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Friday, February 04, 2005

King Williams District, San Antonio I liked the King Williams District of San Antonio best.  It's an old neighborhood originally built by Germans and called Kaiser Wilhelm.  At some point later on it was anglicized as "King William." Ornate. Quiet. Natural. High life. Low life. Weathered. Many places have a historical society marker, a badge of pride it seems. It seems fitting; this neighborhood is perhaps older than much of what I saw in Maine last week. posted in [home], [prattle] 12:20:52 PM    comment [] The River Everyone, including the lady that checked me into my flight, told me to have a look at The Riverwalk, a commercial strip on the San Antonio River downtown.  After seeing The Alamo I went down briefly but it seemed too much like Disneyland so I left.  I found the river again though near dusk when I was in King Williams District. This part was isolated, quiet, and restful. Looking towards King Williams... Looking towards the city... posted in [home], [prattle] 11:37:44 AM    comment [] History Is Smaller Than You Think I debated on whether or not I should see The Alamo; it's historically important but it's also saturated with tourists.  All of my reservations were confirmed; across the street from this mission, originally the product of Spanish priests in 1718, a converted fort where battles were fought and brave men fought to their deaths, men whose deaths birthed a rallying cry that inevitably lead to independence from the Mexican government, a turning point in history that makes Texas what it is today, are a set of wax "museums" and a Ripley's Believe It Or Not!  As I walked towards The Alamo, a man at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! was making guttural noises into a loudspeaker with the intention of sounding scary. The sound wafted into the fort like an offensive odor. I expected it to be smaller than I thought but was surprised nevertheless.  The walls have a deep texture and in some of the chambers1 there were carvings of graffiti dating back to the mid 1800s.  Outside in the mission's compound is a pleasant garden with a large tree that dominates perspective and adds a strong center. You're never far from the tourist side of San Antonio in The Alamo courtyard; hotels and attractions loom over the place assuring that you won't forget their dominance. posted in [home], [prattle] 1Photos are not permitted indoors. 7:35:12 AM    comment []

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