San Antonio TX

We arrived in San Antonio on March 1 and stayed in the Traveler's World Carefree RV Resort on Roosevelt Ave. It was the first park where we were really packed in, but because everyone was so nice, we soon lost the feeling of being doomed sardines.



The RV park gave us a wonderful visitor's pack, including information on everything we could possibly want to see in the area, coupons, and a bus schedule. Riding the bus into town saved us (Bill) the trouble of dealing with traffic and parking and also gave us more of a complete picture of the area and the people who live there.

Being at the Alamo was a wonderful, yet somber experience. Serendipity placed us there on March 2 at just the right time to experience part of the Texas Independence Day observance with descendants of three survivors of the Battle of the Alamo, a minister (whose prayer was perfectly concise), a military honor guard, and members of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, which manages the Alamo. Neither of us knew that there was a Texas Independence Day that was still celebrated, but we were both glad we got to experience the touching remembrance. We soon learned that, although the Alamo was lost, Texas declared its independance from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas on March 2, 1836. Ten years later, it became the 28th state of the United States of America.



The grounds of the Alamo are tastefully landscaped. See the horse at the end of the arbor?



Two shots of an ornamental cherry:





Prickly pear cactus:



Rose:



Bill's mom, Sue, had told us the Riverwalk was beautiful, and she was right. The narrow San Antonio River winds through the city, and it is lined by curving walks, steps, water features, shops, cafes. We had lunch at Mad Dog's Pub, where Bill had bangers and mash (mild sausage links and creamed potatoes), Karen had a BLT made with avocado and Linda McCartney's vegetarian "bacon," and the waitstaff wore kilts!



After the bus ride back to the RV park, we took the short drive to the Mission San Jose, the largest of the four Spanish missions of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.







Two shots inside the mission's granary:





The mission's church:



Close-up of the church's front doors:



The church's Rose Window, which the National Park Service describes as "the premier example of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the United States":



We always think of missions and their churches as being adobe-colored, or white-washed at best. This church had been painted with colorful designs. Were they all decorated like that?









Our Mexican dinner that night was delicious! We walked across Roosevelt Ave. from the RV park to the Taqueria Guadalajara Jalisco Style Mexican Restaurant. It was fantastic! Bill had beef nachos, and Karen had cheese enchiladas made with red corn tortillas. The yellow rice was heavenly and contained bits of carrot, peas, lima beans and string beans.

While we were in San Antonio, we had no idea how huge it was. On our way to our next destination on I-10 West, we passed a sign advising that we were leaving the San Antonio city limits. It was 29 miles from the RV park we had just left!

The San Antonio skyline from I-10 West: