Remember the Alamo

SanAntonio8We arrived at the RV Park at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio late in the afternoon.  We decided to take it easy for the rest of the day and see the City the next day.  After traveling for so long it is good to take some time off from the road and just sit back and relax.  Of course to Cecil that means either working on the travel blog or playing NeverWinter with family.   I just need to relax watching television…as limited as it may be…with my feet up.  The dogs are always ready for a walk and occasionally the RV park will have a fenced dog run where they can get a little free time without my following behind on a leash.  Of course, they are walking me when we go out!

SanAntonio4Next day in San Antonio, we headed to the Alamo, which neither one of us had seen before.  We walked the grounds and buildings reading history of the area.  Several rangers were present giving talks on the battle between Mexico and the United States which only lasted 13 days. The final assault on the Alamo came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo’s walls – 3,000 of them.  Cannon and small arms fire from the 149 volunteers inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound.  Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed – taking about 90 minutes.  By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo to survey the scene of his victory.

SanAntonio3As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna.  Among the Alamo’s garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.  Only women, children and a slave were allowed to leave unharmed.  Everyone else able to care a gun was killed in the battle or in defense of the Alamo.  It is difficult to say exactly what we were feeling as we walked the Alamo plaza but someone else said it best  “Remember the Alamo”.  As an aside: None of the narrators seemed interested in the fact that we had taken the lands away from the Mexicans in the first place.

SanAntonio2It was time for us  to see the City of San Antonio, which now surrounds the ruins of the Alamo.  (We  both enjoyed the lady who asked the Ranger, referring to the Alamo which was build in the early 1800’s,  “Why did they build this in the middle of the City?”)  LOL!  We hopped  on a double-decker tour bus to get a first look at San Antonia.  The bus took us around all the major points of interest and shared a little history of the area. Lots of things to see and do:  Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, Starbucks, Old Mexican Market, the Tower of the Americas (background in photo above left) and the River Walk.  After the tour we headed out on foot to visit the town up close and personal.  SanAntonio1Although we visited many places our personal favorite was the river walk.  It has a “must take” boat ride down the Rio San Antonio.  The City of San Antonio has channeled the river as it runs through the downtown area and created a series of canals that provide sightseeing opportunities as well as taxi services.  There are a myriad of restaurants, hotels, stores and gift shops lining the walk ways along the water.  When the weather is nice…which the Chamber of Commerce claims is all year long…you can walk or dine outdoors.  The end of the loop is a stop for the  Convention Center which makes it convenient for visitors.  Many foot bridges (see photo above right) give walkers a chance to explore the canal stores, with more stores at street level a few steps above.  Watch out though if you partake of alcoholic beverages as there are no rails to keep you from taking a dip in the river!

As a general impression, I would have to give huge kudos to the planning and redevelopment folks in the city of San Antonia.  They have developed a clean and inviting downtown area for visitors so the area has a lot more to be proud of then the Alamo.

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