Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Adventure Continues

I told my kids that San Antonio is the perfect place for them. They are of a distinct Spanish/Mexican/German heritage which is exactly what San Antonio is comprised of. They even have a part of the Riverwalk called "Sauerkraut Bend" due to the large number of German immigrants who settled there in the 1800's. It's funny to walk from one street to the next and see signs pointing out "Dolores Avenue", and "Mercado Street", then the next ones over feature "Fredericksburg Road", and "Guenther Place."

We failed Pee Wee Herman in so many ways. Alas, his bicycle was nowhere to be found, but in all honesty, we never even set foot inside The Alamo on this trip. I scheduled to visit on the day we were leaving, but then I saw how much they charge to park on the weekends. EIGHT FREAKIN DOLLARS! We did tour it two years ago, and so I told the kids that we would have to adhere to the old battle cry of, "Remember The Alamo!", because eight dollars and my grubby hands would not soon be parted. I do indeed remember the Alamo. They had sparkling clean bathrooms, a smoking hot tour guide, and buy one get one free Davy Crockett coon skin caps. I stocked up, because you can never really have too many coon skin caps lying around.

Another Enchanted Springs Ranch memento. I am directly related to the notorious outlaw, Billy The Kid. No, I'm not (bad pun alert!)KIDding. Much thanks to Papi's outstanding genealogy efforts for uncovering lots of previously unknown family crap to add to the plethora of known family crap. My kinfolk and I spied the stagecoach with great interest, but as soon as we assembled a proper posse for an old-fashioned stagecoach robbery, the driver declared that strict Union rules stipulates that the horses had to retire for the day. The bandit life ain't so easy in these here modern times.

A photo from our hotel room at San Antonio's Embassy Suites where we ate like pigs every morning at their free breakfast. Yes, the Buffet Gods were smiling down upon us, and we paid tribute to him at the altar of the made-to-order omelet bar. A tip for the frugally minded: Wait until the latest time possible to feed your crew, that way it takes care of both breakfast and lunch at once, and saves you a buttload of money.

The Fountain Of Youth! This gorgeous font fit in very well with the Spanish theme and the shiny saltillo tiled floors. The added bonus stemmed from being able to buy lots of vending machine goodies, and play the nickel slot machines all day long. Cha-Ching! A duffel bag full of pennies for your thoughts......

12 comments:

Elizabeth-W said...

Did ya stop in New Braunfels for some kolaches?! No true tourist trip misses that important stop.
Our houses in NM had saltillo tile. Very pretty, but very cold on bare feet in winter. And very hard to land on with your head (as in when my niece who was about 6 months at the time rolled off the bed and onto said tile-left a nice bruise, but no permanent damage). They're thinking of moving down to San Antonio. Could you give me a brief rating of the town overall?

SalGal said...

I had never wanted to go to San Antonion until all my cool blogging friends started to go. I guess I'll add it to my list of places to hit when I get my big silver twinkie!

p.s. If you do not know what a silver twinkie is, I question the validity of your coolness...

Becky said...

elizabeth - as a former resident of SA whose family lives there, i can tell you that san antonio is really nice. it's pretty, therer are trees and hills EVERYWHERE, and the traffic is actually manageable due to the miracle of two (2!) loops around town. it is the only big city i've ever been in that feels like a small town.

personally, i prefer austin, but san antonio is still really nice.

jams o donnell said...

It certainly does look loke a place I would like to visit.. Much of what I want to see of the USA revolves around scenery plus a places like Caholia and Anasazi sites

omar said...

I've never been to Texas, myself. My understanding of Texas is that there are no paved roads, and that people ride on horseback to the saloons for drinks, music, and fights. Oh, and they occasionally yell out "YEEE-HAW," at unpredictable times.

Super Happy Girl said...

I always wanted to go to San Antonio. I still want to go to The Alamo, even if it costs me $8 (tax included?), I must have one of the coon skin caps, and get to say "Remember The Alamo".

I love all your "Traveling with Children: The Cheap Way". Whenever I take my kids somewhere I do it the Super-Frugal-Mom way (as in “I’m not buying anything”). For some odd reason the kids hate it, they'll rather go with dad, because he’ll buy everything, he's nice like that.
And that’s why the call me the “Fun-Squishier”, too bad, so sad.

Melody said...

Elastic - I've been away too long...do you have six kids?! Did I know that? How the h*%#@! do you do it? (I'm sure Melody is the most clever and most beautiful of the lot.)

Anyway, once again you've impressed me, cracked me up, made me wet my pants (almost) ...Butt Camp, George Michael.

And you know how to spell impugn! I'm not worthy to stand in the light of your blogness.. 36 comments?! I'm a loser, I'm a loser, I'm a loser. Just kidding, we're all winners in God's eyes - or so the Texans will tell you, but only if you are a Texan.

Be safe, have fun and read my latest blog. I thought of you when I wrote it. Not quite sure why.

scraphappymama said...

Looks like you all had a great time at Butt camp. I am sure I will hear about it tomorrow at church.

Also, love your new makeover. My blog needs a lift too, but alas, I have no computer skills. So, boring dots it is . . . at least for now!!

Chris said...

When I do come to the US of A I'll be sure to let you know. I may get lost trying to find out where the best tacos are. I don't want an Amazing Race moment.

elasticwaistbandlady said...

This weekend has been CRAZY! Work, Primary Programs, fighting kids, accidentally eating the rest of my daughter's chocolate Napoleon. (Sorry Stef)

San Antonio is very pretty, and easy to navigate. I drive a stick shift though, and Houston is flat as a pancake which is conducive for such driving. I don't know how well I'd do balancing on the hilly streets of San Antonio.

MELODY!!!! I need to make it over to your place and check out what I inspired. I'm hoping against hope that it's not something unseemly. :)

christo- Fish tacos for everyone! I'm buying.

elizabeth- Schulenberg is our kolache stop. I like the cream cheese the best.

lianne- We'll put together an act and hustle up some money from sucker tourists down on the Riverwalk. Do you own a crystal ball?

salgal- Silver Twinkies is what I have mounted on a trophy stand in my glass collectibles case at home. I won it for taking second in the Hostess Fifth Annual International Cream Filled Cakes Eating Competition. First place got the coveted Golden Twinkie. One day, it will be MINE! I need to get over to visit you too, salgal. So many blogs I've been neglecting.

becky- Plus Pace Picante Sauce is made there by the good people of San Antone, while the competition is made in *gasp* NEW YORK CITY! (get a rope)

jams- Come down to Texas for a visit. We'll swap accents for the day, and stuff ourselves full of tamales. It'll be fun.

Yee Haaaaw Omar! You forgot the tumbleweeds that blow down the street, Texas Cadillacs with longhorn steer horns mounted on the front, and that every man, woman, child, and beast owns a cowboy hat. All the stereotypes are true. ALL OF THEM!

I desperately try to maintain the family budget round here, NCS. That puts me in the "anal retentive, don't even think about asking for a supersize upgrade, no you may NOT have that toy" category. Papi's much looser with the purse strings. Not implying that he carries a purse, mind you. Neither a fanny pack. He's a manly man who carries his money in random pockets of his cargo pants, and then can never find it when he needs it.

scraphappymama!!!! I did good Friday night, 3 or 4 hours, and not one camel toe joke. Omar's the man! I really do love what he did with the blog template.

Anonymous said...

Texan: What's your name?
Pee-wee: I don't remember.
Texan: Where are you from?
Pee-wee: I don't remember.
Texan: Do you remember anything?
Pee-wee: I remember... the Alamo

There's no basement in the Alamo!

Elizabeth-W said...

Elastic, when are you going to trot out some yankee stereotypes for Omar? It seems unfair that the teasing only goes one way. ;)