San Antonio

We first visited San Antonio in 1984 on our honeymoon. We stayed on the San Antonio Riverwalk, which is a walkway along the San Antonio River, extending 15 miles and winds through downtown. This River Walk is lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels and other entertainment options. It is beautifully landscaped with stone bridges and picturesque river views. If you don’t want to walk it, you can take a boat tour where you will also learn about the culture and history of the area.

The Alamo was originally built by Spanish settlers as a Catholic mission. In the early 1800s Mexico gained independence from Spain and it became Mexican territory. In 1836 tensions were high between Mexico and the Texas settlers, and The Alamo was used by the settlers as a fortress against the Mexican army. The infamous battle took place over 13 days and included famous frontiersman like Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie. But severely outnumbered, the Mexican army led by Santa Anna defeated and killed all 200+ settlers. Settlers across Texas were enraged at this slaughtering and “Remember The Alamo” became a rallying mantra for other battles and Texas gained independence from Mexico later that year. When visiting The Alamo it is difficult not to feel the courage and sacrifice that settlers embodied in their quest for autonomy in their new lives.