San Antonio (Part I)

 San Antonio, Texas

When in Texas, do you do as the Texans?

Making the concession to Texas, even during Rodeo Week in San Antonio, wasn't easy. The problem was leaving my go-to sunny-weather bald-head covering, ie. my baseball hats, behind.

But the Lone Star State is cowboy hat country and my ball cap collection just wasn't cutting the mustard. Still, I hesitated. In fact, Linda made the move first back in Corpus Christi....turning her into my very cute cowgirl.

But who was that city dude beside her? Oh, the pressure!

It did take another two days to buck the cap, but when I did, I got a great deal: 
When I bought the hat,the swagger came free.

At the boot store, I did overhear this tidbit of cowboy wisdom from one woman speaking to her friend in the next aisle: “You just gotta make sure you don't squat with your spurs on.”

Stay tuned.

More cowboy wisdom about San Antonio: "It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."

San Antonio seems to have some magic over us? Even Mark Twain once confessed that there wasn't much that he liked, but that he did like San Antonio.

A true melting-pot, the city has been a cultural mix of Spanish and English influences for the last 150 years. Whether on its streets or in its homes and kitchens the two cultures seem to mix beautifully...and Tex-Mex is spreading.  Just think of Taco Bell.....Señor! 

All the while honouring its past, the city seems serious about two other things: its future and the fun you can have getting there.


To use a cartoon analogy, San Antonio is like “Baby Huey”. Compared to cities like Austin, Dallas, or Houston, sure it's big, but its also without pretense...that is unless you're talking about the great San Antonio Spurs, that is!!!

Just A Big Village ?

In fact, San Antonio often feels like a big parochial village. Originally planned as a traditional Spanish town, today's bustling city is still built around plazas with many blocks devoted to open spaces. 

But that village feeling can't be any stronger than when stepping down onto the banks of the “Riverwalk” where life slows down to the pace of the river. 

The escape from the inevitable urban grind begins with your first stair step down to the water's edge.

Blowing its own whistle?!

Interestingly, were it not for some brave visionaries, this jewel might not exist.  In the

1920's, city officials were seriously considering paving over the river. 
Oh the potential of narrow minds!!!! 
Henry Ford would have put it this way:
"There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can."
And they did!
However, one aspect about the city's past did get on my nerves: the loud, deep, lonely, nocturnal cry of the many passing freight trains...its cute factor dropped from 100 to 0 in about 15 minutes.

A good helpen' of Chicken Fried Steak

Every Texan knows you ain't from here if you don't know chicken fried steak or “if the Alamo don't mean nothin' to ya” . Check out Google for that “Chicken Fried Steak” recipe but as for the Alamo, it's only just the ultimate Shrine of Liberty down here.








In fact, for the Texan, the Alamo is the place where history, legend and myth have been woven into a stirring story about the very true Texan spirit of freedom, independence, and pride.

Love me or Love me not; I don't care!

As the story goes, this state has always fought....or been fought over. In fact, 6 different flags have been known to float over this territory: those of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate South, and of course, the United States. 

Proud Americans they might be but their independence is a state of mind born out of conflict....and one conflict in particular....the war of independence with Mexico. This one, like no other, allowed Texas to become a free, independent, flag-flying country known as the Republic of Texas.

San Antonio and the Alamo

Davie Croquette is
enshrined here.      

No city's history is more intertwined with Texas' war of independence than San Antonio, site of the Battle of the Alamo.

Ever heard of Davie Croquette? It's here that he lost his life fighting the Mexicans? But to no avail! 

The Texans were beaten so soundly that the vengeful battle cry for the rest of the war was: “Remember the Alamo”...

Davie Croquette's tomb

...a cry that gave General Sam Houston and his boys the pep in their step they needed to ultimately defeat the pesky Mexicans, create a new country, and hoist their new flag, the “Lone Star ”.

A great tip from George

My brother-in-law, George, a knowledgeable South-West ex-pat, knows his way around Mexican food and cold beer. One of his favorite restaurants down here, the Mia Tiero in Market Square, is a  big, vibrant, colourful place.  In fact, stepping into it was like stepping into the middle of a Mexican festival. 


The food was exceptional and what's more, they also served one of his all-time favorite Texan beers, "Shiner Bock"!

As for our evening, it was a feast for both the eye and the palette...and the “Shiner Bock”, simply delicioso, frio,,....and ample! 
We were even serenaded.



and got the T-Shirt too!!

Making our way home, my thoughts went to the San Jose Mission tour guide who told me that his people call San Antonio “a subdivision of heaven”. That night, they were right.

Thanks, George. A great time was had by all!

Adiós mis amigos.

Part II coming.
Until then.