The Right Place at the Right Time – 6 - Mission Dolores Basilica

In May 2007, I was back in Reno for my annual self-flagellation at the U.S. Bowling Congress national tournament. Beck came along and it was a great trip that began and ended in San Francisco.

In between, we hit the state houses in Sacramento and Carson City along with a two-night stay near Yosemite National Park. That segment included a white water rafting trip down the Merced River where Beck was tossed into the drink. Unfortunately, no photos exist of that momentous event.

Once back in San Francisco, we enjoyed a busy day that included visits to Golden Gate Park and the De Young Museum. Niece Katie Ripley then took us to Mission Dolores, the oldest surviving building in San Francisco. Completed in 1791, it is the northernmost of the 21 missions established from Mexico up the California coast by Father Junipero Serra.

Mission San Dolores (left) and the Basilica,

San Francisco. (18 May 2007)

While the old mission, with its thick adobe walls, is dim and historic, the adjacent basilica, built after the 1906 earthquake, is spacious and grand. It was late afternoon and golden light was streaming in through the stained glass windows. We were free to walk about the church but here’s where it gets better and why it really was the right place at the right time. We happened to be there while an organist was rehearsing for a concert that evening. I have to say that walking through a magnificent space is one thing but doing it as Bach music fills the air is something else.

One of the Basilica windows (18 May 2007)

Back when the Baltimore Sun was still a viable newspaper, the Sunday Travel section invited readers to submit a photo to be published under the heading, ‘My Best Shot.’ I am happy to note that the photo below was published on 29 July 2007. Each submission required a brief description of the image and I believe the way I chose to explain the scene and the experience helped with its selection.

On a trip to California last May, we visited Mission 

Dolores, the oldest building in San Francisco and the 

northernmost of Junipero Serra's Camino Real missions. 

The larger Basilica next door had these banners that 

went from the choir loft all the way to the front of the 

church and up the rotunda...like the path to heaven. 

We were alone in the church, except for an 

organist practicing Bach for a coming recital. 

The imagery and the great sounds 

made it a grand, multi-sensual experience.

Mission Dolores Basilica, Easter Season, 2007 (18 May 2007)

On December 30th of that year, it was published again as one of the ten images the Sun selected for its year-end ‘Best Shots of 2007.’

While I had some images ‘published’ in company and utility industry PR materials, this was the first shot printed where the public at large could see it. However, my fifteen minutes of fame came with the condition that the image is now the property of the Baltimore Sun. It’s a favorite picture of mine and I wonder if they did anything with it...

Happy Halloween.