Christmas at the Mission Inn

The Mission Inn, built about 150 years ago, takes over an entire block. One or two of the streets that surround it are closed to traffic during this time of the year to make way for pedestrians. Street parking may be scarce, but there are public lots that charge $15-$20. We got there around thirty past three, drove around, and found one spot left on Fifth Street.

This place started as a cottage, and expanded throughout the years by Frank Augustus Miller, and Henry E. Huntington. More history here.

I've been meaning to visit the Mission Inn ever since I found out about their Christmas decorations a few years back. I just never got around to it, until this year when my friend and I were trying to do something festive. The above is a photo of the side entrance. There are security guards at all the entrances asking if you're staying at the Inn or are dining there. They don't check, but they just want to deter too many people from entering the building.

We went around to use the front entrance. The decorations reminded me of going into someone's house where every inch of space is Christmas. During other months, the Mission has a traditional look from back in the day, and is less crowded.

There is a lot of time spent on details in every nook inside and outside. If you decide to go, pay careful attention so you don't miss it.

 

The above video reminds me of Disneyland with angels and gnomes rotating their heads. There were quite a bit of statues that moved their heads, both inside and outside of the building.

Two more shots before we head out to dinner. I have no idea how many hours they put in to decorate this Inn. It's well worth your time to visit it at least once, specially if you live in the L.A area, or if you have someone from out of town visiting. And although crowded during Christmas time, there is space where you can escape. The lights, ornaments, statues, and all the extra details help to shift away focus from how busy it can get. Plan to spend a few hours here, less if you're not a people person.

Apparently, they have different types of rooms. These are on the forth floor, and I think they're called the Mission Rooms. Some of the rooms on other floors have French windows.

We had dinner here. Pleasant atmosphere, and staff. Great service. Food and Margarita were meh.

They have a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and other games for families with kids.

The Riverside vibe is different than the L.A vibe. People have a kickback small town attitude. They are more courteous, friendlier, and kinder than the L.A residents. 

Holidays and Nostalgia

This time of year can be hard for many, especially for those who don't have family and friends, and for the ones who have a lot of responsibilities, or are going through tough situations. I know this only too well. I've been there, and it's not fun. 

However, I have always been fortunate enough to have people in my life who encouraged me to hang in there, and be strong. This will pass too, and life will get better. Even so, no one can do it for you. You're the one who has to face your challenges, and come out of it in one piece.

The holidays always remind me of the people I love. The ones who are around, and those who have passed on. And it's not that I don't think about the people I care about on other days, but somehow this time of year brings about a feeling of nostalgia for me.

I used to put up a real tree, not every year, because you know, life sometimes gets in the way. But the years that I did, I somehow felt better, more relaxed. This year, I was debating if I should put up something and send out some cards even though I rarely get a card from anyone. The card in the above photo is from an old friend, and it's the only one I have received so far. I think our parents knew each other before we were born. She loves Christmas, and I call her Santa Clause because her house looks like Santa's house, and as soon as the New Year begins, she starts counting the days until the next Christmas.

I decided last minute to do a little decoration and turn on my fireplace. No, it's not a traditional décor, but it's easy to put up. I don't have to go shopping for it, and it takes very little space when I put it away. I like things that are minimalist. I know that my nieces, and my Santa Clause friend would prefer a real tree. As for me, I want to keep it simple 😉

As you see, my cards have not been mailed yet. I'm not looking forward to the post office line. In L.A, lines can get a bit crazy, particularly around the holidays. Nevertheless, it's got to get done, because some of them are going to a few friends who live outside the country. I want to make sure that I put the right amount of postage. Also one year, the post office behaved like scrooge, and sent all my cards back because the size didn't meet their standard requirement (I think the envelopes were square instead of rectangle), and I needed to add more stamps to compensate for their irregular size.

This year, I made a few plans with my friends and family, one or perhaps two of which I will share here when it happens. I think if I didn't have any friends or family, I wouldn't let it stop me from having fun. I would watch my favorite Christmas movies, hang out in places that were festive, and strike up conversations with strangers. 

Life is what we make of it. There are times when we feel sad, because of stressful things going on in our lives. But we need to create moments of happiness, even if they are tiny moments. So, make time to create your mini moment and find some enjoyment, as small as it may be 💙