…more of Texas, what can I say, “It’s a big state!”
San Antonio
Tour of the Alamo
We made two visits to the Alamo, once to get a quick overview and then we returned a second time to take a slower approach including an audio tour and a tour of the museum which houses some amazing documents and relics.
Within the garden area there were historically clothed docents giving living history presentations. One of them recounted the battle between Mexico and the Texans.
River Walk
Located in the midst of Downtown the River Walk is a shopping and dining area along the river, surrounded by historic buildings which tower above the busy streets. Modern skyscrapers tower even higher, filling the sky above, so that every view is a mixture of the old and the new.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
On an afternoon drive spanning just a short distance along the banks of the San Antonio River we toured the four Spanish Missions encompassed by this National Park and World Heritage Site. There are many more than these four missions in Texas, because the Spanish government developed the Missions as a way to occupy new territory and convert the indigenous people to their way of life and religion. Many families in Texas can trace their family history to the missions built in the early 1700’s.
Mission Conception
We started our Mission exploration at Mission Conception, about six miles south of the Alamo. This was established in 1731, and is one of the oldest unrestored stone churches in the United States! It was in excellent shape even as an unrestored building.
Mission San Jose
Continuing our drive south we reached the restored Mission San Jose. Its large walled courtyard provides a glimpse into mission life. The walls had rooms for living, working and storing food.
Mission San Juan
Mission San Juan was a center of agriculture, with fields irrigated by canals called acequina, which are still active in some areas today!
Mission Espada
Mission Espada was once a remote mission but now lies in the midst of a modern neighborhood where water still flows though it’s acequina. The style of doorway seemed almost out of place, more of a Moorish influence than Spanish. Entering in the church itself is quite long and narrow.
Each of these Missions changed life in the region. They brought new technologies and religious ideas. As Christians we are each missionaries, bringing the light of Christ and the truth of the gospel to our communities and even to those we may meet on a bus, such as Joe, who helped us 
out with our first bus ride in San Antonio. During our 10 minute ride Steve was able to have a great conversation with Joe about how Jesus could change his life! We are still praying for Joe to find a church community where a dialogue started on a bus can become an ongoing conversation about God!
“If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7
San Antonio Botanical Garden
Although the temperatures continued to be over 100 degrees, we decided to check out the Botanical Gardens. I’m so glad we did as the gardens were quite spectacularly. Five glass atrium jut into the sky, each housing a different variety of plants, from tropical to desert species.
Pathways lead along spacious lawns, playful fountains under magnificent old trees. The gardens were quite peaceful and enchanting!
Currently there were displays throughout the gardens, called “Imaginary Worlds,” where very large sculptures have been created from living plants. It was like a treasure hunt to find the winged Pegasus, the sleeping Rip Van Winkle, a magical Dragon, a magnificent Peacock and a whimsical mermaid.
Pearl Shopping District and Hotel Emma
When you think of San Antonio, of course you
recognize it as home of the Alamo and the River Walk, but we discovered so much more to the City. San Antonio has some shopping areas built to repurpose sites with unique histories. One shopping district is built in a defunct cement quarry, the old smoke stacks becoming a beacon and landmark for the shops.
Another use of iconic buildings is the transformation 
of the Texas brand Pearl brewery into a hotel, shops, park and apartments at The Pearl.
From the outside the prominent Hotel Emma appears to be a grand historic Hotel, but stepping inside you are suddenly confronted with the true history of the building, not as a hotel, but as the Pearl brewery!
Today Hotel Emma proclaims that it is Texas’ only Five Star Hotel, a well deserved ranking. Every area of the ground floor that we visited has retained and elevated the historic building's past. I felt transported to a whole different era and world. The lobby invited us to relax and explore the building’s history, retained in the elegance designed around the old and rustic machinery. Plenty of seating around the room offered a cool respite from the hot and humid day!
As we travel along our 'planned' Adventures on the Road, we are always asking the Lord to direct our steps that we may be a light to those we meet! Thanks for your prayers for safety, health and opportunities to share Christ with the people we meet along the way!
“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
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