Friday, May 25, 2007

The Alamo

Friday morning Ginger picked up breakfast burritos for us for breakfast. I still maintain that they're not my favourite but it was good to try "authentic" ones. Joanie and Diane met us at the house and we all piled into Joanie's van. We dropped Avery off at Ginger's mom's and then headed into downtown San Antonio.

Again, some background. When my parents visited Texas in 1990 I was just shy of ten years old. I was already a big fan of Disney's Davy Crockett and when they brought back "coon skin caps" for my brothers and I, we wore them proudly. In fact I think I still have mine...it might be tail-less though. My San Antonio friends made a point of preparing me for what to expect at the Alamo. 1. It's in downtown SA and surrounded by large buildings 2. The only part that's really still standing is the chapel 3. It is *very* touristy. Knowing that, I, unlike others, wasn't at all disappointed. I've heard that people who aren't so well prepared arrive thinking that it's out in the middle of no where like in the movies and are very disappointed when they realize it's not.

With that in mind, I really enjoyed it. I only got a few photos out front and you aren't allowed to take pictures inside but these are of the outside. The small plaque on the right says "Legend states that in 1836 Lt. Col. William Barret Travis unsheathed his sword and drew a line on this ground before his battle-weary men saying: "Those prepared to give their lives in freedom's cause, come over to me!"

This tree is a "live oak". They are very common in the San Antonio area.



One of the more interesting things I learned was where the "Six flags over Texas" theme comes from. In Texas' history there have been six different flags flying over it. Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, the flag of the Confederacy and the current United States of America flag.
There were beautiful flowers in the gardens at the back of the Alamo.

Gotta love the "Crocket Hotel" too.

Ginger and I in front of a fountain at the corner of Bonham and East Crockett.

2 comments:

Sherilyn said...

Holy crap, you were 10 in 1990?

Pardon me while I feel old...

It is great to see Diane, Joanie, and Ginger again. :D

Should have taken you to Six Flags here in Dallas...they have the park sectioned out by flag (or at least, they used to...I haven't been in ages)...Spanish, French, old indepnedent Texas, etc.

Veronica said...

Loved the Alamo. I've got pictures of the same tree ;) The flowers were different when I was there though :)