Everything's Bigger in Texas! Part 2

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Do you need to catch up?  Here's Part 1

When last I blogged, I'd had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with folks on my Dad's side of the family as we gathered in San Antonio, Texas to celebrate Nancy and Ron's 50th wedding anniversary!


On the Riverwalk!

When we received the invitation for the celebration, and I realized I'd be halfway to Florida, I asked Mom if she might like to fly to San Antonio as well, so the two of us could spend some mother-daughter time exploring the city after the anniversary festivities.  She thought it was a great idea - it had been almost four years since our last "walkabout" to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles - and she booked her flights without delay!  While I was visiting with the Ashley side of the family on Sunday afternoon, Mom landed in San Antonio and made it to the second Airbnb of the trip, very conveniently located just a few blocks from Courthouse Square and the Cathedral, and just under a mile from the most central part of the Riverwalk (seriously, the location on this place was outstanding).  


Our Airbnb was in this building,
the Encore So/Flo.
It had a pool, gym, dog run, everything,
and was .1 miles away from the nearest HEB.

On Monday morning, Aunt Denise graciously gave me a ride to our new digs and visited with Mom and I for a bit before she headed off to hang out for a few more days with Dad and Risa (they were also staying downtown, albeit in a different location).  Since we knew the day was going to get steamy, Mom and I wasted no time strolling to the Riverwalk to start our adventuring.


Selfie time!


A river cruise pilot takes his vessel
under a bridge
(that red domed structure
is the county Courthouse)


We're here!


It was duckling season, for sure!


Pigeons trying to keep cool
(good luck, my dudes).

We wandered through La Villita, a small shopping/dining area also boasting a performance venue.




No performances today -
just tourists taking shots for the 'gram


Neat columns!


One of the hotels along the river

I'd confiscated several containers of leftovers from our Saturday night dinner at Pompeii for Mom and I to eat for lunch, but since we needed a rest anyway, we decided to stop at Boudro's for some light refreshments and adult beverages.



I'm having a French 75,
and Mom enjoyed a prickly pear margarita.


Noms - the tableside guacamole


This sweet buddy was greeting everyone
who passed by.

After snacktime ended, we strolled the Riverwalk a bit more, but both the increasing heat and the number of tourists drove us inside again, this time to the bar at Domingo, inside the Canopy Hotel.


Mom with her sipping tequila


My Jalisco mule - delicious!

Refreshed in more ways than one, it was time to meander back to our Airbnb to relax in the AC for the remainder of the afternoon.  Along the way, we found this little oasis on the Riverwalk, and while we were sitting there, we saw some familiar faces float by on a river cruise:



That's Dad, Risa, and Aunt Denise
waving back at us!


Mom also grabbed a shot of this little dude -
apparently, he's a baby endangered something or other
(another river cruise pilot floated by
and told his group about the bird,
and we overheard).
Right after she took this,
Mom got chased away by a very protective duck.

Back at the Airbnb, we ate leftovers, took naps, and most importantly, returned our internal temps to an acceptable level.  After a bit, we got gussied up and headed out again, this time to the Southtown/King William part of the city, less than a mile away from our lodging (see?  It was so close to everything!), walking past HEB corporate HQ on the way.  Before dinner, we decided to stop for libations at the Filling Station, an old gas station turned taphouse.


This place is tiny (this is the ONE inside table),
but they have a solid beer selection -
most is canned/bottled, but there are about 10 taps.


Dinner turned out to be literally across the street, at Maverick Texas Brasserie.  It was outstanding!  We split the beef tartare to start, and we each had fish for our mains (salmon for Mom and the seasonal fish for me); everything was delicious, including the drink selections.  I didn't grab any shots myself, but here's a few from the web:



Post dinner, we walked the short distance back to the Airbnb and tucked in for the night, ready to rest up before another full day!


Posing above the Riverwalk on the way home

Up next, another day in San Antonio!

Later!

Amy

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