Dec 30/31 Friday New Years Eve day have a safe one!!!

Time to walk, this time we will take the sidewalk. Our destination is a Market Square where Mi Tierra restaurant is, two families, John & Yolanda and Steve & Julie plus her daughter, have told us not to miss this.

The San Fernando Cathedral is on the way. Two years ago when we were here on Palm Sunday the front area was in repair. The entryway notes the supposed relics of Davie Crocket, Bowie, and Travis heroes of the Alamo battle. The church is still decorated for Christmas with the manger scene, oodles of poinsettias and Christmas trees.

The main alter is totally covered with gold, with two alters along each side. There are two markers which signifies the center of San Antonio, about 30 feet apart?

Down the street is the Governors residence dating back to 1745, it is a must to visit.

Low doorways, the people were shorter those days. Thick walls, one and a half or two feet thick, keeps it cool in the hot summer.

The grand courtyard garden has a couple of two hundred year old live oaks, palms, cactus, large leaf philodendrons and many ponytail ferns, with many blossoming garden plants.

 

A fountain in the center with a walkway around it made with quarter to half dollar size stones cemented in.

We walk down the way and find the Old Plaza that has many markets in it, plus the restaurant we are looking for. We got in line to get our buzzer for seating. Behind us is a small family that had come from a wedding, the father of the groom and the mother of the bride (who is with child) and a 5 year old little girl. Needless to say they were not wanting to wait an hour to be seated. I heard the father ask if George was there, he indicated he knew him well. Well we went to the bar for a beverage, raspberry margarita and a bar special margarita. In comes the wedding party and sits right next to us, we acknowledged each other and gave them one of our empty chairs. They sat down and all of a sudden their buzzer goes off, we guessed that he actually knew the owner.

We were seated in what I suspect is the worst seat in the house, but after waiting for a seat and the last we ate, was last night, and it is 1pm. I get to look directly into the used plate area and dishwashing area, but directly to my right is the men’s room which I can look into each time it is opened. Like I said we were hungry and would just rough it. Shirleen had deep fried shrimp with hand cut fries and I three tamales, black beans, rice and tortilla wraps. Along with the meal was another of those fine roasted pepper dips. Good food and service, poor seating.

The rest of the restaurant had many lights and trinkets hanging down from the ceiling with strolling minstrels charging $6 per song. As we walked to the bakery looking for the empanadas filled with sweet potatoes or pumpkin that John suggested, none in sight, sure a big assortment of bakery products. Coming alongside of me is the father of the groom, he stops and asked how the meal went and where are we from. He said he had gone to school with the owner of the restaurant and that is how he got ahead of the line.

We walked through this area looking at some of the Mexican art brought across the boarder for us to buy. Looked for the chocolate with cinnamon or the Jamaica (hibiscus) drink, did not find any.

As we left the square I noticed the mosaic adorning the wall of the hospital Yolanda works at, so we walked over to the park adjoining the hospital, sat down and viewed its beauty.

The park had a nice wrought iron gazebo, I always like their picture.

We walk back to the hotel on the river walk, strolling and taking in the romantic walk way.

Going to Mark and Priscilla's in New Braunfels for the next two or three days. Not sure of email but have cell phone. jerr

Dec 29/30 Wednesday activities

A family in the elevator looked at us and she asked what our colors were? Unhesitantly I said, “the way the Vikings played last night I should be wearing purple.” This started our walk down the river to start our day. Lots of orange again in sight. Walking we passed the stage area.

This picture is often found in art galleries. The five bells to the right are signifying the five missions in San Antonio. To their left are round tiles protruding, those could be like in Europe, pigeon loft. The bridge is striking.

We returned to the hotel and on the dot John showed up. Yolanda was working her shift. As tomorrow they leave to visit her family in Mexico for the New Year. I had asked to go to a real Mexican restaurant. It was within a half mile of our hotel but what a pleasant surprise, The Cascabel Mexican Patio restaurant on

south St.

Mary’s street.

Starting with a beverage, Shirleen got a cup of hot chocolate, their chocolate has a hint of cinnamon and the quantity was two and a half cups worth. I tried a Jamaica (hibiscus) it is made with dried hibiscus blossoms and rehydrated in water and made sweet. Shirleen and John ordered a soup;

Pozole, pork soup, a rich broth, alongside to add as you wish shredded cabbage and sliced radishes.

I a Pipián (mole verde), diced pork cooked with their own green mole served with white rice and black bean and ensalada de nopales – a cooked cactus with tomatoes. Preceding the meal were a flavorful soup with fine noodles, cheese and black beans, accompanying this were two salsas, one red other green. I liked the red and used it on the homemade corn tortillas. What delightful company and meal.

John suggested we go through The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures. The displayed cultures were presented in a very artful way. The only culture missing and being redone was the Mexican one.

This was the German Christmas tree, with a hidden pickle, in open sight that many missed. The placard mentioned that the pickle ornament was brought to Germany from US during the World War.

It was coming toward 5pm and went to the top of the tower at the Chart House restaurant bar area for appetizers. We had a order of Coconut Shrimp and Ahi Nachos (seared Ahi tuna served atop fried wontons, with pickled ginger and wasabi cream.) What a knock out appetizers. We are 672 feet above the street and 952 steps, or take the elevator. Looking down over our hotel that looks so small from here and when I step our on the balcony on the 14^th floor, I get queasy.

The river walk was extremely busy even though the Alamo-dome game was one and a half hours away. It was time for a ride on the river, it is a nice introduction to who, why and what is on the river. On the way back to the hotel we noticed that our hotel had a tree silhouetted on our side of the building. We are upper right red lights, next to a room which has one color of each. I would have waved if I had been up there. jerr

Dec 28/29 San Antonio, click on picture and it becomes bigger.

We started a little late this morning 28th because of the heavy dew – rain. The breakfast was eggs and the like but one item I really liked, roasted salsa for my omelet and eggs. I paid for it later but worth it.

Because of the rain we thought we would stay around the area. Next door is La Villita arts area. This was worth the rain.

Many local artists selling their wears in the old village, they utilized many of the old buildings as sales area. There were many paintings of the Alamo, the three missions, local sunsets, and the Texas bluebonnet. There was some really different pottery, many different one of a kind flower pots, nice dinner ware sets and a nifty chips and salsa bowl, it was a deep big bowl for the chips and a four inch bowl attached to the rim of the bowl. Jewelry, many earrings and necklaces made of silver, many turquoise pieces used in the jewelry. Another interesting item was mesquite wood bowls adorned with turquoise chips filling in wavy strips in small areas of the wood. We have seen these in Arizona also.

We again walked the river walk area as the rain went to a drizzle, then misty and no rain and back and forth. We stopped for an ice cream cone at Hagen Dazz, as it started to rain again.

Across the street was The Alamo, always nice to see. 2011 will be the 175^th anniversary of the standoff.

One forgets that it is the cradle of Texas’s birth. http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/alamo-battle.htm The rain didn’t stop the Oklahoma and Arizona fans from seeing and taking there picture in front of the façade. There was even a flat Stanley picture taken, people were from northern Indiana.

The old metal gates, original limestone walls and a baptismal font.

Alongside the building was a beautiful large live oak, some branches held up by metal posts.

Well let’s find another dry place, right next to The Alamo was the Menger Hotel, a beautiful old hotel, art deco style. In the hotel was a fun estate jewelry shop. It had much to look at, I didn’t see anything less than a grand. Even these two inch Japanese carved people, I think ivory was the medium.

Back on the river walk, a little mist and rain can’t make me melt. We thought it was time for a wine and a crab cake and it turned out a dessert,

lemon chiffon cake with whipped Philly cream cheese and a couple pieces of chocolate and a couple black berries. This was really good at the Ostra restaurant.

We walked back seeing the colored lights of the river walk area. Now we sit in the room watching the Vikings. Tomorrow should be fun, my old high school class mate John, who lives in San Antonio, is picking us up and we will do lunch at a real Mexican restaurant. jerr

Dec 27th Monday

On our way out of north Dallas we went downtown for noon mass at The Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. We were early but I thought I would ask the two policemen who stood at the door to the Cathedral where we park; they motioned around the corner and underground.

We decided to look for Neiman Marcus’s original store within a mile or so of were we are. Found it and a parking spot across from it.

The outside is highly decorated and sparsely indoors.

We found out Neiman Marcus ornament, paid for it, they take cash, check or their own credit card. Still time to make mass – or people watch? There were three policeman directing traffic to the underground parking. I made friends with a guy who parked two stalls down and he lead us to mass. It is an old building with part of it built over with a new building but it retains the external façade of the building. As I had noted many years ago when I was in Dallas for a convention and went to mass, I believe at this same church. The people came in and out of mass at all times. It was richly decorated in the alter area. Behind the alter were two poinsettia trees about 12 feet high.

Well it was early afternoon and Shirleen had seen that there was a house decorated with 500 Santa's at the Dallas Arboretum.

We walked the grounds, as we did a couple years ago and found the house behind the ladies gardens, the old DeGolyer donators of the land and mansion.

Turns out it was once a cow barn and made into a house by the oil tycoon. He actually brought over an Italian concrete specialist who did the ceiling in the living room. They poured the relief cups outside and placed them into a steel frame, recently looked at by structural engineers for insurance purposes and found the sound after 80 years. The ceiling was poured to reduce the echo in the high ceiling room. There is no charge for the tour. The Santa’s were from modern to antique, I even appreciated them.

He was an avid reader and in his study were books from floor to ceiling on all four walls books. Turns out the books are actually donated for looks and the originals donated to Southern Methodist University, along with monies. The house is 5% funded by the city, the rest by private donations.

This was my favorite Santa!

We travelled down 35 toward Waco from Dallas and ran into a highway backup from around Millford TX all the way to just a couple miles north of Waco. Turned out to be 45 miles of stop and go traffic, up to 70, down to zero, then twenty, no fun. Some cars-Suv’s went through the ditch to the side highway, funny, I noticed that these vehicles come back on a block ahead of us a couple miles down the road. I suspect they didn’t have clue they made no real time.

Stayed at a Hampton Inn and ate down the street at Heitmiller’s Steakhouse and had some good home cooked restaurant food. I was warned that a full meal chicken fried steak was two saucer sized pieces and she thought I may just want one. Was she right, unlike many chicken fried steaks which bubble away from the meat, this one stuck to it and provided a easy to eat piece of meat.

Well this morning the road had cleared its backup but it was busy. We thought we would take a walk in Waco’s river park, like we did two years ago, but as we approached the park this morning we decided it was to cold. We did notice by the old suspension bridge in the park that it contained new sculptures. Five beautiful brass sculptured pieces of steers and a cowpoke.

The bridge was built in 1870 and was used to have cattle herds cross the river over the bridge. As we headed back to the highway I thought it would be nice to drive through Baylor University. Nice looking campus, green grass abounds.

The GPS brought us right to the hotel, Hilton Palacio del Rio. (Hilton Palace by the River).  We checked in and went for a quick bite. Right on the river walk beneath the hotel – chips with salsa and queso (cheese), coffee and hot chocolate. As we sat across from the barge load/unload area we saw all kinds of people dressed in their school colors. A lot of Oklahoma – orange, turns out they are playing Wednesday evening. We strolled down the walk, not a lot of Christmas decorations, a couple stands of lights hung over the trees. The temp was around 60 degrees, cool but for some cold.

Sitting in our room which looks down onto some of the river walk we could hear a band playing. I opened up the balcony door and here coming down the river walk on river barges was the Oklahoma University pep band playing OOOOOOklahoma.

The school is playing the Arizona at the Alamo dome. Not many of there jerseys were spotted, but I did see one lone Packer jersey, no Viking jersey.
Jerr

Dec 27th San Antonio - Hilton Palacio del Rio

We are in SA at the Hilton Palacio del Rio, 210 222 1400, leaving Friday morning. As we don't have room internet, only wifi in lobby, will do email once or twice a day. Blog sometime.
Jerry

Dec 26 eve - Waco TX Hampton Inn north

Dec 25/26 Gaylord Texan

Remember the cheaper gas I was going to get in Texas, well it ain’t so, same as Oklahoma. So, we turn into the Gaylord, cars, trucks, SUV’s everywhere you look. Traffic backed up getting to the front door, 1,500 guests and 15,000 people going through the exhibit, ICE!. Surprisingly it went smoothly for each 20 cars unloading and either valley or self drive to park. Check-in smooth, room nice – never know what you get when you get a free night. We spent time walking the four and a half acres of atrium to get the layout. Texas-sized leather chaired lobby, many relaxing chairs where we people watched for hours on end. Ponytail ferns, many other types of ferns also, dessert succulents, magnolia trees, long and short leave ficus, poinsettias of every color.

A great looking poinsettia tree, plants along all the pathways in the atrium. Beneath our window area is an old looking live oak, the name plate states it is a $250,000 replica of the Treaty Oak where land boundary’s were drawn under. The original is in a park in Austin and had been damaged by pesticide poisoning by a distraught lover jilted by his wife, he got ten years in jail for that. Ross Perot paid many dollars to remove dirt, shelter with trees and mist every 30 minutes. Hanging from the roof area in the main atrium are large ornaments ten foot across, in the other atrium sky blue lights hanging down with bulbs 2 foot long that give the impression of snowflakes falling,

in the other atrium spiral wrapping paper looking curls curling downwards. The trees are wringed with lights; the paths are lined with lights in the ground. Everywhere you see people, some look like 4 generations and on down. A lady sat on our bench and she had lost her husband 4 years ago and was here on tour from Albuquerque, appeared lonely but loved to talk with us. A couple sets of twin girls dressed in same type outfits; even a couple times we spotted girls dressed like her American doll she was carrying.

My favorite item was the toy solider, a young man on stilts; you should see the reaction of the kids. Some cry, some crunch back toward their parent and some with the big smile and a handshake. He stops for pictures and salutes for them. No hand out for money just a swish off to the next child. There is an elf who twists balloons for the kids, they walk away with smile.

We thought to take in the presentation of ICE! It was a Christmas setting by Charles Schulz’s Charlie Brown and Gang, The ticket included a blue parka. We opted for a leather coat and I a sport coat. 40 Chinese ice carvers came over and worked 30 days on the layout. They carved out many Peanuts gang ice sculptures. It is kept at 17 degrees with fans blowing throughout. Many arches and tunnels are used along the path, and at the end is a manger setting all in ice not colored like the rest of the display, therefore made it hard to photo.

The Christmas tree seemed like a good photo op for us.

Found that Christmas day there were no open tables at any restaurant in the facility. Decided to eat a buffet toward noon and not worry about evening meal. It was a shame, as the Italian restaurant had a veal chop on the menu. On our anniversary day, the 24^th, we met friends of ours. Here is the short story. Before we left home I thought about the boss I had at Hubbard, he spent 20 some years working in Ft. Worth. I sent and email and Julie answered, saying that they were going to be in Ft Worth and planned on bringing family to the Gaylord on the afternoon of the 24^th. Coincidence, well at least timely and great to have happen. We met the family, daughter and twin lovely 3 year old grandchildren. It is fun to watch the gleam in their eyes at the Christmas activities. Did I mention, Steve and Julie live in St Marys Georgia?  That evening we ate at the Old Hickory Steak House on the property. Having eaten a buffet for breakfast and lunch, we opted for just steak and a split of au gratin potatoes for our 44th wedding anniversary. Shirleen a fillet with a cabernet and I a malbec wine with a Sendero Chile rub (sweet spicy) on a New York strip, (simply delicious for me).

I looked up the chili and did not find it, not sure what they meant but that was how it was spelled on the menu with the. Well we could not pass up desert, a chocolate soufflé with a white crème sauce in the center.

We started with the buffet we considered when we heard about the closeout on restaurant seating. Here is a first, I tipped the waiter as usual, +15, got to the entry/exit and he comes running down after me. He waves the bill, I thought I forgot to sign, no I noticed I had. Then I thought I may have tipped to little and he was after me, no he said the tip was included. It so flustered me I crossed it out, I should have split the difference with him for being so honest. His English was not very good, his name tag said he was from Mexico City, just like being in New Ulm with their accent hard to understand once and a while. HaHa.

This is a wine bottle tree by the Old Hickory. 

 Nice wreath ice sculpture.