The Trip: Day 5 OR Remember The Alamo, But Please Don't Pee On It!
Day 5
San Antonio
The first half of the day was spent running around the Spanish Mission Trail, the second half was spent visiting a family friend, Dawn.
Obviously, when you go to San Antonio you have to visit the Alamo...no, really, you have to visit the Alamo; trust me, everyone was there. And it served to remind me just how incredibly obnoxious tourists can be. We started the Spanish Mission Trail at the Alamo...and we stayed only long enough to walk through the shrine (yes, the Alamo is a shrine; they will make the men take off their hats and you can't take photos inside). That was enough for me to know I will never go back, unless it's nowhere near tourist season (don't tourist go to San Antonio all year long, though? Hmm...might have to find out when the mad rush is at ebb-tide before going back there).
BELOW: The Alamo. Second picture is the front of the Alamo, third picture is the back. I don't know where Ozzy peed on the Alamo, as it's not marked, but having been there, I can image the immediate response!
I wasn't much impressed by the Alamo (no offense, Texas) because nothing was labeled! I had to guess that the painting was Davey Crockett, based on the clothing. Couldn't rightly guess to whom the muskets had belonged and the leather vest? No idea...unless they all belonged to the man in the painting...who I assumed to be Davey Crockett...So, yeah, not very impressed.
But after the Alamo things got loads better - fewer tourists!
The first mission we went to was the mission of Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción, or Mission Concepción. This is the best preserved church in the Spanish missions; the entire church is preserved, as well as some of the associated buildings. The church reminds me of San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque (which shouldn't be a surprise since they were both built by the Spanish and in the 1700's (San Felipe in 1793 and Concepción in 1755).
After Concepción, we went to the mission of San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, or Mission San José. It's the largest of the missions and it's associated buildings are well preserved, but we couldn't even get into the church as it is in full restoration mode.
BELOW: Mission San José. First, the side of the church. Second, from the front. Third, La Ventana de Rosa, or Rose Window. Fourth, Joseph, to the left of the front doors. Fifth, Mary and Jesus, to the right of the doors. Sixth and seventh, detail above the doors.
After San José we went to the Mission Burial Park (of course I had to go to a cemetery!). This is a fairly impressive cemetery in terms of the type of monuments (though not, perhaps, on the order of some of the New Orleans cemeteries), and it is huge! I could've spend weeks there, but I only had about an hour. I will do a Visions at some point with pictures from all the cemeteries I get to on this trip, so stay posted.
BELOW: Mission Burial Park. 1) Notice the inverted pentagram? If anyone knows what that is, I'd love to hear it! 2) There aren't a whole lot of Jesus statues in cemeteries, but every now and then... 3) This man was a Mason. 4) A beautiful Celtic cross. 5) Huntress? 6) Houston, not sure if it's any of the Houston's. 7) For those of you into That 70's Show... 8) There are some stores with the name "Luby"...didn't do any research to find out if it's these Luby's. 9) Not the Oppenheimer, but still interesting. 10) An Egyptian-esque mausoleum.
Next came the mission of San Juan Capistrano, which was originally called San José de los Nazonis. This mission is in a pretty sad state...I can't vouch for the state of the church, though, as I didn't go in. There was a note on the door and some other people read it and moved on, so I don't know if the church was open as I didn't read the note attached to the door myself (I'm still kicking myself over that), but there's very little left of anything else and what is there is labeled a private residence...
Near the entrance to San Juan is the little San Juan Cemetery. It's quite a small area, but they've got a lot of bodies crammed into it. I was hoping to find some really old graves, but didn't manage to come across anything older than 1900. But it's a peaceful little place.
On the way to the mission of San Fransisco de la Espada (originally known as San Fransisco de los Tejas), or Mission Espada, there is the Espada Aquaduct. It's not real impressive, but it's a good example of the construction technique of the 18th century.
Founded in 1690, the Espada mission is actually the oldest ot he East Texas missions. We didn't make it to Mission Espada...I pooped out. I'm disappointed with myself for not going, but I guess that gives me a great excuse to go back to San Antonio, right?
San Antonio
The first half of the day was spent running around the Spanish Mission Trail, the second half was spent visiting a family friend, Dawn.
Obviously, when you go to San Antonio you have to visit the Alamo...no, really, you have to visit the Alamo; trust me, everyone was there. And it served to remind me just how incredibly obnoxious tourists can be. We started the Spanish Mission Trail at the Alamo...and we stayed only long enough to walk through the shrine (yes, the Alamo is a shrine; they will make the men take off their hats and you can't take photos inside). That was enough for me to know I will never go back, unless it's nowhere near tourist season (don't tourist go to San Antonio all year long, though? Hmm...might have to find out when the mad rush is at ebb-tide before going back there).
BELOW: The Alamo. Second picture is the front of the Alamo, third picture is the back. I don't know where Ozzy peed on the Alamo, as it's not marked, but having been there, I can image the immediate response!
But after the Alamo things got loads better - fewer tourists!
The first mission we went to was the mission of Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción, or Mission Concepción. This is the best preserved church in the Spanish missions; the entire church is preserved, as well as some of the associated buildings. The church reminds me of San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque (which shouldn't be a surprise since they were both built by the Spanish and in the 1700's (San Felipe in 1793 and Concepción in 1755).
BELOW: Mission Concepción. First, view from the visitors center. Second, alter in small chapel. Third, inside Concepción. Fourth, view of church from the side.
After Concepción, we went to the mission of San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, or Mission San José. It's the largest of the missions and it's associated buildings are well preserved, but we couldn't even get into the church as it is in full restoration mode.
BELOW: Mission San José. First, the side of the church. Second, from the front. Third, La Ventana de Rosa, or Rose Window. Fourth, Joseph, to the left of the front doors. Fifth, Mary and Jesus, to the right of the doors. Sixth and seventh, detail above the doors.
After San José we went to the Mission Burial Park (of course I had to go to a cemetery!). This is a fairly impressive cemetery in terms of the type of monuments (though not, perhaps, on the order of some of the New Orleans cemeteries), and it is huge! I could've spend weeks there, but I only had about an hour. I will do a Visions at some point with pictures from all the cemeteries I get to on this trip, so stay posted.
BELOW: Mission Burial Park. 1) Notice the inverted pentagram? If anyone knows what that is, I'd love to hear it! 2) There aren't a whole lot of Jesus statues in cemeteries, but every now and then... 3) This man was a Mason. 4) A beautiful Celtic cross. 5) Huntress? 6) Houston, not sure if it's any of the Houston's. 7) For those of you into That 70's Show... 8) There are some stores with the name "Luby"...didn't do any research to find out if it's these Luby's. 9) Not the Oppenheimer, but still interesting. 10) An Egyptian-esque mausoleum.
Next came the mission of San Juan Capistrano, which was originally called San José de los Nazonis. This mission is in a pretty sad state...I can't vouch for the state of the church, though, as I didn't go in. There was a note on the door and some other people read it and moved on, so I don't know if the church was open as I didn't read the note attached to the door myself (I'm still kicking myself over that), but there's very little left of anything else and what is there is labeled a private residence...
BELOW: Mission San Juan. 1) Looking toward the church. 2) Statue in front of the church. 3) The 8th Station of the Cross. There are 14 Stations, they are usually pictures on the walls of the church, but at San Juan they look like this and they are on the ground walking from the church to what was probably the Rectory.
Near the entrance to San Juan is the little San Juan Cemetery. It's quite a small area, but they've got a lot of bodies crammed into it. I was hoping to find some really old graves, but didn't manage to come across anything older than 1900. But it's a peaceful little place.
BELOW: San Juan Cemetery.
On the way to the mission of San Fransisco de la Espada (originally known as San Fransisco de los Tejas), or Mission Espada, there is the Espada Aquaduct. It's not real impressive, but it's a good example of the construction technique of the 18th century.
BELOW: Espada Aquaduct.
Founded in 1690, the Espada mission is actually the oldest ot he East Texas missions. We didn't make it to Mission Espada...I pooped out. I'm disappointed with myself for not going, but I guess that gives me a great excuse to go back to San Antonio, right?
Kommentarer
Postat av: O'Dea
This is cool that you get to visit all these places and historic grave sites. Can't say I share such an interest in cemeteries, but scrolling though these pictures is interesting! I would love to see the Alamo, however, and maybe someday identify Ozzy's marked territory.
Postat av: Joleen
If there had been fewer tourists there, I might have asked one of the Rangers/people who work there, if they knew where he peed on the Alamo. I know I would have enjoyed it much better if it weren't so packed. I enjoyed the Mission's for that very reason.
Glad you are enjoying the pictures! Have you read the other days I've posted (not quite so many pictures, but still good)?
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