The Once Republic

the sun may rise in the east but at least its settled in a final location.

[aph-califas]

heyo cali show us San Diego

"Aight! Whenever you find yourself in San Diego make sure you visit--"

"What's not to love about San Diego?~"

Mun Notes: I guess I can just vomit up a whole lotta history about San Diego as a city, but this time I will just leave a book recommendation if you are interested in California History. Alta California: From San Diego to San Francisco, A Journey On Foot to Rediscover the Golden State by Nick Neely (which starts off in...San Diego!).

San Diego is a trip that I myself don't make often, but last time I stayed my favorite place to visit has always been Balboa Park, which is best explored, in my personal opinion, by bicycle! Defo check it out if you are ever in the area!

(( CaliContext: San Ysidro is one of those very last cities you pass before crossing the border to Tijuana, Mexico. Its some 20-30 minutes away from San Diego.

Therefore, if San Diego is Papí Califas' ass, then San Ysidro must be his........))

[aph-califas]

An American-sized effort to seize control of Mexican California resulted in an short-lived independent state called the California Republic that lasted 25 days.

They really could have, maybe, General Vallejo was pro-annexation.

[aph-califas]

D'ya like bears

"... gotta say that every once in a while.

Outta principle."

Mun Notes: Yes, the California Grizzly Bear has long been extinct due to human contact. From vaqueros hunting them down to protect their livestock to trappers capturing them for bear-baiting, its unfortunate that the state's most iconic animal met such a quick demise as soon as California began to be "California" as a state identity.

As a young territory, California must have had at least one encounter with these MASSIVE animals (nearly the size of the Kodiak bears of Alaska, according to Wikipedia), but being one small boy against a nearly 1000lb animal, it was an encounter that was less awe-inspiring and more forced out an intimidating respect from him than anything.

Also did u kno? The bear in the state flag was modeled after an actual bear named Monarch who died in San Francisco in 1911. You can "visit" him at the California Academy of Science where his taxidermied body is on display. Which in the end...it just makes things more sad, honestly.

Currently, there are attempts to reintroduce the grizzly bear back into California, but only time will tell if that gets anywhere.

But also there is one--silly--funky association California has with bears...

[aph-califas]

AAAAAAA I see you active! :D Idk if you'll continue this blog but I just wanna tell you that even if you're not coming back, your blog has really made an impact on me and i really hope for the best for you and I have so much support and appreciation for you!!! <333333

I am embarass. You saw my queue shitnanigans but...BUT! I AM PLANNING TO COME BACK BAYBIE THIS IS MY REVIVAL ME!! I RUN THIS CITY NOW CALIFORNIA IS MY CITY!! But seriously! Thank you for taking the time to write that (and for noticing!) like damn! I'm glad that I can share and bring others some moment of joy. I do plan to come back, on account of some 1970s coloring book, a trip to Sonoma, and your sweet words, I have the inspiration to move forward!!

Have a Califas Vaquero

[aph-califas]

Hey dude. I came to stop by and say how much I love this blog. I can see right from the start the effort and thought you put into California. I love the historical notes you add in to clarify and it just amazes me and makes me really happy to learn more about your oc and how you interpret the state. I wish I can say more but English has been failing me all day so just have my love and support 💞💞💞 - Love, a fellow Californian

GAHHH you are too sweet!! thank you for taking the time to take a look around in the first place! it just makes me so happy knowing someone is getting a kick out of what really is max-geekery in blog form LOL and i am SO happy you are also getting a kick out of my California oc, specially since you are a fellow Californian (i know im doing something right lol)

Mun Notes Rambling:

I actually been wanting to open an aph California blog for a long time, doing dumb doodles here and there, making even MORE ocs along the way (ex: Texas, Mexico, even Comanche and Navajo…) with my twist being California’s Hispanic roots making up a large part of who he is. Being mexican-american from socal myself, I love to share my culture with my audience and other fellow hetalia fans. So admittedly there’s that bias but I do try to explain everything as much yet as briefly as I can.

But yeah! Thank you again for dropping by! I know I haven’t updated in a while but this blog ain’t dead yet! Will be updating soon-ish!

Here’s some more dumb doodles to compensate maybe ;3;)/

bahahah but i also just wanna draw dumb shit 

[aph-califas]

“I don’t think you understand. Florida was the Florida Man before the Florida Man. SERIOUSLY, its to the point where he is a parody of himself!

Read more to see all the screenshots I got from the internet. He doesn’t even try to stay low-key, I’m probably doing him a favor showing these. Like he gets a kick outta getting exposed...”

[aph-califas]

“But don’t get me started on what I got in the end...some few years ago, was it?...that damned California Adventures.”

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, its turning around and its finally making sense in the direction they’re going for, but I was actually there when it opened! GOD was that embarrassing.”

Mun Notes Rambles: Okay yes! Do you agree, Disney was SO impactful in their early years of animation that Disney and California are almost synonymous? Well, it’s known that Burbank, the piece that became Universal City and of course Hollywood are arts and media capitals, of like, the world (but completely debatable). But there is so much rich history in these particular regions, much more intertwined with Walt Disney himself (there is an elementary school in Burbank named for him). I figured California would have met the guy a few times, was very aware of what kind of influence he was bringing and kinda just accepted as part of him. 

Oh and also that blurb of Walt Disney “kept asking for Alfred” its really just more like Disney being himself and that if there is two things I observed from my experiences going to his parks is that he really, really loved trains and he really, really loved America. Like as in a very patriotic sense, Disneyland is a subtle yet not so subtle homage to America as a whole, in concept, in identity, in history and culture. IDK I like to think that Alfred would be a permanent guest of HIGH honors to his park...errytiem, and California would be like...”well lmao you live here sooo...”

Also because of lack of vision (and foresight) California Adventures was not very well received. Now, its becoming more of a “Pixarland” type park, which I am personally very grateful for.

Also bonus, cos I am a bored dumass who drew a Florida:

[aph-califas]

- ¡Somos expedicionarios! Vamos a donde Dios nos lleve, p’al norte, para establecer una ruta terrestre que connecta a mi hermano ¡Nueva España! Vayan subiendo ¡hasta Alta California!

“We are explorers! We are going as far as god permits us, to the north, to establish a land route that connects to my brother, New Spain! Everyone mount up! To Alta California!”

Mun Notes: Just a little tidbit of Californian history during the Expedition of Anza that began in modern day northern Mexico on September 1775! A time where liddle boy Califas grew and grew! The result of this expedition resulted in the establishment of San Francisco. This sketch’s background here is supposed to be Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza’s camp situated next to a Chumash settlement.

But also!! Happy 10th post and 10+ followers! GAH! I am so happy people stopped by to check out my little sideblog, which was partly started on a whim, but also for my infatuation with Californian history >3<)/ Thank you to my followers and visitors!

[aph-califas]

“Most are related to me by blood or through colonization. I call states and countries that were once part of Spanish Americas my siblings, but there are a few I’ve grown up with and maintained constant contact like El Salvador and Guatemala. I’m especially close to Mexico, who was the country who practically raised me. And Texas, who I was raised with under the viceroyalty of New Spain.

Gets kinda complicated but I kinda just focus on my immediate family, With a family as big as this, it can get tricky keeping tabs with everyone. I mean the Iberoamerican facebook group is headache inducing enough!

Oh and yeah, there’s my boss Alfred and the 48 other states...those guys are family as well.”

Mun Notes: Yeah more headcanons. Just interpreting from what I know of from Las California’s place in the empire (which really, was one of the least prioritized region in terms of settlements despite successful establishments of the missions). The whole El Salvador and Guatemala being close to him is based on the fact that California has the largest Central American population in the United States. Also there is no Iberoamerican facebook group for the personifications of countries, just something made up for this blog LOL

Bonus (from California’s sketchbook):

[aph-califas]

“But don’t get me wrong, for all of Texas’ tough-ass attitude he’s actually pretty shy. Don’t tell him I told you that though.”

Mun Notes: This is honestly just more personal hc than anything. Texas and California as personifications are brothers that were closest in age and region so they grew up together and had that more fraternal connection with one another. Despite having very different viewpoints on certain worldly topics over the years, today, they bond over their similar music and gastronomical tastes, crash at Mexico’s place for the small chance he cooks them breakfast and their love for horseback riding. They are good bros.

Californified Spanish phrase of the day - "No seas ranchero” - which basically means “don’t be shy/bashful” as “ranchero/a” (meaning “people from the ranch) is a label normally associated with people who come from very small northern towns. They are stereotyped to have little to no interaction with the outside world and are thus especially shy, softspoken, bashful, and even perhaps naive. Such a phrase is said to children who are too shy to greet people (as properly greeting anyone from family members to strangers is a form of upmost politeness and education in Mexican culture). Or it can be simply said as a tease. A very old tease.

[aph-califas]

“Happy Independence Day big bro. I might have had a lot of mixed feelings on the day you announced your independence from Spain. I used to a grudge and blame a lot of my troubles on you as the centuries went on. Looking back, knowing what I know now, I can’t help but appreciate all the things you tried to do for us 10+ kids at one point, attempting to be boss and papá when it seemed we had none. You were just a kid yourself. Yeah, it was never perfect, but now I see why you decided to take matters into your own hands. And it took BIG BALLS hermano, can’t help but admire that. I might try to mess around and deny it, but you influenced and continue to influence a large part of who I am. I might have been born a Spanish territory but in the end I am as much Mexican as I am American. And I am proud of that.

Feliz dia de Independencia México . Te amo muchisimo y Texas te manda saludos. VIVA MEXICO!!!”

Mun Notes: For the past 80 years or so Los Angeles, CA celebrates “El Grito de Dolores” California’s own reenactment of the night the Father of Mexican Independence, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, declares independence from Spain. Complete with tolling of a bell, banner waving and shouting “Viva México!”. This is also celebrated in California’s capital, Sacramento. 

Austin, Texas also celebrates the El Grito and like California, its complete with live music, food and drink, traditional dancing and the “El Grito” reenactment. Which is why there is an honorable mention there for Texas, but don’t worry, he’s there behind the camera taking a photo of the two dweebs.

[hetalia-states-headcanons]

Everyone shortens California to Cali… except for Californians

[aph-califas]

Northern California Coastlines. (Cambria, Big Sur & near Moonstone Beach)

[aph-califas]

“I love all my dogs, they are my children, and like children they are all total brats.”

Mun Notes: While its not confirmed statewide, according to the LA Times and the Sacramento Bee, the Chihuahua (followed by labradors, terrier mixes, and pitbulls) is the most registered dog breed in those respective cities. Still, it is not so bold to assume that the Chihuahua is one of the most popular breeds in California. 

The fiercely loyal, demon spawn of satan originated in Mexico, where the Aztecs bred them for companionship, as live trembling heat pads, and apparently, as observed by the leader of the Spanish conquest Hernan Cortés, sold as food. 

Today, however, they bark and chomp fingers to their heart’s content.

Californified Spanish word of the day - cria - translated to “litter”, heavy animal connotations (like a litter of piglets or any group of baby animals) but can be referred to a group of one’s children. Particularly if that group of children is very large.

Example: Spain cannot control his cria very well. Two of them snuck lizards in their breast pockets before mass, another chanted gibberish while the priest was praying over the Eucharist, and yet another one pretended to be post mortem throughout, and did you notice the youngest sleeping under the pews? 

[ryukore-archive]

[aph-califas]

“YES, I HAVE MANY HOTELS. SOME DON’T EVEN HAVE MY NAME. C R A Z Y HUH?”

Mun Notes: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the closest to a “Hotel California” you will get is the Hotel Californian located in Santa Barbara. A luxury Art Deco inspired Spanish Colonial situated right by the Santa Barbara beach, it is one of the best examples of the California Aesthetic you can experience! For a Californian price!!

Californified Spanish word of the day - coraje - which is a word translated to “courage” by Google, but! since its negatively connotated with actions or feelings done in passionate anger or frustration, coraje is often used to express anger at something, usually (and comically) directed at smaller, insignificant details. Thus, the phrase “me da coraje” can be translated to “this gets me SO ANGEREY”

but also:

@aph--portugay :v

[aph-califas]

Papi California ur San Diego is showing

Send the nerd questions, submissions, distract him from the 99 million problems he already got (his ass ain’t one tho).

pic taken by his big bro teHGGHASS