San Antonio Surprises

San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the United States but it's so cozy and laid-back, you'll hardly notice it's size. It is a city that has a deep Hispanic heritage which it embraces with ease and is evident from the architecture, food and culture. So while it was the Alamo that drew me to San Antonio, there were other delights that threatened to keep me there.

Morning scenes along San Antonio's Riverwalk

The Riverwalk was San Antonio's biggest surprise for Julie and I. We stayed at the Drury Inn that's right on the river and we thoroughly enjoyed our morning stroll along San Antonio river. It is strangely reminiscent of Venice in the morning, and Vegas at night. With shops and restaurants lining both sides of Riverwalk, it's the perfect place to observe tourists in their natural habitat. We also enjoyed an evening boatride, sandwiched between a Halloween party boat and a mariachi band. I could hardly hear our boat captain so please don't ask me what he said! :-)

Julie & Joanna enjoying the outdoor and indoor exhibits at the McNay

Another gem that we enjoyed was the Mc Nay Art Museum. It was built by Marion Koogler Mc Nay, an heiress who bequeathed her entire art collection, Spanish villa and 23 acres to create Texas' first modern art museum. I was stunned by the elegance and quality of the collection - Chaggal, Pissaro, Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh, O' Keefe and Mondrian - amazing. And the outdoor patio and grounds were equally stunning. To top it all off, we visited it on a Family Day so entrance was free. Heaven, I'm in heaven...