San Antonio TEXAS 2012

For the first time in our US travels we took a trip on an Amtrak train and left New Orleans, Louisiana for the 15 hr trip to San Antonio, Texas. The train was very modern, very roomy and had a nice dining car (see photo below). The seats laid back enough to be comfortable, and had a knee and a foot rest. The seats were two by two, and at each two seats there were 2 power outlets - so we could charge up our laptops and phones as we travelled along. We had our portable WIFI with us and there were only a few black spots where we had no internet. We are now on the AMTRAK train now taking us from San Antonio to Little Rock, Arkansas. We left at 7am and arrive in Little Rock at 11.30pm tonight. A long trip, but a lot cheaper than flying and a lot more enjoyable - being able to seen the countryside during all the daylight hours is a real bonus. 

Amtrak Dining Car

Re-visiting the Alamo in downtown San Antonio

 We couldn't make a visit to San Antonio without re-visiting The Alamo. The Alamo was pivotal in the defence of San Antonio during the Texas Revolution of 1836 and men such as Jim Bowie (who the Bowie knife is named after) and Davy Crockett were part of the Alamo's garrison. While Bev was at a work lunch, Ross, Murray & I parked the car then wandered to the Alamo (building started in 1724) and then strolled along the Riverwalk. All along the way you see trees with a big yellow ribbon (remember the song 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree') as so many locals have a loved one in a War Zone and the yellow ribbon signifies their loved one is waiting for their return. We had a delicious Mexican lunch waiting for Bev to join us, and then the 4 of us did a boat ride at the River Walk. A great way to hear about the history of San Antonio and learn about many of the magnificent buildings and structures that we passed. Did you know the 3 main businesses of San Antonio are Medical, Tourism and Military - in that order. I heard that when all medical courses are operating, the local Fort Sam Houston Army Base holds as many soldiers/officers as the whole Australia Army!

Note yellow bows on trees etc

Thought this Mallard Duck was showing its colours beautifully

Bev and  Ross on the River Walk boat trip

Check out this old place - we had a BBQ dinner here one night

Murray and  I picked up groceries at Walmart to make dinner and Bev accompanied Ross to try on a Texan hat

Try it if you dare....

Get 4 aussies together and it calls for a celebration: hence the Moet! Friend Dennis joined Bev, Ross  and Murray 

We planned to take some steak to a BBQ at Dennis's, so we called into Costco to buy it. I noticed how cheap the chicken breasts were - they work out at $6.60 kg. Cheapest we have bought it at home for a while is $9.99 on special.

Yesterday Bev and Ross drove us to our mutual friends' Wanda and Randy's ranch (in the Hill Country west of Austin, Texas) where you may recall we have dropped in several times on previous RV trips. Randy was a United States Air Force doctor who spent 3 years working with Bev and I in Canberra. Wanda's dad Ed is living with them at the moment, so he joined us for lunch as did their neighbour Janet who we met on our last visit (you may recall from a previous blog that she was the intrepid lady who shot the rattlesnake from her patio). After a delicious lunch on the patio we made our way back to San Antonio in time to meet up with Dennis and his family for a tasty BBQ dinner. After 6 days soaking up Bev and Ross's hospitality and enjoying the cuisine of local restaurants including Mexican and Argentinian, plus delicious home cooking, we are feeling the effect of carrying a few extra pounds! As if the cruise, Florida and Louisiana stops weren't enough....next stop - Fordyce, Arkansas.

Lunch on the ranch patio

L-R Ross, Wanda, Bev, Randy, Trish, Murray and Ed in front