Day Four of Our Nine Day Trip

After breakfast, we loaded up the bus, met our walk-on guide and we headed to San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio. I would call it the Golden Cathedral because of the gold-plated altar screen behind the altar. The Cathedral was founded in 1731 and is the oldest continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. (Brochure)  The remains of the Alamo dead are in a crypt at the entrance of the church.

The huge black Cristo is a replica of the crucifix of Nuestro Senor de Escuipulas, Guatemala.  A similar crucifix is found at Chimayo, New Mexico.

Every where I turned, there would be something of interest; statues, pictures, fonts, or side altars. The official center of San Antonio is marked by a circular stone marker in the church.

El Mercado in Historic Market Square

This is as close as you can get to Mexico without crossing the border! Blocks of with many Mexican items for sale.  Many went into Mi Tierra Café and Bakery for lunch and were astounded by the décor of color hanging from the ceiling, walls and everywhere one looked. 

After eating lunch and drinking Margaritas while listening to the Mariachi's stroll around taking $10 requests, we wandered up and down and checked out the shops. 

SAS

Visiting the SAS store we found out that the letters stand for San Antonio Shoes a fact that many of us did not know. It was a huge complex aside from the gargantuan shoe store there were areas with antique cars, five-cent coffee, popcorn and ice-cream plus many items like pillows, lotions, scarfs,

pictures, purses, and pretty much what ever your heart desired!

River Walk and Cruise

We enjoyed an Italian dinner at Michelino's on the River Walk after spending time checking out all the shops along the river. In the evening we boarded a boat for a cruise on the river.

 The evening was cold with a penetrating freezing feel because of the humidity, but even being cold we enjoyed seeing the sights from the boat. The boat guide was funny and interesting as he told us about the different buildings and trees along the river. We waved at people sitting along the sides of the river and there seemed to be lots of joviality and happiness! A wonderful way to end our fourth day!

Day Three of a Nine Day Journey

 On the road, seeing many humungous windmills, cattle ranches, goat farms, sheep and unplowed fields. We stayed busy on the bus by praying the rosary, playing Bingo, and eating snack after snack that I had purchased plus many other goodies brought by the generous travelers. We arrived in Irving, Texas and enjoyed free time until it was time to go eat a buffet dinner at the Golden Corral.

 

The dinner ended and as we loaded the bus, the sky was beautiful in red and orange.

Arriving at the motel, one of my travelers met her son and daughter-in-law who live in San Antonio so there was a happy reunion!

Tomorrow we begin our San Antonio tour to see the sights of the city!

Day Two of Our Nine Day Trip

Since I had never been to the Oklahoma City Memorial, and this was on our agenda to visit on our journey, I was looking forward to seeing the memorial. I recalled the shock and anger of the huge bombing that killed so many in 1995.

The April 19, 1995 bombing destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 persons with 19 being children. The Memorial is on over three acres and there is a sadness prevailing over the memorial. The Gates of Time are two large walls on opposite ends of the memorial separated by a deep-looking pool. The pool is only 3/4 inches deep, yet, gives the impression of being much deeper and it is called the Reflective Pool. On each wall there is a time stamped representing the minute before and the minute after the bomb exploded. I was told that when the sun hits the wall the time is reflected on the water. 

The Field of Empty Chairs has 168 chairs of glass, bronze and stone arranged in nine rows to represent the nine floors of the building. The Survivor Wall of granite salvaged from the building has 600 names of those injured,  yet survived. An Elm tree surrounded by a round wall is named the Survival Tree and seeds are collected each year to send to other states for planting. A section of the chain-link fence with articles people bring to place on it is near the entrance of the memorial.

More time is needed to cover the many things to see at the Memorial. I did not enter the museum but the few that did said it was interesting as they watched a movie about all that had happened.

I crossed the street to visit St. Joseph's church that had also been partially destroyed by the bombing.  It has been redone and is a beautiful church but it is no longer a cathedral. Behind the church there is a statue of Jesus, his back toward the memorial, his hand covering his face and titled, And Jesus Wept. Along the wall there are 168 gaps representing life's lost.

The memorial is a sad place, yet there is a feeling of peace throughout the whole memorial.

Nine Day Road Trip

Day One


Left Spirit of Christ Catholic Community at eight in the morning on a large, black bus with Lamoille Valley on its side in white letters. Our driver, Richard, loaded the suitcases and forty-four persons got on board. We stopped in Limon, CO and then continued to Kansas where we ate lunch at El Dos Mexican Restaurant. Small and cozy restaurant with brightly decorative chairs and good food.

We continued on our way and we were making such good time that we stopped at Sacred Heart Church in Salina, Kansas for mass. As we drove up to the church I made a comment that the church looked like a silo. Later, I was told that the back of the altar, in gold, was made to represent a silo.

Then, as we entered the church, one of the travelers said, "I was married in this church 59 years ago and it hasn't changed much!" Her traveling roommate said, "And I was the maid of honor!" That was the excitement for the day! Our group was announced from the altar and the wedding persons were also mentioned which was another big thrill!

A side altar was colorful in red, green and orange and depicted Our Lady of Guadalupe. As we left the church, the sun was setting in orange and pink. We were headed for Irving, Texas where we would spend the night.

The end of a perfect and exciting day!