On to San Antonio. Kathleen met me and drove me to our exquisite hotel the La Cantera -( I think.) Kathleen works for the Sheraton Hotel corporation and she made all our reservations plus she and Joyce paid for all the accommodations which was way above and beyond the call of duty!!! Peg, Peggy and Joyce were already in the cocktail lounge and already way ahead of me in the drinks department. I quickly consumed two gin martinis and Kathleen and I caught right up! We went into the main dining room where every thing was deluxe - white linen cloths and napkins, candlelight, flowers, beautiful chargers at each place, a view overlooking the formal gardens, three tuxedo clad waiters to attend to our slightest wish, does that let you know how special we felt? The entree's all started at $38 and went up from there. They specialized in wild game so I ordered antelope, which was delicious. When it was Joyce's turn - she only ordered French fries. The waiter didn't bat an eye even though they were not on the menu - I thought that was hysterical! I have a lot of guts but no where near enough to order French fries in that setting. Right away you knew for sure that here was a lady that is completely comfortable in her skin. You go, Joyce! Did I mention that she is the cutest thing I have ever seen? She and I share February birthdays - hers was the 11th and she was 76 - mine was the 7th and I was 75. I have noticed through the years that most note worthy and beautiful people were born in February:)
The next day Joyce drove us all around San Antonio and showed us how lovely that city is. Went went to the River Walk and had lunch and then went shopping around.
Back to the hotel to repack our suitcases to take small bags for the three day trip to Austin. While driving around we came to a Krispy Cream Donut Shop where I insisted we stop so I could buy 2 dozen donuts - enough to last for the week. They teased me a lot but I knew what was important! I am starting a special diet when I get home and I really needed my Krispy Cream fix. Son Mike couldn't believe it when I made him stop at a Dunkin Donut Shop in Chicago when we were traveling together. Honestly - can you believe it? Donuts are right at the top of essential food groups.
The weather was perfect - mid 70's and the drive to Austin was full of things to see. We stopped for lunch at a Country inn that I can't remember the name of. They had great food a wonderful gift shop and a wide veranda with rocking chairs to enjoy. We stayed at the Comfort Inn Suites about 5 miles out of Austin as Austin was packed. When we went to tour Texas University and see the LBJ Library we found out why - there were 3000 school buses full of 6 - 7 and 8th grade kids doing the same tour. In addition it was the State Girls Basketball Tournament and you can just imagine how many kids and parents that brought to town. We could not find a parking space to save our lives so we parked in a lot that announced unauthorized cars would be towed. We didn't let that scare us! We then toured the LBJ Library. It is a wonderful facility - full of history and the stories of his presidency and his life up to that time. There was a hysterical display on the Kennedy's that you must remind me to tell you about sometime. We were back in the car and just leaving the lot when the tow truck arrived - God is good!
The next day we drove to Lake Travis which is about 30 miles from Austin. It is a beautiful area - a huge lake surrounded with very expensive subdivisions full of very expensive homes! We toured some of them and if you have some extra money to spend for a vacation home - look them up, actually you get a lot for your money. We ate at the world famous Oasis - a huge complex with restaurants, gift shops and accommodations for visitors. We sat on the patio and could look over the lake and the surrounding hillsides, the butt on the cute waiter definitely added to the enjoyment!
When we returned to Austin we had directions to a real western Honky Tonk! Great barbecue a western band and shit kicken music. It was just like 60 years ago in Palisade where the floor was wooden - the walls were made of various hard to identify materials. Boards were tacked up to take care of the sagging ceiling and the place was packed! There was a $12 cover charge and cheap pitchers of beer. Three different cowboys asked me to dance and I hopped right up and did the Texas Two Step. Thank heaven a 4th didn't ask as three did me in:)
From there we fell into our beds and slept like babies.
Day three of the Austin trip and we all took advantage of the lovely breakfast and special coffee provided by the hotel. Joyce then drove us back to San Antonio. We were treated to a wonderful old hotel right down town, the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, it is one of San Antonio's finest. Since it was early spring and warm the flowers and trees were just beginning to bud and turn green. We walked over the the St. Anthony Hotel which is a national historic landmark. It was amazing but Kathleen told us that through the years different owners have taken some of the exquisite antiques for their own use. Joyce knew of another great honky tonk and we drove 15 miles out into the country side to visit it. Once again - great barbecue - no cover charge and entire families were there. At the two tables next to us was a boy with a dozen friends were celebrating his 16th birthday. There was a darling little girl about 6 years old dressed in designer jeans with a black leather belt studded with rhinestones, a red western shirt and red cowboy boots that danced her legs off hanging onto the back pocket of her dad's jeans. Everyone was there for fun and it was had by all.
The second day back we had breakfast at the hotel they have one of the best breakfast buffets I have ever seen. Since we were right down town, we walked to the Alamo, wow what an experience. I adore visiting monuments and the Alamo is one of our best. You could enter from several different places and there was no admission charge, you could wander at your own pace and see everything. Here we can't even go to Corn Lake without paying. What's wrong with this picture? Having read about the Alamo and seeing countless movies of the heroism preformed by that special band of patriots, it nearly moved me to tears. I bought a refrigerator magnet of Davy Crockett's famous saying " You all can go to hell - I'm going to Texas"!
Next we walked to the famous River Walk, shopped and then took a barge that meanders through downtown San Antonio, beneath ancient cypress trees and beautifully landscaped banks taking us by spectacular old hotels and restaurants. It was easy to see why everyone who knew I was going to San Antonio made sure I was going to take the river walk. Kathleen joined us for supper at one of the oldest Tex-Mex cafes that line the walk. The darling girl brought her car around to a place we could be picked up with all our packages. Thank heaven as I could not have walked another step!
Back to the hotel and our exquisite feather beds for our last night on this truly memorable trip. Up the next morning to shower and have one more trip to the breakfast buffet and repack our suitcases to shove in 10 lbs of new purchases in our 5 lbs of suitcase space. My flight left a couple of hours before Peg and Peggy's so adorable Kathleen took her lunch hour to drive me to the airport. The 4 hour layover in Phoenix was a drag going home as I was tired and ready to be home. My friend Darlene from Nellie's was at the GJ airport to meet me at 10:30 PM - what a service!
How incredibly blessed I am to have wonderful friends to travel with and visit. I shall not let up until Kathleen and Joyce plan a trip to Western Colorado to have me show off all our amazing sights.
