San Antonio Missions

Mission Road

Driving a short ways out of San Antonio, taking Mission Road, we came upon the

missions of:



Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan 

and Espada.

Here I have a mix of pictures from the four missions. Of course, the pictures show what I was interested in. I loved the original walls and stones left, from years gone by. I also was taken by the very old trees. The bell tower at Espada Mission took me back to those days. The missionaries strove to make life in the mission communities closely resemble that of Spanish villages. Trades were taught, to the Indians, which later proved beneficial to the post-colonial growth of San Antonio.
(Yup, I read the brochures!)
A couple of the missions are still active churches. Mission Espada was having a wedding, a birthday party and a quinceanera party the day we were there. (Quinceanera--party for a girl turning 15yrs. old.)
We saw/heard a Mariachi Band and entered a building where there was a
Minnie Mouse birthday party just starting. Opps! They did invite us to stay, we thanked them, but declined. I did get a picture of the pinata though!

The doors at the mission were grand!

I love doors everywhere---I take pictures of them, just so I can see them again.

This is Miroslav Maler. He is a sculptor from the Czech Republic.

He has been commisioned by the San Antonio Missions, to help restore some parts of the missions, with original building techniques.

(He was so kind to pose with Flat Stanley, even though he never heard of the project. Thanks Mr. Maler.)

Gardens were planted by the Missionaries and Indians for food. Now they plant gardens, at the missions, for the "eye pleasure." 

             

                                                                             A View Through the Window

Looking out of windows the view seems so different than looking straight at it. The trees at the missions are so old, even if limbs fell, they continued to grow, making for some interesting natural sculptures.





We saw several photographers taking family portraits by the wonderful trees.

In one of the windows above, you will see Flat Stanley, in the lower lefthand corner. Double click and you will see Joe, in the distance, reading a sign on the door of the mission.

The missions of San Antonio were well worth the tired, sore feet I had when we were at the end of the road.

(Flat Stanley did the tour with me, so I figured his feet were tired too!)

Man vs. Food at LULU's BAKERY & CAFE

MAN vs. FOOD  TV  SHOW

While in San Antonio, we stayed right in front of
LULU's CAFE.



Didn't know it was famous, until I talked to Josh. He informed me that LULU's was on the Man vs. Food show, for eating a large Chicken Fried Steak and a Huge Cinnamon roll.

Joe had been going there each morning to get a large coffee. On Sunday we decided to go over and eat breakfast. The waitress started making him a large coffee, as soon as she saw him walk in. Those diner ladies are the best! She was happy we were going to stay.

We ordered breakfast, and of course, one of the famous Cinnamon Rolls!
Coffee hit the spot this early Sunday morning, and the 3lb. roll was way, way, way, more than even Joe could eat! We had it wrapped to take home and were given instructions on how to warm it up. Breakfast was delicious.

Don't know how that Man vs. Food guy eats all that stuff!

  San Antonio is full of great things to do and see!  Staying in front of LULU's was one of those things.

This One's For You Ed Meyer--Happy Birthday!

                       MAKING HAY

A favorite art display on our way to the missions, in San Antonio, was so very unexpected!

These sculptures, made from iron and
hay, were so delightful to come upon.

My favorite is the one below. You can see and feel the emotions and hard work seeping out of the sculpture.

 Making Hay was organized and sponserd by: Alturas Foundation in collaboration with Public Art San Antonio, Texas. 

Tom Otterness - Sculptor     www.tomostudio.com/                            

San Antonio~~What a Wonderful City

      The Alamo, right downtown!

We didn't expect the Alamo to be the center of the city. Touring the Alamo took us a full day. We listened to a tour guide, narrate details of the war.

We sat amongst other visitors, in reverence, viewing a film that explained how several thousand Mexicans drove through the walls of the Alamo, wiping out the 200 frontiersmens who were defending the fort; fighting for thier independence.
(Dates on the pictures might not be correct. I didn't set the camera after I put in the batteries!)

The San Antonio River winds underground, with beautiful flower and tree-lined sidewalks,
forming:

           THE RIVERWALK. 
Restaurants, stores, boutiques and hotels line both sides of the river. Boat trips are featured, with guides narrating the tours.

We were visiting over Thanksgiving, when the Riverwalk comes alive, with Christmas floats, that actually floated down the entire river.
People lined the streets, bridges, and restaurants, all in the Holiday Spirit.
It was gorgeous! Lights hanging from trees, lights on rails, lights on the boats, lights on people, lights everywhere!

      NEW FRIENDS
We stopped for a drink, at an Irish Pub, their attraction being a fountain of fire and water. We met a wonderful couple there, whom we talked with for an extended amount of time. They also were like fire and water! Bette was a spit fire and Tony flowed with ease. Thus, their relationship was one to be emulated! Joe and I were taken with them. Tony being Italian, Bette being Irish, they were sparks that filled our day with conversation, entertainment and a new friendship. See you through emails Bette! Tony is like Joe, doesn't know how to turn the computer on! 

                        MUSIC ON THE STREETS

Like most large cities, we heard horns, violins, singing and preaching. This young man was unique, playing the bagpipes.
We love street entertainers!





                                         The Torch of Friendship

                       STREET ART

I also love street art!

Several times in four days we walked by this sculpture. Finally stopping to read the

medallion embedded into the sidewalk. This is a symbol of light that evokes friendship and unity. Sculptor: SEBASTIAN  June 2002

                                 

     Tiles--like this one,

 are found set into the cement pillars along the sidewalks, around the city. I took pictures of several of them. Very colorful! 

If you have a chance, visit San Antonio, Texas. It's a great city!                          

We Have a Visitor!

Flat Stanley arrived at our house today, at approximately 1:00 p.m. It was arranged by Emily Cramer, that he would come to Brownsville, for a visit of about two weeks or so.
Good thing he arrived today, as we are leaving tomorrow morning for San Antonio, Texas!

        Welcome to Brownsville, Texas

We needed to go out, to do a few errands this afternoon, so Flat Stanley went with us. Grandpa Joe held his hand, so he wouldn't blow away, as they both posed in front of this Brownsville collage.  
(Double click on the picture to see the colorful; historical mural.)

      
        The Adventures Start for Flat Stanley!
He is open to doing anything and going anywhere. Good thing, because you just never know where we are off to! As you can see, in this picture, Flat Stanley has his bag packed and is ready for an early departure.
 
Happy Thanksgiving, from the three of us. We all have so much to be thankful for.
Blessings to our families and friends!
 
I won't be blogging for a few days. Tune in again
after the weekend.

Where The Rio Grande Meets The Gulf of Mexico

We have been looking forward to seeing the mouth of the Rio Grande. The tide has to be out, to make it down the beach and get to the mouth of the river. We've tried it a couple of times, with no success. Yesterday was our day! We went with friends, that know how to get around the beach. Boca Chica Beach is not developed at all. Just sand, seaweed, scrub brush, water and openness! Lovely!
We drove through the sandy driveway and onto the beach itself. To my delight, there were two Black Skimmers dining on the bugs near the water.
If you double click on the pictures they will enlarge, click back arrow to return.

Continuing on, we came to the end of the beach and met the Rio Grande.

There were several men fishing, on the other side of the river. The other side being Mexico. As you can see, in the photos, the river is not wide. We were standing on the US side, looking over at the fishermen on the Mexican side.

Very interesting---no fence here!  Of course, there is a check-point on the

road back! We ventured to the other end of Boca Chica Beach. Driving down the beach to the other end, we saw many dead fish, leftover from the Red Tide. At the end of the beach, you can look over to South Padre Island, the area where Dolphin Cove is.

This lighthouse is on the Mexican side of the river/meeting the Gulf of Mexico.

The bottom right picture, is the check-point, where we declare we are from the US, on the way back to Brownsville.
The people that patrol the check-point are always very friendly. We have stopped to talk to them several times, asking questions about the area and purpose of the check-point at the beach.

Sunset at Dolphin Cove

Sunset at Dolphin Cove ~~~ South Padre Island, Texas  ~~~ Wish You Were Here