It is sunny and nice today in Texas. We stayed around the campground today and in the afternoon went over and had ice cream in the rec hall. We sat with the people camped next to us from British Columbia and met another couple from Missouri. That is why we love traveling and staying in campgrounds. We have met so many wonderful and friendly people along the way. After dinner we went over to the music jam session in the rec hall. People from this campground and other campgrounds nearby come and play music and sing. We enjoyed the music.
Feb. 25
We are having another sunny and warm day. After breakfast we drive into San Antonio and follow the Mission Trail along the San Antonio River. This chain of missions were established along the river in the 1700's by Spain to extend its dominion northward from New Spain (present day Mexico). Collectively they form the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America. These missions were first established in East Texas along the Rio Grande as way stations between these and other Franciscan missions in New Spain. The friars transferred a failed mission to the San Antonio River in 1718 that is called the Alamo. The other four missions were transferred along the San Antonio River which helped form the foundation for the city of San Antonio. American Indians living in the San Antonio missions came from several hunting and gathering bands know collectively as Coahuiltecans. In exchange for labor and conversion to Catholicism, Indians received food and refuge in the missions. These mission churches remain active centers of worship. We also stopped by the Acequia System which was a 15 mile network of 5 dams and several aqueducts along the San Antonio River that irrigated about 3,500 acres of land. We visited four of the missions today, Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan amd Espada and will visit the Alamo another day. We had a great lunch at a Mexican restaurant along the mission trail.
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| Concepcion |
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| Fireplace outside on the grounds of Mission San Jose |
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| Dick walking by San Jose |
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| San Juan |
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| Espada |
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| Alter in Espada |
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| Acequia System |
Feb. 26
There is a drizzle of rain falling this morning. After breakfast we drive about 20 miles to the town of Bandera which is known as the cowboy capital of the world. At noon there is a Marti Grau parade and many people are dressed to celebrate Marti Gras. Got lots of beads that were thrown from the floats. It was a fun parade were many different types of vehicles were decorated. Had a great BBQ lunch at a local restaurant. We walked up to 11th street where the gumbo cook-off was being held. They were busy cooking all morning and now gumbo samples were being sold. We were too full from lunch so didn't have room for gumbo. Went to the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and listened to the live band. There is an outdoor stage and area for sitting and dancing. The place was full and we finally found a place to sit and have a beer and listing to the music. There was a contest for the best Marti Grau costume. It was a fun day. When we got back to the campground they were having a BBQ dinner so we had brisket sandwiches and potato salad for dinner. We stayed and listened to the jam session music for awhile.
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| Marti Gras parade in Bandera |
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| Costume contest |
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| Outdoor stage at Cowbow Bar |
Today it is sunny and hot. There is no wind and we notice the humidity. After lunch we go into San Antonio to a new flea market. This market is very large and is built with concrete floor and separate garage like rooms for the vendors. There are rides for the kids and food vendors also. On each end a large covered area is for vendors to set up with tables. We didn't buy anything but it was a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Feb. 28
Today it is my birthday so we go into San Antonio to the famous river walk. The weather is sunny and not as warm as yesterday. We first go to the Alamo and the grounds are beautiful with the giant live oak trees with the limbs almost touching the ground, red bud trees and flowers. We spend some time just walking around the ground before going into the Shrine. This year is the 175th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. On Feb. 23, 1836, Santa Anna's army nearly caught the Texians and Tejanos by surprise. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William Travis, the commander of the Alamo, on the eighth day of the siege, asked for help from other communities in Texas. A band of 32 volunteers arrived bringing the number of defenders to two hundred. These men saw the Alamo as the key to the defense of Texas and were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie and David Crockett. The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. The Mexicans finally scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. They turned captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. By sunrise the battle had ended and Santa Anna surveyed his victory. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.
Next we walked down some steps to the river walk and enjoyed the many shops and great feel of the area. Had lunch at one the the restaurants out on a patio along the river. What a great place to spend my birthday! We took a half hour boat ride around the river were our driver pointed out the buildings and facts about the river walk area. Before leaving the river walk we stopped at a restaurant and had margaritas on the patio. For my birthday dinner I chose Olive Garden where we had a very good dinner.
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| Alamo |
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| River Walk |
Sunny and nice again today. We stayed around the campground and I did laundry in the afternoon.
Mar. 2
We are enjoying another sunny day and after lunch go into San Antonio to the Mexican Market. This is on the other side of downtown from the river walk. It's two large buildings where booths are located and sell stuff from Mexico and South America. I bought a small clay decorated sun and a bunch of corn husk flowers. It was fun going through the shops. It is too dangerous to go across the boarder into Mexico with the drug wars going on so this is a good alternative. We stopped at Costco on the way back to the motor home. For dinner tonight we drive to Bandera to the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and they have a steak BBQ. There are large BBQ's set up and you bring and cook you own steaks and they sell sides for $5. We have a good time talking to people from all over the country and listening to the live music. It was a great ending to a fun day.
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| Steak night at the Cowboy Bar |
Mar. 3
Cloudy in the morning but the sun came through before noon. We are staying around the campground today so I can catch-up on my blog. In the afternoon there is ice cream in the rec hall. We met a couple from Everett WA at the rec hall today and are going to dinner with them tonight. Definitely Happy Travels, Barb
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