Because We're Easily Entertained

[ithildin]

Nin and I were doing laundry last night, and we'd been watching Queen of Swords. We're endlessly amused by the constant mentions of Monterey, and how in the day, when it was capitol of California, it was the center of all that was civilized in the colonies. Now, we're the boonies [g] So, we decided to try and figure out where the fictional Santa Helena actually was. After some discussion over folding clothes, we decided it would be somewhere between San Louis Obispo and Paso Robles. Though, for the record, where QoS was filmed in Spain looks nothing like central California. If you want a good idea of what the countryside around here looks like a few miles from the shore, check out the movie 'Sideways'. It was filmed in the Paso Robles/Atascadero area.

A fine example of a mission from that period, is Old Mission San Juan Bautista, about 1/2 hour north of us in San Juan Bautista. And here locally, is Carmel Mission. Though when Montoya came to Monterey to greet the new Viceroy, he would have done it here, at the San Carlos Cathedral, the Royal Presidio Chapel. It really is an exquisite building architecturally. It still functions as the local parish church, and I have many Catholic friends here in Monterey who attend services there. It's located in what we now call 'Old Monterey', as opposed to 'New Monterey', and 'North Monterey' -- we may be small, but we have lots of sections! Old Monterey is essentially downtown, the harbour, city hall, and the originally settled part of Monterey, complete with the always annoying circular Spanish street design [g]

So there you go! TV can be educational, and now you know a bit more about where I live.

Comments

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the lovely pictures. That was great. So, where did the good doctor hang out? *g*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I like to share my little corner of the world :) When I worked downtown, I used to take my lunch to the walled gardens behind Portola Plaza and sit under wisteria that was probably planted in the late 1790's.

He never seemed to leave Santa Helena, and he seemed to hang out in the cantina a lot! It's sad, but in the last few days, I've given him a whole personal history [sigh] There's so much to fill in since we saw so little of him in that one season.

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

On our Spanish holiday last year, we passed a sign stating that this *drumroll* was where many famous spaghetti westerns etc had been filmed. I think we were a little north of Almeria. So many illusions, shattered in an instant *mock!sob*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is funny that so many westerns were actually filmed in Spain [g]

I'd love to go to Spain someday.

[lferion]

I think you should write it up! I'd love to read your take on Dr Helm's history.

(I personally am convinced that Helm is Methos, and the show doesn't overtly contradict the idea. I could even go with Carlotta -- ie the Counterfeit Queen played by Elizabeth Gracen -- being Amanda.)

[theteej2.livejournal.com]

I certainly fell in love with what must have been 'Old Monterey'. Even after only being there for 24 hours or so, I was feeling pretty comfortable finding my way around, and the weather couldn't have been better as well.

Sigh! Oh, for a return trip someday.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

It's getting more detailed as the day goes on!

I never saw Helm as Methos. Helm was too broody and moody to be Methos for me. Duncan maybe! Now Dan Clifford on the other hand really worked for me. Till they gave him a brother [g]