We arrived in San Antonio, Texas after a very long day behind the wheel from New Orleans. Our luck with cool weather ran out in SA. It was over 100 degrees and very humid. It rained the first evening there.
My impression is that SA is a great city, very clean with lots of attractions. Two other cities we visited (Chicago and New Orleans) have a riverwalk in the downtown area, but SA raises the concept to a whole new level.
The riverwalk in SA is beautiful and there are lots and lots of high-rise residences, hotels, offices and restaurants with outdoor cafes on the river. This riverwalk was designed in 1929 by the famous architect, Robert H.H. Hugman who grew up locally and graduated from the University of Texas, SA. After serving an apprenticeship with an architect in New Orleans, he returned to SA and drew up the plan for riverwalk. The city didn't have the money to build it due to the Great Depression, but in 1939 got some federal funding through the WPA and that was the beginning of the riverwalk as it exists today. It is an intergral part of the downtown SA environment, beautifully designed and executed. Lovely place to walk along the river and enjoy refreshments. An artesian spring fed by an underground lake about 30 miles long continually pumps fresh drinkable water into the river in the middle of riverwalk. I have included a picture above of the spring as it flows out of the limestone aquifer. It's a terrible picture, but they wouldn't allow us to stand up on the barge to get a better picture.
We arrived late the first evening, so we just wanted something quick. The hotel recommended Aldaco's Mexican Resturant. Don't go there if you go to SA. They charge you $8 to park, it is loud and cold with no ambiance at all, there are no tacos, burritos or quesadillas on the menu and you cannot order ala carte. Other than that it is entirely mediocre.
The next day, we went to see the Alamo (of course, how could you not). I had heard it was small and it certainly is. It is hallowed ground to all Texans, however. I have included the obligatory picture of the entrance of the Alamo, but I also included a picture of a magnificent live oak that is over 150 years old in the courtyard. The picture doesn't do it justice because the courtyard is completely walled in and you simply can't back up far enough to get the whole thing in the picture. It really made for a very cool, shady space to enjoy a beautiful summer day.
There was a street fair on just in front of the Alamo and there were a number of classic cars parked on the street as part of the fair. Some nice vehicles, but there weren't nearly as many as at Crusin' Grand in Escondido every Friday night. Still, they were nice to look at.
We then went for a walk down on riverwalk and then up to the cathedral of San Fernando where the bones and ashes of the heros of the Alamo are interred. We were unable to go in the church because there was a wedding in progress. We then rode one of the tour barges that plow along through the area. The barge driver was very knowledgeable about the history of the town and riverwalk, so it was worth it. We then found a place called Mad Dogs British Pub and had some wings and a drink.
Later in the evening we went to dinner at Pappadeux Seafood House. If you have ever been to Texas, you have probably seen these as they are in almost every large town in the state. They serve Cajun style seafood and they are great. I don' t think they have reached California yet, but they have spread as far west as Phoenix. I highly recommend giving them a shot.
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