Jelly Beans!

After a day of walking around San Juan Bautista, a sweet stop at Jelly Belly sounded delicious.



At the sample bar I was able to taste the garlic jelly bean. I love garlic, but not in the form of a jelly bean.

Assorted coffee flavors were available as gift packages with coffee mugs.


Most places offer some type of plush character or animal in the souvenir selections.


Jelly Belly now has a line of beans they call "Beanboozled." These beans are made to look like one of their original flavors but tastes - well, completely and totally disgusting. Some are taken directly from the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans such as black pepper and ear wax. Some of the new flavors include pencil shavings, baby wipes, toothpaste, and moldy cheese.




There are so many flavors and I couldn't decide which to buy.

I decided on a California shaped box full of coffee flavored beans.


And a Dr Pepper to wash them down!

San Juan Bautista

Today's travels took me to San Juan Bautista to visit the Mission and the State Historical Park.

This is the Plaza Hotel, built in 1856. It is now part of SJB SHP.

Mission San Juan Bautista, the 15th mission founded on June 24, 1797. It is named for John the Baptist.

The exterior of the living quarters.

A view of the Plaza Hotel from the mission.


Statues of religious figures decorate the landscape.


Some artifacts survived some major earthquakes over the centuries.


A view of the church.


State Historical Park

Three museums make up the San Juan Bautista State Historical Park. One shows the various types of transportation used the the times of the missions and the gold rush. Most were wagons pulled by horses.




A beer wagon.

Studebaker wagon.


The outdoor stables. Blacksmiths worked outside.


A rickety bench that very well may be an original!


The wash room.


There are quiet places for meditating or just relaxing.


A peek in the living areas.







There is a lot of landscaping in the park and at the mission.


A model of the mission created by a local school.

This is a formal dining area in the hotell.

An old-fashioned saddle is on display.

That is one mission down, twenty to go. One State Historical Park down, fifty to go.

A Day at the Mall

The weather felt more like winter than spring so I decided to stay indoors. I wanted to pick up a few things so I went to the mall.


My first stop was Borders so I could get a drink from Seattle's Best Coffee and browse some books.

Some fun activity kits are sold along with books.


They have cute little wooden puzzles. This one has a cute bear on it!

This is a new book, "A Visitor For Bear." I didn't have a chance to look through the book, but I bet it's a good story.


Also in the store is a selection of stuffes animals. This bear is so cute, but as I have so many lovies already, I left this one so someone else could buy it. I do love teddy bears.


Harry Potter items are still popular.


My next stop was at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Their display of chocolates just called to me. "Califia... Califia..." Not really, but whenever there are sweet treats, I just can't help myself.


That bag is bigger than I am!


Indulging in my latest addiction.

Next stop, the Disney Store. Characters like those from Brother Bear and The Country Bears are not currently popular, however, Pooh seems to always be a favorite.

Disney characters add to the shopping experience.


I felt at home cuddled in with all these plush animals.


The rain hadn't yet started so I took a break for some fresh air. I stopped at a playground to work off that apple.







This is not as easy as it looks. Good thing the wind brought a chill. I called it a day and went home to plan my next California adventure.

Happy Easter

The Easter Bunny was generous this year. I got some chocolates and a new bunny toy.


I found an egg!



Ooh, an egg AND a chocolate. SCORE!