Jack & Jackie's Travels

6. San Antonio Texas

Here is the map. The sights were typical of what we have been seeing. No special bridges, etc. just lows of traffic getting around Huston.

Mission San Antonio de Valero, The Alamo (1718)

Probably like all tourists we visited the Alamo. The Alamo, one of the five old Spanish Missions, was built in 1718 and was over 100 years old at the time the Battle of the Alamo was fought. The model shows that the chapel did not have a roof at the time of the battle. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the chapel but I’m sure you can find some on-line.

There is an interactive map of the Alamo that you can access at: http://thealamo.org/plan-a-visit/interactive-map/index.html

Today what was the Indian quarters and the Travis Headquarters do not exist, however the Long Barrack does and is a museum. The picture is of the outside wall. The next is a monument to those that fought and died. Inside the existing courtyard was the well and today there are incredible oak trees

Here's one legend.

To read about the battle go to: http://www.thealamo.org/history/the-1836-battle/index.html

Click on the “History” tab.

Mission San Jose(1720)

We visited two other missions. The Mission San Jose was built in 1720 and occupies about 5 acres. It had what was described as the “strongest garrison to protect against idian raids.” Most of the people lived inside the walls of the missions. Those living outside the walls had there dwelleings as close as possible to the gates. Their lives depended on being able to get into the mission during the Indian raids. The Comanche's were feared. Apparently it was their nature to torture teir captives before killing them.

Here is the inside of one of one of the defensive positions. Canons were on the ground level while the soldiers used their rifles while standing on the platform.

Here are some pictures from inside the church.

The Rose Window and a stone spiral staircase. By the way, most of the stone used in this area is limestone.

The mill was powered by a small stream. Here is where the grains that the farmers grew were processed. To me, it emphasized the importance of having a good water supply. They didn’t need a big river to satisfy their needs.

Here’s the front of the church, one of the rooms, walls nearby and one of the many “stoves” used for cooking their meals.

Mission Concepcion (1731)

It is the only one of the Five Missions of San Antonio that has twin towers. Since there are many similarities with the other missions the pictures below are of some of the original paintings of religious symbols and architectural designs.

Food

We eat most of our meals in the motorhome. That way we have control over how well or how poorly we are eating. However, when in San Antonio,,,, eat at,,,, Mi Terra! Carumba! The restaurant is open 24/7. They have food (very good food),a bar(don’t know about that), a bakery (too full after lunch to buy anything) and strolling musicians'. ($6.00 a song, peppy or romantic. There are so many colorful lights and decorations that its like Christmas.

Here’s a link: http://www.mitierracafe.com/about_history.html

The restaurant is located in El Mercado - Market Square: http://www.sanantonio.gov/marketsquare/Culture.aspx

We wandered around looking at the shops and listened to a guy singing. He really had a good voice. I thought he sounded a lot like John Denver, Jackie thought he sounded like Willie Nelson.

Market Square has 32 shops and just across the street is an authentic Mexican market. There are about 80 stores there.

Riverwalk

Shops, hotels, restaurant, shops, hotels , restaurant, get the picture? We took the boat ride. It is a 35 minute, narrated tour. Each boat is packed with a zillion people. You sit with knees touching ,,, don’t like it? Well, the river is only 3-4 feet deep so you can always get out and walk. The Captain gave a great narration, lot of information and humor. I liked it and would go again ,,, even doing the knees to knees thing.

There was a hotel, the Hilton del Rio being built for the 1968 World’s Fair, all the rooms were booked a year in advance and construction hadn’t started yet. It was built in only 202 days using modular construction. While the bottom four floors, the elevators shafts and utility core, the rooms were constructed in another location. When ready, they were shipped over, connected and boom! instant hotel. http://www.modular.org/htmlPage.aspx?HtmlPageId=400

There is a spot where weddings take place the boat driver said this was the third one he’d seen that day.

Here are more sights along the ride.

Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden (Sunken Garden) is located in an abandoned limestone quarry. The stone was used to build many of the building in San Antonio. The name was changed during WWII to the Chinese Tea Garden and back again in 1984. The story can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Japanese_Tea_Garden

The water was low/absent in some of the ponds but still worth seeing.

Buckhorn Saloon & Museum

A 17 year old, Albert Friedrich, opens a saloon in 1881 in San Antonio. His customers don’t have much money for booze so he started trading horns and antlers for drinks. His wife, Emile, joins in by accepting rattlesnake rattles that she creates works of art with. Before you know, ole Al has a very unique collection.

There are way too many things to describe here, so here are some links that explain things:

Saloon http://www.buckhornmuseum.com/pages/saloon.html

Museum http://www.buckhornmuseum.com/pages/buckhornmuseum.html

Texas Rangers http://www.buckhornmuseum.com/pages/texasrangermuseum.html

Bonnie & Clyde http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/history-culture/slideshow/American-outlaws-Bonnie-Parker-and-Clyde-Barrow-75660/photo-5570632.php

Here’s a picture of Elmer McCurdy. He would have made to the top of the world dumbest criminals if he were living today. Started out by robbing the wrong train, downhill from there. Got shot in the head just after shouting “You’ll never take me alive!”