"Remember the Alamo!"

The San Antonio area has been 2 weeks of solid entertainment.

Not long after arriving, we drove to Hill Country (Boerne and Bandera, Texas) where we discovered two firsts: a store that catered solely to cowboys and a saloon with swinging doors and hitching posts with real horses. At the cowboy store, we decided not to buy the $945 cowboy hat! And when we approached the horses, I was glad I asked if it was OK to touch them since the cowgirl immediately advised against it! I’m sure she was thinking ‘damn tourists’! Oh well...

We took 3 trips into San Antonio and the absolute best was our visit to the Alamo. Until that moment, Crockett, Travis and Bowie were really only characters from folklore stories or parts played by actors in movies. Being there at the Mission, imagining the 13 days the 185 Texans held off 4000 Mexicans, and feeling the timelessness of the whole area was amazing – truly hallowed ground.

On another trip, we took a tour around the city on Segways – and here’s a pic of Johnnie getting ready to ride. I’m not sure you’ve ever tried one of these but, believe me, the balancing experience is a treat. Now, I might add that taking photographs as you zoom along is not so easy but I managed to catch a few.

We spent lots of time walking (not Segway-ing) around the downtown area and on the Riverwalk. Like the Rideau River winds through Ottawa, the San Antonio River weaves through San Antonio. What’s different are the two stories of eclectic shops, fantastic restaurants and the leisurely open boat ride along the canal system. And just off the canal is La Villita. This collection of wee adobe houses and cobblestone walkways are completely restored and now house art galleries, artisan shops and a museum. After that day, man, were we exhausted!

We have stayed in an RV park in New Braunfels between San Antonio and Austin. The community was originally settled by Germans in the 1850’s and the small downtown core has retained an active culture around the Guadalupe River. The Friesenhaus offered us at least 20 kinds of German draft and the chance to buy lederhosen. The Naegelin Bakery offered scrumptious rye and pumpernickel bread and we saw any number of businesses related to quilting. All were geared to retain their German history and background.

We went to Gruene and its historic district a couple of times. It’s not far from New Braunfels and it’s where Texas’ oldest dance hall is located. We were there late this aft. The place was absolutely packed with about 200 people and the band will no doubt play on till the wee hours. Care to dance? How about a two-step?

So no, we didn’t see the rodeo (scheduled for mid-February) and the season was not yet open for the inner tube ride down the Guadalupe River (spring and summer) and we didn’t make our way to Seaworld or Six Flags Fiesta. But we experienced some fun stuff and enjoyed learning about why Texans are so proud. And while didn't get a chance to do everything, just like Davy Crockett, William Travis and James Bowie, we will always “Remember the Alamo”.