San Antonio, TX

In 2009 we spent a week in several parts of Texas. It was nice because we went in November instead of June or July. Before I go on I have to say Texas BBQ is the bomb! Never have I wanted to go back to another state just for the cuisine, but I would Texas in a heartbeat. It is awesome. We got into town later in the afternoon and were pretty tired from an 18 hour drive but wanted to grab some quick food for dinner. We found this little hole in the wall BBQ place called Kings BBQ The staff was great, and the food was delicious. We would quickly go again the next time we are in the area.

I had never been anywhere really in Texas except the Dallas Airport to change planes. Gene, however, had been in San Antonio at Lackland Air Force Base to do his basic military training. We started our week trip in the San Antonio/Austin area because they were having their yearly Air Show! He had a great time and was feeling nostalgic. Lots of memories coming back. Can’t believe how large some of those planes are. Love love love the F16’s. Dogs weren’t too pleased though, but they did go by fast. I think he had a great time. I was glad I had rearranged our trip to be able to see the show. They are always inspiring.

After the airshow we decided to do one of the traditional tourist things and go to the River Walk. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting the major tourist draws from the Alamo+ to Rivercenter Mall, to the Arneson River Theatre, to Marriage Island, to La Villita, to HemisFair Park, to the Tower Life Building, to the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Pearl Brewery. It has become an important part of the city's urban fabric and a tourist attraction in its own right. We had a relaxing time walking around and looking at the shops. Everything was so colorful and they had bands playing. It was very festive. We finally decided to eat at Rita’s on the River. We were lucky and got a table right on the river! So cool. We got to see the boats going by and decided to take a boat ride after we ate. Anyway, I was so looking forward to some good Tex-Mex, but I was a little disappointed. The food was flavorful, but it was really not spicy at all. I am not a real huge heat person, but I was even hoping for more spice. Gene asked the server for some spicier sauce and he kind of laughed at us. After we thought about it, we figured it was a bad place to try Tex-Mex because they probably made it mild for all the tourists. Oh well, it was still an enjoyable meal. I did try the black beans and they were really good. The boat tour later was a blast and we had a tour guide with a great sense of humor which made it even more fun.

While we were in the San Antonio area we had to check out The Alamo. Originally known as the Mission San Antonio de Valero, it is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound and the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Although the Alamo fell in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, the death of the Alamo defenders has come to symbolize courage and sacrifice for the cause of Liberty. The memories of James Bowie, David Crockett, and William B. Travis are as powerful today as when the Texan Army under Sam Houston shouted "Remember the Alamo!" The Alamo welcomes over four million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular historic sites in the United States. Visitors may tour the chapel, as well as the Long Barracks, which contains a small museum with paintings, weapons, and other artifacts from the era of the Texas Revolution. Additional artifacts are displayed in another complex building, alongside a large diorama that recreates the compound as it existed in 1836. A large mural, known as the Wall of History, portrays the history of the Alamo complex from its mission days to modern times. I was surprised how small it really was. I always expected it to be larger for some reason.

We only had a couple of days in San Antonio, but had a nice time. I really enjoyed the area. Here are some fun things we would like to do the next time we are in the area.