We gobbled breakfast in our haste to "Rediscover America" at that watershed moment in time - "Remember the Alamo!" Norm was going to wear his new 150th anniversary Vicksburg T-shirt (40 % off because the anniversary was in 2013) walking around San Antonio today. Pam asked, "Was it really wise to wear a T-shirt celebrating a great Confederate defeat while walking about in one of the original Confederate states? Where every other Texan is packing heat and has a chip on their shoulder?" So Norm instead wore a T-shirt with an eagle and American flag on the back as a dubious compromise.
In the Natchez visitor center we saw a mini-diorama of a plaster statue of Jim Bowie fighting another man, a fight which actually occurred. In that fight, Bowie was shot and stabbed multiple times and bashed over the head. But he killed the other man and survived until several years later, when he had his personal "appointment in Samarra" here at the Alamo. Kit Carson, who'd survived multiple bear attacks, and Indian arrows, joined him.
Brushing up on history. The Alamo never looked so good.
On the Alamo grounds. At this time there was a very light sprinkle for about two minutes. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, but rain free and muggy.
Umbrellas were an over reaction - those with 'em open must have been tourist wimps...the people not packin' heat.
Right across from the Alamo, one of the entrances to our destination for the day, the famous San Antonio River Walk. Also known as "something that Sacramento will never have". But Go Kings!"
This area feels like something out of Disneyland.
Cricket is never going to mistaken for a "mad dog".
Dick's has lots of quirky T-shirts.
The bartender made us hats to wear - even Cricket - something that is famous at Dick's.
This may have to be our Christmas card!
This is the sign on the door as we were leaving.
Just one of the colorful bars along the River Walk.
Maybe Cricket is a mad dog...on the dance floor!
We always look for Harley stores when we're traveling. Surprise...we found one! But really, like this store had, that single Harley tucked away in a corner doesn't change the fact that stores such as this are simply boutiques to hawk Harley branded merchandise.
This is the San Antonio Harley logo on their T-shirt.
Interesting sculpture in the middle of the city.
Another colorful bar logo along the River Walk.
Pam is cozying up to one of the locals.
Look what Norm bought Pam? It's a guitar made of a metal drum. We bought a cat a couple of years ago made out of a similar metal drum.
Pam is hoping to make some pin money with her new guitar. 🎶🎶
We didn't visit the gift shop.
No one else inside - very serene and silent. A world away from Dick's rowdy "dick" T-shirts. Yet, truth be told, Norm bought one of Dick's less double entrende-ey shirts to replace one that wore out years ago. Render unto Caesar.....
We next visited the nearby San Jose Mission. There is a string of five missions within about five miles of each other in San Antonio with the Alamo one of them. Built in 1720 and known as the "Queen of the Missions", this best known of the Texas missions is also the headquarters of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, part of the National Park System.
This Mission was much larger than we expected.
The chapel in the Mission was full of gilding. It's certainly homespun when compared to many of those we have seen, much grander and awe inspiring in their hope for the great beyond.
Arrived back at our hotel at 5:45pm in humid 76 degree weather.
Tomorrow we head to Oklahoma City as Election Day brings the nation to the end of its own journey to Rediscover America - ours still has a few miles to go.
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