Another cloudy and warm day bit who is complaining. We left the site around 9:30 a.m. and went back into town. It is easy driving form our camp to city centre. Freeway all the way and all the tourist attractions are near the exits. We are approx. 18 miles from the Alamo itself.
After parking ($4. for the day) we went to the IMAX and bought a combo ticket that gives us access to the movie, a narrated trolley ride and a narrated river boat ride around the "River Walk". Cost was $31. each and well worth it. We had some time to kill before the movie started so we walked inside the mall. We ran into a celebrity of sort while here. As I was looking in a shop, I saw this guy who looked familiar, then I recognized him; it was Mike Campbell, our Premier's brother and a CTV financial adviser. We introduced ourselves and met his wife. His son is here to play in the finals for Basketball.....What a small world!!
The movie was a short version of the new one with narratives interjected in between. Well done! From here we went and took the trolley ride. It took us through town and a couple of Missions and gave us an idea of what to go back and see in more detail. The guy was interesting and full of facts about San Antonio.
From here, we still had lots of time so we went to the "River Walk" canal and took the boat ride. Again, very interesting and we saw the whole thing form a different perspective. The canal is U shape and an extension at the bottom of the U that leads to the MARRIOT hotel which is a BIG attraction here. The bottom section is nothing but a big shopping mall. It has two big locks at each end of the U in case of floods and apparently, they empty the canal every January to clean the bottom. It is only 2-3 feet deep compared to the main river which is about 12 feet. The canal was originally built in the 1800's.
Drove home tired but happy.
MARCH 23, Friday, cloudy with some drizzle.
Today we did the Mission tour. Including the Alamo, there are 5 of them running in a north to south direction and approx. 3-4 miles apart. This had to do with self protection and preservation because of the roaming Apaches and Comanches.
We began the tour with Mission Conception which is still intact and well maintain. From here we went 2 miles to Mission San Jose, built in the 1700's and considered the "Queen" of all of them. It was beautiful I must admit and very impressive. Spanish colonial style is very prominent and there is a window call "Rosa's window" which according to the legends, was completed by a Mexican sculptor who lost his Sweetheart in a boat accident. She drowned while en route from Mexico to join him in Tejas. A true declaration of Love.
The other two Mission were more damaged but still interesting to visit. Built in 1716, Mission San Juan was moved to the East bank of the Alamo river because of flooding and the soil was also more fertile on that side.
A very interesting and informative day. We spent over 4 hours visiting all of them and the best part....it was FREE!
MARCH 24, Saturday, cloudy
Today is our anniversary and also my grand-daughter, Hayley's birthday! A HAPPY DAY!
We did laundry and computer stuff this morning and I caught up to all my pictures. In the afternoon, around 3 p.m., we went back into town and walked the whole "River Walk" including time in the evening to see all the lights glittering. The place was full of people, being Saturday and all.
We visited a bar and museum call BUCKHORN. The museum had to do with Texas Rangers and was not that impressive. The bar however was! It dates back to 1881 and the whole atmosphere is that of a big "Saloon" (without the smoke) and the walls were literally covered with antlers and trophy head of different animal You have to see our pictures to get an idea of it all. We had a beer then left. We went back to the Alamo to have a last look then walked Tucker before heading to the River Walk. We got a call from Rick and Diane, friends we met at our campsite, and they invited us to join them at the "AZTEC" for dinner but we couldn't as we were just too far away.
We walked the whole thing including a visit in the Vallita village which is an artisan's village dating back to the 1800's. We stopped at a pub on the River Walk for dinner and celebrated our Anniversary. 100's of people walking about and the evening was just as enchanting as we had imagined.
Came home tired and late...What a great day! This city is very romantic and so beautiful
MARCH 25, Sunday, raining this morning,
Washed the truck once it stopped raining and packed all the goodies away. Val finished her wash. I fuelled the truck and checked all the oil levels.
This is the end of this leg. From Key West, Florida to here we did 6861 miles! WOW! We did do a lot of sightseeing and extended detours. All worth it.
Tomorrow begins our final leg....home via Alberta.
MARCH 26, Monday, Raining of course
A drizzle is falling. Said our goodbyes to Rick and Diane then we left at 9:45 a.m. We drove to 410 then west on hwy 90. the other side of Uvalde, we hit a storm with heavy rain. So much so that I had to slow down to 40 mph. We stopped in Bracketville for lunch. This is where John wayne filmed his version of "The ALAMO" and the village is still standing and now a tourist attraction for a fee of course.
We went on and aarrived in Del Rio at 2;45 p.m. and camped at 'American Campground", a Passport member for $16 for the first night and $23 for the second. Full price is $35. We have full hook-up, cable and WIFI!
The sun is shining and the forecast is for 85 degrees tomorrow and more sunshine. Life is good!
N 29*27'45" W 100*59'05" Altitute:1205 feet distance today 163 miles
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