San Anatonio

Remember the Alamo
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It's a long very very hot drive from New Mexico across the huge Texas plains to San Antonio, but the city when we arrive is worth it!  What a beautiful place. The place is nick namedthe Venice of the West and is set around some lovely river walkways. "Venice" is probably stretching it a bit because there are a load of bars or burger outlets but some of it is undeniably beautiful.  there's a wonderful Mexican market here, all vibrant colour and amazing music and margueritas.  In the stunning cathedral square which is full of superb fountains a jazz band is playing for folk who turn up to eat lunch under the shade of the trees.  A trul wonderful setting.

Some cats liked to be tickled
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We can tell we're in Texas, you know how at home, as a warning to potential burglars we have those little notices with a picture of a little doggy and "I live here" written on it? There's a subtle variant on that here, we have notices that say "Welcome to Texas, we don't dial 911" and a photo of the home-owner holding an assualt rifle.

San Antonio is a great walkable city, unlike most US places which seem to stretch for miles with total lack of sidewalks so you need a car even to pop ouyt to get the milk.  We wander all around it checking out the Buckhorn Saloon where millions of bucks horns have been left in payment for drinks on our way to the Alamo.

At the buckhorn
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My mum took me to see the film starring John Wayne and co years ago and I always wanted to come here.  It's a beautifully reverent monument to the sacrifice of the defenders of this little bit of Texas.  The script of Travis's last letter is amazingly stirring stuff.  There's the usual overblown U-S-A....U-S-A film show however which over and over rants about the brave Texan,  the great Americans etc,  hang about though......there's a role of honuor here detailing the killed...Texans 11 ............British 26!! Well! they don't mention that much!  I of course do, at every opportunity.

We find a great Bar/Restaurant Dicks Last resort.  The staff are deliberately "Irreverant"   We feel tat if they hand it out they should take it, they don't handle sarcasm too well but it's a load of fun.  The staff make large paper hats for Birthday parties etc and put "witticisms upon them, eg one chap has a hat with "When I've eaten this I'll be blowing chunks" written on it, his male neighbour...."Hi My name's chunks"

A balloon attached to a push chair "I don't know these people dial 911"

Later in the evening an unfeasably good blues band plays while we loaf at the bar.  This is a seriously cool town the mix of trad Tex-Mex architecture with cool modern buildings is really effective.  The walk through from the cathedral to the old Mexican market is just wonderful, full of atmosphere and interest at every intersection.