Rancho Bernardo Courtyard

I have passed walking and by car next to this magnificent evocative hacienda style building many times, and never realized that was actually an office building (plenty of them, classic styles, and even spas and beauty salons in there) and not a private mansion of someone how fancy forged iron balconies and mega white walls.
This review is not for any of the offices as I haven’t use any of their services yet (although I put an eye on that spa thing, need to do some more research about prices… the place looked too fancy, so I did not dare to enter). This review is for the beautiful architecture and for those visiting or living in Rancho Bernardo and would like to do a ‘rural-​urban hike’ as I call these walking discoveries to stop and smell the roses. Well, you won’t find roses, but plenty of succulents, geraniums and palms.
The setting can be anywhere in classic Italy, Andalusia or even Cartagena de Indias: a pretty fountain in the middle of a big patio with stairs that go up to the second level. It is a relaxing place if you are visiting RB and don’t know what to do and don’t want to get our of your comfort zone, to just go there, walk, have a picnic in one of the tables there (I am pretty sure nobody will bother you as soon as you respect the fact that this is actually a working building).
I went on a Saturday and wandered all I wanted, bathrooms are open to the public, rustic flavor, very well taken care of. I enjoyed the smells of the nice curated plants, the Spanish style tiles, the sun and the tranquility. Go and take some pictures if you are into taking pretty photos. This is a really nice place and not very known.