This is the view out the back of the Mission. Directly below where I shot this is a section of the original Camino Real, or The King's Highway. It can still be seen where it leaves the broad, flat plain and climbs diagonally up the hill to enter San Juan's central plaza. This is the highway that connected all of the California missions, and later served as one of California's major stage and wagon roads. Even today our modern highway system follows portions of the original route.