In 1774 King Carlos of Spain authorized the settlement of California and years latter “the expedition of 1781” took place when 11 families and 59 soldiers (mostly from Culiacan, Sin.) traveled to the banks of the LA river; starting an agrarian society that quickly developed into an oligarch system of Rancheros and vaqueros — and with some imagination you can pretend to be a Don or a Doña for a day.

Time period: 1771 - 1850

Movie/book: El Zorro (1998)/ The California Missions by Author Ruben G. Mendoza & Photographs by Melba Levick

Soundtrack: Mariachi/Country Music

Fashion: colorful outfit, linen shirt plus a sarape and a paliacate

Budget:

This tour would take to the old Misión de San Gabriel Arcángel district where Franciscans monks turn the native Tongva into Catholics; and through El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula where adobe houses and churches got built by the Pobladores. The area is characterized by: Spanish revival architecture, colorful streets and hidden churches. The tour suggests having a Mexican breakfast plus visiting 2 museums: the Mision San Gabriel and LA Museum; then checking some adobe houses, churches plus handcraft shopping through the afternoon; and to end the day tamales for dinner and a joint at Echo Park.