We decided to have a lazy day in Napa. We headed into town
around lunchtime for some Mexican food at a local restaurant, then went to the
Napa Premium Outlets for some retail therapy (Ros) – Steve watched (and pulled
out the credit card as required). We went to Oxbow markets and strolled around
looking and tasting – Hog Bay oysters, cheese (a really nice brie), bitters
(lots of different flavours) and mini cupcakes. Back to the RV for a rest
before dinner at Morimoto Japanese. We had the tasting menu with paired sakes,
just for something different.
Next morning we farewelled Napa and drove to Sonoma. It is
very quaint – lots of historic buildings. The Mission was the most northern one
built by the Spanish padres. The missions were built one days travel apart from
Mexico to Sonoma. The priests would convert the local Indians, indoctrinate
them in to the Spanish way of life and declare them citizens of Spain. The idea
was that after 10 years the mission would be secularised (handed over to the
townsfolk) and thereby assure Spanish “ownership” of the land. Easier to
convert the locals than to settle the land yourselves… At that stage the
Spanish and the Russians were competing for land in the area. We toured the
mission, the local barracks and the home of General Vallejo – who commanded the
garrison at Sonoma.
Inside the barracks
General Vallejo's home
The mission
The mission chapel
He was a very wealthy man and never missed an opportunity
to make money. For example, the soldiers at the barracks were required to
provide all their own uniform, equipment, weapons etc and their pay was set at
just enough to cover the cost (essentially paying them nothing). The goods were
sent from Mexico to the barracks (to the Commmandant) and Vallejo charged the
men a fee for receiving their orders. This meant that over time the soldiers
ended up deeper and deeper in debt. Vallejo also established a country house a
mile or so from town on the land around the local spring, then started selling
the water to the citizens of Sonoma, starting Americas first water company. He
lost all his money though when the Americans took over California, as Mexicans
had to prove their existing land claims through the American court system. Most
of his land was taken and he spent the rest of his fortune on lawyers to keep
what was left. Leaving Sonoma, we could see San Francisco in the distance. We
crossed San Francisco Bay on a double storied bridge – very slow going through
the city even with 6 lanes in each direction!
On the way to the coast, we went
through Castroville – the Artichoke Centre of the World… Artichoke fields as
far as the eye could see! Finally into Marina and parked up for the night.
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