Bryan and I had an opportunity to go on vacation in mid-December. BJ had a national athletic directors conference in San Antonio, TX, and I had 3 personal days available to join him. Our parents agreed to keep our children so we flew south for a new adventure!
We arrived on Friday, took our first uber ride to our hotel in downtown, and then set out to explore. Our hotel was right on the famed Riverwalk so that's where we began.
The Riverwalk has more than 20 miles of trail in downtown, and colorful boats with guided tours float past all day long. It's below street level and really feels unique.
We found some pretty arches once we got beyond the center of commerce.
They allowed for cheesy photo ops.
This bridge and amphitheater just below La Villita was lovely. We enjoyed a flash mob-style brass horn carol concert here one afternoon.
In the old city center stands the San Fernando Cathedral. It was lovely.
The interior was available for casual tours, and decorated for Advent.
Gilded Catholic lovliness
And one cannot forget the heroes of the Alamo, said to be buried here: Crockett, Bowie and Travis. We walked all afternoon and had an early and delicious (probably our best) dinner along the Riverwalk.
Saturday we had a major tourist morning, beginning at the "Shrine of Texas Liberty", the Alamo.
It was interesting to see, and a challenge for me to bite my tongue at the historical aggrandizement and propagandized version of history on display.
Beautiful weather. We walked all over the grounds, looked at the hospital, the museum (gift shop, really), and deteriorating mission structure.
Somebody's feet hurt by this time so we really jumped on the tourist bus (literally!) and climbed aboard a double-decker bus for a driving, hop-on hop-off tour.
Our first disembarkation was the Pearl district, home to old distilleries, and a very urban chic scene with a farmers' market and live music. We climbed a condo stairway and took in the aerial view, with Hotel Emma on our right. Rooms range from $750-$7500 a night.
We boarded another bus and rode through more interesting parts of town, choosing to get off again at El Mercado. More than 300 vendors of authentic Texan and Mexican goods. We browsed, stepped in fresh vomit, and laughed at signs for the upcoming Alamo Bowl with WSU.
So much color!
Back on the bus, through more charming neighborhoods, and then our final stop was HemisFair Park, site of the 1968 world's fair. The Tower of the Americas stands 750-feet tall in the center. In classic Texan style, it was built 10-feet taller than the Space Needle.
Of course we went to the viewing deck. Bryan is surprisingly afraid of heights...Our hotel is the tall one to the right.
There was a nice breeze and a lovely view. Our trip down was delayed due to some faulty (!?!) elevator, but we did eventually escape and head for lunch.
We ate as often as possible along the Riverwalk. So many good food, drink and dessert options and the people watching was spectacular!
Bryan had a class Saturday evening so I walked around solo, doing some shopping. The crowds were too much for me, though, so I escaped to the roof of our hotel and admired the view.
The city was nicely lit for the holiday season and there was always something to watch or listen to. Bryan returned and we went back up the tower for appetizers and drinks. The view was lovely and we had a nice evening - once my hangry subsided.
Sunday I rode the bus solo to a couple neighborhoods I'd scoped out Saturday. I did quite a lot of Christmas shopping while Bryan was in classes. That evening there was a reception for all Washington ADs. We spent time with Bryan's friend from Ellensburg, and his wife.
We rode one of the river boats and enjoyed a tour from a retired principal. All the trees have lights hanging from them and they twinkle in a delightful way, which photos do not capture.
Then we walked around and looked at lights. The Bexar County Courthouse looked like gingerbread.
Next to it was San Fernando.
It's interior lights made the stained glass glow beautifully.
The SAGA laser light display didn't happen, unfortunately, but we did manage to walk through a group of Philadelphia 76ers unloading at their hotel. Huge men!
Then Bryan and I went back to the Alamo to see it sans crowds.
We oogled the ornate lobby of the Menger Hotel
and tried to blend in.
A night cap of ice cream topped off the evening.
On Monday Bryan was in classes most of the day. I started with mass at St. Joseph's, near our hotel. It was an accident to be part of mass, but I sure wasn't going to walk out. The homily was Matthew's genealogy of Jesus and, as Mom said later, it is amazing how Bathsheba is now part of my story. I got misty eyed and was moved when the father greeted me and pointed me to Mary on my way out. Maybe my Catholic roots run deep...
So, I shopped, walked, met up with the Ellensburg AD's wife, sat poolside, and enjoyed a final day of warm weather.
The Turkish import store stole my heart - but not my savings!
We enjoyed a final dinner on the Riverwalk, replete with a mariachi band.
I searched for a yellow rose of Texas and found one that smelled perfect. It was a lovely trip of stolen time and we so enjoyed ourselves. Tuesday we flew home for the last day of class on Wednesday.
