March 18, 2022
Map and road video of today’s driving
I do not like to book hotels any further ahead than I have to so that I can remain flexible and, usually, get the best price. When I am spending the night in a place that I know has plenty of hotels I often check Priceline.com the morning of my stay as they have Express Deals where hotels often offer unsold rooms, last minute, at a huge discount.
Sometimes this does not work to my advantage as I found out this morning when I checked for tonight’s hotel in San Antonio. I did not think of San Antonio as a big Spring Break destination but I was wrong and there were no rooms to be had for less than $250 plus tax and parking (i.e. about $300). That is not a price I am prepared to pay unless it’s in a very special place so I decided to make my San Antonio experience a drive-through and stay about 100 miles west in Junction, TX. I was glad I did because San Antonio was overflowing. Traffic was not moving, the tourist areas were full and bars and cafes had long lines to get in. I walked around for a bit, took a few photos and was glad to leave the mayhem behind.
The San Antonio Riverwalk is the tourist magnet of the city. It is a cleverly designed system of riverside footpaths, below street level, lined with shops, cafes and bars. Normally it is a pleasant place to stroll without worrying about traffic and businesses usually have an entrance on both the street and Riverwalk levels.
It is a wonderful environment to relax and enjoy a drink or meal.
And, of course, I remembered to visit The Alamo. This was the location of a bloody battle in the Texas Revolution against Mexico that the Texians (as they were called at the time) lost. However, the cruelty of the Mexicans, who massacred almost all the garrison at The Alamo, was said to have galvanized more Texians, as well as US citizens and other fighters, to join the revolution. The phrase “Remember The Alamo” was shouted by the Texians at the Mexicans when they finally defeated them at the Battle of San Jacinto, near present-day Houston, to form the independent Republic of Texas.
I noticed that my photos do not show the hordes that annoyed me today. I guess waiting for a clear view will do that.
I am learning so much from your travels, dear Steve.
Love,
Kusum
Hi Steve. good job you change your hotel!!The river walk looks very attractive with plenty of bars and places to eat you found.
Take driving easy if you are getting tired ok.
Andy
Thanks for commenting. The River walk is good when it’s not too crowded. I always try to be careful when driving – it’s the others on the road you have to look out for.
Texians? Really? Makes sense, I guess.
Glad you avoided the exorbitant prices; you would have been grumping for days if you’d paid that much.
May you find fewer tourists and quieter streets.
I guess the hotel industry has a lot of losses to make up for over the past two years but they seem to be doing well now; my hotel in El Paso is full. I’m sure that things will be a lot quieter in New Mexico and Arizona. California – maybe not. Thanks for posting, I look forward to your observations.