shall be taking you over to San Juan Bautista, which is just a short hop from Highway 25, heading west on Highway 156. 

San Juan Bautista was a bustling city in the 1800s. Several stage coach lines stopped in the city every day. The Plaza Hall, also known as the Zanetta House, is one of the original structures from that time. It is part of the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Several rooms in the building have displays showing furniture, clothing, and other items from the 1800s. To learn more about this historic park, click here.

On the first Saturday of every month, the park holds a Living History Day. Park visitors can talk with Victorian ladies, mountain men, and other characters from various days of yore, as they give craft and cooking demonstrations. To learn more, check out the Plaza History Association Web site.

Peace Rally

Sorry, no San Juan Bautista post today. I'll resume tomorrow.

A peace rally was held last night in front of the Briggs Building in downtown Hollister. I heard that about 200 of us had come down to show our concern about the sudden increase in violent crime and gang activity.

The most recent incident occurred over the weekend. Early Saturday morning, a 14-year-old girl was shot to death.  The local police say it was an accident.  Although, the shooting was not thought to be gang-related, the gun used in the incident belonged to a gang member. To learn more about recent events, check out this article published by the Hollister Free Lance.

The rally was an impromptu call to the community by our leaders in government, education, and law enforcement to stand together in unity against violence. Some people dismiss it as a photo opportunity for the politicians. All I can say is that in the dark it's tough to take great photos. I like to think the peace rally was organized for reasons of sincerity and love and commitment for our community.

Hollister, overall, is a safe and peaceful city. To maintain that status, however, every one of us needs to be proactive.  Mike Sanchez, the San Benito County Superintendent of Schools, said it the best for me last night, " One person can't do everything, but everyone can do something."

Take 25 is participating in ABC Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt and her friends. Today is the letter P. To check out other P posts, please click HERE.