I co-purchased this 3-wheel bike before leaving Pharr – Mac LOVES his trips around Tip O’Texas in the rear basket.





After boondocking in three different WalMart locations, Mac and I happily returned to Lakewood Campground in Effingham, IL. We arrived safely in Chicago on April 12.

Couldn’t resist an offer to RV west – so Mac and I left Chicago on April 16.

Enroute to Santa Fe, we stopped at this gas station – Full Service was a joke – we, the customer, did all the “servicing” at $4.16 a gallon.

Highway to Santa Fe

One of the most revered and visited historic sites in Santa Fe, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was named for the patron saint of Santa Fe. The nearby Loretto Chapel is famous for its Miraculous Staircase, built with 360-degree turns and no visible means of support. 

Burro Alley - cafe for lunch

Took the Rail Runner train from Santa Fe to check out Albuquerque for a change of pace. Returned to Trailer Ranch RV Resort in the evening.

Tomorrow, Sunday, April 22, we will be driving to Mesa Verde National Park in Southwestern Colorado for several nights.

This Jacaranda tree, unique for South Texas, with its trumpet-shaped lavender flowers, resides within the Tip O’Texas Resort.

Located close to Pharr, covering 63 acres, and seating over 2000 is the Devotion to Our Lady of San Juan del Valle. The  Basilica originated from a “miracle” that occurred in Mexico in 1623. The original shrine was dedicated in 1954, but destroyed by fire in 1970. A new shrine was dedicated in 1980, and in 1998 was designated as a National Shrine. Averaging 20,000 visitors a week, it is one of the most visited shrines in the United States.

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I will begin my drive back to Chicago on Easter Sunday.  I will be then be continuing my RVing with a friend to check what's happening in Santa Fe, Zion, Bryce, etc. I hope to add those adventures to this blog, so stay tuned....

Caught Mac looking out window of 888. 

Just around the corner from 888 is this cactus with flowers – the flowers are not only lovely but edible.

 

On March 16, returned to Esterno Llano Grande in Weslaco so Mac and I could check out nature ...

White Ibis (orange bill and legs)

Great Egret (long yellow bill/blacklegs)

Roseate Spoonbills and Grebe

Roseate Spoonbill taking flight

Mesquite tree has blossoms

Mac stopped to "smell the flowers" ha

Male Northern Shoveler - flat large bill

 

St. Patrick’s Day parade included this cute “Irish” dog; Mac wore his Scottish jacket..

S a n  A n t o n i o

has been added to my “favorite cities” list. 

Happy/helpful people, beautiful buildings and waterways, delicious food, historical and cultural venues, plus timely public transportation.

The River Walk is operated as a park; the San Antonio River flows for 131 miles.

Taking a river cruise, upon arrival on March 3, to learn about San Antonio was a great choice. 

The river is home to many ducks and this egret. 


Yes, this tree is growing out of the Bella Restaurant building--at the end of the day, we enjoyed a delish dinner at Bella's along side the river, while waiting for a River Taxi to go to Pearl Brewery.

The architect of the medical building on the left succeeded in creating the optical illusion of a narrow building.

This historic mosaic atop the Lila Cockrell Theatre is impressive.

An artist complements this overpass with visual enhancements. 

During our evening cruise, we saw this public art display of 25 illuminated sunfish suspended by wires from another overpass.

Sunfish

The Alamo has been at its present site since 1724. 


It served as a home to Spanish missionaries and their Native American converts before being used in1803 as a Spanish fort; it became famous because of the 1836 Battle for Texas Independence.

Alamo

The city of San Antonio has literally grown up around the Alamo--a relatively small structure that attracts 2.5 million visitors a year.

These five bells (shown below) represent the five missions along the San Antonio River; three are still active parishes today.

Friars Christianized the Indians at Mission Concepción which was built in 1731.

Mission Concepción is considered the oldest unrestored church in the United States.

A blending of Christian, Spanish and Native art elements appear in restored ceiling frescos


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Mission San José was established in 1720 and is the best example of a restored mission in the United States with it’s Rose Window, flying buttresses, and inner courtyard.

Rose Window

This “Rose Window” sculpted in 1775 is possibly dedicated to Saint Rose, no one knows for sure. It is considered one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in North America.

Among the 35 shops at El Mercado (Mexican Market) is Mi Tierra Café & Bakery—an authentic Mexican bakery.

It opened in 1941 and is open 24 hours a day – my favorite bakery purchase was a yellow cake bun with cream filling covered with caramel and topped with pecans (only made at this bakery).

King William’s opulent and impressive neighborhood includes Steves Homestead house (on right) —displaying lavish Victorian architecture. 

Land was divided into large plots in the late 1800s on which grand homes were built for families of some means—many of then the city’s new German immigrants.

Two other mansions within King William Historic District.

Guenther, the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills, built this elegant home (on right) in 1859 at the foot of the King William area. It now includes a museum, restaurant, and retail store.

The Museum Reach river cruise included a Lock and Dam experience.

An entire ceiling of glass welcomed me to the Museum of Art—originally the Lone Star Brewing complex.

Folk art at the Museum: crane lacquered and painted gourd, wood from the Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection.

San Antonio is a wonderful city to visit...

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The huisache, sweet acacia, tree is native to south Texas and Mexico but not friendly to those of us with allergies.

The sun ignited this green-winged teal’s markings.

green-winged teal

male northern shoveler

The sun also ignited this male northern shoveler’s colors; note: long broad bill.

The great egret flew to another location shortly after I snapped this photo at Estero Liano Grande in Weslaco on February 29.

great egret

Saw seven different turtles sunning themselves on rocks and wood in various waterways—whereas, two alligators proved camera shy as they sunned themselves on distant banks of Alligator Lake.

goldfinch

The brilliant yellow color of the goldfinch is just beginning to emerge as its breeding period begins in March. 

Hard to believe it, but these beautiful white flowers emerge from pink pods centered within the spiky yucca plant. 

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