After a wonderful breakfast, our friends took us to San Antonio, TX. It’s about a 2 hour drive via back roads (to avoid I 35), so we didn’t arrive until about 2 PM. As it closes at 5 PM, our first stop was the Alamo. Since it was spring break, the line was really long and we waited nearly an hour to get in. The chapel and surrounding grounds are very interesting and beautifully kept. It was interesting to learn that from about 1821 to 1830, the Mexican government encouraged immigration from the U.S. to settle in Texas (which was then a state in Mexico) in order to increase their hold on the land which had previously been settled by native American Indian tribes, and due to the oppressive government of Santa Anna’s the American settlers revolted in 1835.
After our visit to the Alamo, we went for a stroll along the River Walk downtown which is very interesting and picturesque. (And the food smells out of this world.) Then we had dinner at Dick’s Last Resort, a very noisy, raucus place that has wonderful barbequed ribs. We then went for a short river cruise and another short stroll along the river. On the drive home, we opted to take I 35 as it would be shorter — that is, it would be if it weren’t for construction. As it was we arrived home about 3 hours later. Overall, it was a very long, but very fun day.