Long Live San Antonio, the Riverwalk, and the Alamo

Now that I've gotten the farting horses of San Antonio story from yesterday's post out of my system, I'll move on to some more pleasant things about that fair city.

We stayed at a hotel I've grown to love more and more, the St. Anthony's. It is 102 years old and is beautifully renovated, although it still retains its yesteryear feel. It's been the place to stay for decades of Hollywood royalty, real life royalty, and military heroes.

The entryway

John Wayne was a frequent guest.

As were Princess Grace and Prince Ranier.

Audie Murphy had extended stays here.

Even the Governator and Maria were here, in happier times.

The interior is lush and elegant. I like to pretend I am one of those old time glamorous stars when I walk through these halls.

This is not me pretending to be glamorous, but it is a regal statue near the lobby.

 

Just across the street is a park with several cannons from the Civil War. I thought about firing one off, but didn't want to cause too big of a commotion. It was already HOTTTTTT at 9 AM.

Just a couple of blocks over is the Riverwalk, which used to be an ugly, muddy river through the center of San Antonio and has now been reborn into a lovely, romantic attraction, complete with gently floating riverboats, soft nighttime lighting, and mariachis.

You can rent a riverboat for your own private meal.

Or you can join a random group of other folks for a leisurely tour through the heart of downtown.

Many little ducks call the river their home and seem to be fine sharing it with the rest of us.

Sometimes Turkish men who play the Scottish bagpipes also call the Riverwalk home.

And then, just two blocks from the hotel, the piese de resistance of San Antonio, the cradle of Texas liberty, the Alamo. It's actual size seems tiny in comparison to its history and to the size of the buildings around it.

This is the Long Barraks of the Alamo, dwarfed by a nearby building.

This is a tranquil walkway inside the Alamo compound. It's present peacefulness belies the bloodshed and violence it was once home to.

It's been 175 years since that storied battle was fought.

And  military men and women still travel there to commemorate special occaisions, such as the change of command ceremony the Army hosted.

I like to think that hopefully, in that 175 years, we've learned a little something about peace in that place where most of the defenders died in battle or were executed. Bowie, Travis, Crockett and all the others who gave up their lives so many years ago would want nothing less, I think.