Where has time gone by? I can’t believe it has been a year since my last post. This past year has been quite frantic for the following reasons. I had to go back to school full time. As some of you may well know that going back to school, after many years of being away from the daily grind of the academic work, is not as easy as anyone may think. In some jobs, by five o'clock you're done! Not so when you are a student, because you have to burn that midnight candle for studying and doing home works, thesis and research. In addition to that being a stay at home mom occupies the rest of my time for taking care of the family and doing house chores. All is good though, not complaining! I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family with whom I share my time and love.
My family hasn’t been to any far away vacations since our last trip in 2010 to Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Somehow, we just could not get away with my hectic schedule. Of course I have down time, but going out of town for several days just wasn't an option. Also Alayna would have to miss school, which is unacceptable for her school. We almost went away for a Spring Break, however, I decided to work on two of my thesis that were due right after the week off. Regrettably, seven days is no way near the time I needed for wrapping up school works, study for exams and take off for a vacation. Priorities change.
Fortunately for us, Texas is a huge state rich in culture and with an abundance of history. We don’t have to go too far out to find anything of interest. A short drive from Austin, one of the many interesting places to visit is San Antonio, which is the seventh largest city in the United States. Famous for Spanish Missions, The Alamo, The Riverwalk, The Tower of Americas and the home to the four-time NBA Champion, the San Antonio Spurs. Of all the multitude of things to discover and enjoy, we particularly find the “Riverwalk” the most enjoyable. A labyrinth of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, just beneath Downtown San Antonio. Rows of restaurants and shops that interconnect to different varieties of attractions, hotels, museums and the famous landmark, the Alamo. As some of you may know was originally as Spanish mission that later known as the battle site between the Mexican Army and the Texians (present day Texans) and where the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, which was the key event in the Texas Revolution. The battle was overlooked due to the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. In present day Texas, The Alamo has become the most popular tourist attraction in all of Texas. The Alamo has been the subject of many television adaptations and movies (i.e. John Wayne’s 1960 film, The Alamo).
Our first visit to San Antonio!
It was wonderful. So much to see, we had to come back many times after that.
Alayna was entertained by the boats going by that she was caught by surprise with this picture.
Dinning by the Riverwalk
with my darlings
San Antonio is only about an hour drive from our house,
There are so many things to do, so many places to see.
The city was named for San Antonio de Padua, whose feast day is on June 13, when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. Famous for Spanish missions, the Alamo, the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo Bowl, Marriage Island and host to SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by approximately 26 million tourists per year according to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city is home to the four-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest in the country. (info: derived from Wikipedia)
We love walking around the labyrinth of walkways along the river banks.
Of course, while around the area we had to dine in one the many restaurants
along the river. What an ambiance!
So relaxing...
At the Hyatt, Riverwalk
During the week, Downtown San Antonio is so quite.
We love it! No crowd, traffic!
