December 11, 2003

December 11, 2003

Today we left for a long weekend vacation to San Antonio, TX.  We are going for the nice weather, the sights, and to see if we would like it as a retirement spot.  At the airport we rent a car and drive to the La Quinta Hotel-Market Square.  We have a nice lunch at a Mexican restaurant across the street at El Mercado, a traditional Mexican market.

From there we walk east a mile past the San Antonio River to the Alamo.  This famous facade is smaller than you think and in the middle of downtown San Antonio.  The Alamo, originally the Spanish Mission San Antonio de Valero, was where in 1836 a band of Texans held out to the death for thirteen days against the Mexican army of Generalissimo Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana.  Even though the Alamo was overrun, the delay was long enough for Sam Houston to gather an army and ultimately defeat Santa Ana, establishing independence for the Republic of Texas.  We walk thru the mission, now a memorial to those who died, and then thru the museum housed in the mission’s barracks.  The museum retells the story of the battle and its heroes, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Col. William Travis.

Afterwards, we walk back to the river and stroll along the bank.  The River Walk is the pride of San Antonio.  A sidewalk hugs both sides of this narrow horse-shoe-shaped canal off the San Antonio River.  It is below grade level downtown and is lined with restaurants, bars and hotels.  We stay for dinner and eat al fresco under the stars.  Since Christmas is approaching the river is trimmed with lights.  As we dine we watch riverboats cruise by with tourists.  At one point in the evening, the boats pass loaded with carolers serenading us.  Christmas has to be the best time to visit San Antonio.  After dinner we have a beer at Howl at the Moon watching two dueling comedic pianists.