Day 7: Austin and San Antonio

We have officially reached the end of Week One. I can hardly believe it. I feel like we just got started yesterday. I will say that I'm getting really good at repacking so that I need to bring into the house or hotel just one or two bags. I don't know what I was thinking when I brought my make-up case or many of the other things I brought. I haven't hardly used any of it. San Antonio has no idea what I wore in Atlanta!

We started out our day by heading to a local doughnut shop called Round Rock Donuts.


They make their doughnuts with sweet potato flour, so they're orange and they seem a little richer and heartier than normal doughnuts.


Wonderful! They even have their own hot light! The hot light is ON in Georgetown!

From there, we headed south to San Antonio for the day. Michelle explained some of the road labels for us. Some roads at home are NC or US or Interstate, etc. Well, apparently, here some are labeled RM and some are FM. RM means "ranch to market," and FM means "farm to market." These were roads that came from the rural areas into the urban areas. FM was used in the north and east, but there were more ranches in the south and west, so they used RM. In places like San Antonio and Austin, you see both. Weird.

So we finally reached the Alamo.



Dave was alarmed that it really is in the middle of a bustling city. He had thought it would be out in the middle of the desert somewhere. No, sirree. Smack in the middle of a bustling shopping district that has grown up around it in the last century.

When we arrived, we got the audio tours, but I advise others to skip the audio tour. It's too much information and it means that you miss the information that docents provide at random times.

People seem to forget that the Alamo was actually a church that is now considered a shrine. As a result, gentlemen are asked to remove their hats, but there seems to be very little reverence there aside from the MANY, MANY plaques posted proclaiming the commemorative historical nature of the place.


For the record, the Alamo is the place where Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie (of arguable Bowie knife fame), and William Travis fought against the Mexicans and died on behalf of the Republic of Texas in 1836. They were not, as many believe, fighting to protect the Alamo; they were fighting to save the independent Republic of Texas.

Through the center of the Alamo mission runs a concrete irrigation ditch, or acequia, that is now populated by big, beautiful coy.



The property also had amazing flowering trees and shrubs.




After a long day at the Alamo, it was time to leave.


We left the Alamo and headed to the River Walk area of San Antonio a few blocks away. The River Walk is a beautiful shopping and eating area built up on the sides of the San Antonio River. It was like a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city.






However, I knew that this day couldn't go off without something bizarre taking place, so we came upon this:


We ate our lunch/dinner at the Casa Rio Restaurant on the water. It was the first business on the River Walk.


We both ordered the Casa Rio Classic Dinner, which was followed by an order of flan that Dave says could compete pretty well with what we had in Iowa two years ago.



On the ride home, we spotted this little freakshow:


Why are we not staying here longer?! I need to go to Pinata Land!

On the ride home, I think I was mid-nap when Dave asked if I could take a picture of THIS:


He said you Wilmington people would understand. Anyone? Anyone?

I spent a good portion of the evening sitting alone with my computer in Michelle's beautiful backyard as the sun set. The air was warm with a strong breeze. It was divine! What a great way to end my stay in Austin!

Tomorrow is likely to be just a travel day to Lubbock, the home of Buddy Holly, so don't expect any words of genius tomorrow night.

Much love to all! I miss my kitties. Thank God for ShaLeigh who is giving them the best of care. We both miss our friends already. We keep seeing things you all would like or find funny. Have a great weekend!