Right from the heart of Cajun Country we took off around noon for San Antonio, passing through Houston, like diarrhea through a pig. Jon made a slam shot with a single cell phone call to the Beckmann Inn and Carriage House. It is a B&B in the old Victorian District of San Antonio, about a one mile hike on the River Walk to the downtown River Walk area. Wow! But I meander!
Charles and Paula Stallcup, the owners, and Luci, the innkeeper, couldn't do enough to make us comfortable. The house is a restored Victorian with a small servant's house in which we stayed. Quiet, private, charming with one heck of a great breakfast each morning. They even attended to Jon's gluten-free diet and came up with tasty, inventive menus.
The Victorian section was originally developed by German immigrants, merchants who had put some bucks in the bank. The Beckmann family developed a large granary and flour mill along the river, and owned quite a bit of land in the new neighborhood. The restoration began in 1968 with the help of the big Exposition in San Antonio. Through our hosts, we found a brew pub just three blocks away and had a relaxing respite from our drive.
The next day we took the trolley bus downtown and, of course, toured the Alamo. It turned out to be quite a bit mor
e informative and interesting than we expected. An educational center, as well as an architectural and material museum, it informed and attracted us, holding our attention with little known or remembered facts, such as the Mexican government cutting off white/Anglo immigration into their Texas territory in 1830! They were afraid the US immigrants would threaten their way of life and their form of government. There's a twist for you!
Then we descended the central plaza and were amazed at the beautiful, massive water features leading us down to the river. We walked the Walk, and finally chose a beautiful restaurant right on the river bank. Table side guacamole, smoked pulled pork, fresh fish -- yum, it was good! Then we took a canal boat tour and caught the local landmarks along the way -- the old village, the lover's island, the riverside ampitheater, the big downtown structures including the space needle building, the massive downtown shopping mall. Ya' know what I mean.
After leaving the cruise, we walked some more, and came across a famous jazz cafe, from which Public Radio broadcasts live "Jazz From The Riverwalk"on Saturday nights, and, as you would expect there was jazz! Sunday afternoon, laid back, wine sipping classic jazz. An alto sax player and a guitarist took us through some classic jazz tunes with creative, wonderful embellishments and improvisations.
Then we walked back to our place along the River Walk.
Peaceful, full of birds and fish, great houses and architecture, a beautiful walk in a beautiful city. We took our time in the Victorian District, reading the informative signage in front of many of the restored homes. Then off to Whole Foods for a take home dinner, and back "home" for free use of the laundry facilities, courtesy of the Beckmann House folks. Dandy place!
Off to Big Springs in West Texas. Wahoo!
Charles and Paula Stallcup, the owners, and Luci, the innkeeper, couldn't do enough to make us comfortable. The house is a restored Victorian with a small servant's house in which we stayed. Quiet, private, charming with one heck of a great breakfast each morning. They even attended to Jon's gluten-free diet and came up with tasty, inventive menus.
The Victorian section was originally developed by German immigrants, merchants who had put some bucks in the bank. The Beckmann family developed a large granary and flour mill along the river, and owned quite a bit of land in the new neighborhood. The restoration began in 1968 with the help of the big Exposition in San Antonio. Through our hosts, we found a brew pub just three blocks away and had a relaxing respite from our drive.
The next day we took the trolley bus downtown and, of course, toured the Alamo. It turned out to be quite a bit mor
e informative and interesting than we expected. An educational center, as well as an architectural and material museum, it informed and attracted us, holding our attention with little known or remembered facts, such as the Mexican government cutting off white/Anglo immigration into their Texas territory in 1830! They were afraid the US immigrants would threaten their way of life and their form of government. There's a twist for you!Then we descended the central plaza and were amazed at the beautiful, massive water features leading us down to the river. We walked the Walk, and finally chose a beautiful restaurant right on the river bank. Table side guacamole, smoked pulled pork, fresh fish -- yum, it was good! Then we took a canal boat tour and caught the local landmarks along the way -- the old village, the lover's island, the riverside ampitheater, the big downtown structures including the space needle building, the massive downtown shopping mall. Ya' know what I mean.
After leaving the cruise, we walked some more, and came across a famous jazz cafe, from which Public Radio broadcasts live "Jazz From The Riverwalk"on Saturday nights, and, as you would expect there was jazz! Sunday afternoon, laid back, wine sipping classic jazz. An alto sax player and a guitarist took us through some classic jazz tunes with creative, wonderful embellishments and improvisations.
Then we walked back to our place along the River Walk.
Peaceful, full of birds and fish, great houses and architecture, a beautiful walk in a beautiful city. We took our time in the Victorian District, reading the informative signage in front of many of the restored homes. Then off to Whole Foods for a take home dinner, and back "home" for free use of the laundry facilities, courtesy of the Beckmann House folks. Dandy place!Off to Big Springs in West Texas. Wahoo!
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