Mission San Carlos

The Carmel Mission is the second oldest mission in California built in 1771. What's interesting about this mission is there is a neighborhood built around it, so you walk right from the sidewalk into the mission's courtyard.

Mass was going on inside the church but out in the courtyard you could hear the choir singing "Noel". Because of the storms not many people were in Carmel or at the mission.

Father Junipero Serra, founder of the Carmel Mission.

A statue of a monk and the infant Jesus at the gates of the mission.

Bell tower

Altar. Wow is all I could say. Then I sat down and stared for a long while. I've seen a lot of churches but there is something about this one. It still leaves me speechless.

Another view of the mission from the outlying neighborhood. Can you imagine waking up every morning to see this from your front window?