Looking forward to the distractions of a major metro area, we left Big Bend for the region formerly protected by the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. We skirted the Mexican border and spent a night in Del Rio, TX.
Unusual sounds emanated from the front end as we departed Del Rio and a few disturbing sounds caught our attention en route to San Antonio. It felt and sounded like a suspension issue. I inspected the front end upon our arrival at Traveler’s World RV Park and found nothing amiss. I booked a service appointment at Ironhorse RV to have a professional check things out. Of course, they found nothing obviously wrong and did not notice any weird sounds on their test drive. They felt it could be a shock going bad. We’ll see.
Our mechanical issue and some severe weather soured a chunk of our stay in San Antonio. Running errands and doing some much-needed clothes shopping took another chunk out of our stay. You know you have been gone a long time when clothes no longer fit. You can save the wisecracks about my expanding belly, I am fully aware of the advantages of elastic waistbands. But you can’t stretch the kids’ pant legs.
Amidst all the above fun, we did manage to hit some of the top attractions in town. We enjoyed the downtown River Walk, especially margaritas at Acenar.
Shopping and eating at Market Square – El Mercado
The former Mission San Antonio de Valero, the most visited place in Texas, stands just off the River Walk. Better known as the Alamo, I remember it like it was just a few days ago.
We watched the 2004 version of “The Alamo” before visiting to get some perspective on this historic event. What really happened at the Alamo will never be fully known. But there is no denying that hundreds willingly gave their lives in the name of an independent Texas. Surrounded by thousands of Mexican soldiers, these soldiers and frontiersman had no idea that their sacrifice would inspire others to victory just a short couple of months later. Nevertheless, they stood their ground against impossible odds. Sobering.
On our last day in the area, we traveled up to Fredericksburg, a neat town settled by Germans. Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the nation’s last Fleet Admiral (5 stars), grew up here. The hotel owned and operated by Nimitz’s grandfather serves as the centerpiece of the National Museum of the Pacific War.
While in an unlikely location, this is a world-class museum. We spent hours immersed in the history of the Pacific Theater of Operation in WWII, including the geopolitical events leading to war. Kicked out at closing, we would have enjoyed another day at the museum.
One can only hope that should we ever face a crisis the magnitude of WWII, that we will all have the courage to stand tall, work together, and persevere.
The reason why I’m so tall is depicted above.
Nuclear fallout?
I’d love to visit that museum. We lost one uncle in the pacific in WWII.