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peacetraveler22
The pride of San Antonio, Texas is the "River Walk," a charming area filled with a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops. When I first arrived in the city, I kept searching for the "river," and was really confused. Being native to the Washington, DC area, I'm accustomed to huge rivers like the Potomac, which cover larger areas and can be seen from multiple vantage points.
The River Walk is more of a canal, Venetian style, or at least how I imagine Venice to be. I've never been there, or anywhere in Italy. You can float on a boat down the strip of waterway and look at a lot of interesting architecture, quaint bridges, and many diverse people walking along the corridors. People watching - it's a fun way to spend the afternoon in most places, so let's take a look.
1. The downtown area of San Antonio was prone to flooding and a disastrous one hit in 1921, killing 50 people. All sorts of proposals were submitted to solve the problem and build dams, but the winning design went to an architect who realized the commercial potential of such an area. If you dangle the carrot of money in front of officials' eyes, many of them are quick bunnies, jumping to take a slice.
2. The River Walk sits below the main streets of downtown San Antonio, and can be accessed at various points in the city, including directly from the River Center, a big shopping complex. This is how I made my way there, but it's not the most accessible route and can be a bit confusing, unless you like shopping and will be easily distracted along the way. :) I don't like big malls like this, and prefer to shop in, and financially support, small boutiques in all cities I visit. I guess it's because I represent only big corporations in my legal work, and it bothers me.
3. Development of the area began in the 1940's and remains ongoing, with continued expansions of the walkways throughout the city, connecting various points of interest. One of America's strengths is tourism. We know how to build attractions that appeal to the masses, and make them easily accessible by providing infrastructure and comfort. It's a win/win for everyone. Money for the local economy and entertainment for visitors from all over the world. I don't know the name of all these arches and bridges, but they are aesthetically pleasing and always surrounded by a lot of trees and plants.
4. The easiest way to learn the history is to hop on one of these boats and float down the river for about an hour. The cost is $8.25 and the boats run constantly, about every 15 minutes. Plus, you get to meet cheerful locals in the process and hear their unique Southern dialect. :) But it will probably be difficult for you to understand them. When I traveled with Russians in the Southern USA, they didn't understand a word of the local speech, and I had to serve as their interpreter.
5. What is this smiley young girl doing? I assume taking a selfie. It seems everyone is carefree now, young kids are out and about on weekdays when they should be in school, and adults are everywhere in the middle of the workday. Perhaps they work from home and have flexible schedules, or simply don't work at all. If the latter, then I'm jealous. :)
6. Sad love locks I wrote about yesterday.
7. Simple shot of ordinary Americans enjoying a sunny afternoon. There's a restaurant or cafe every few feet here, any type of food you want, but the main cuisine in this region is Mexican or Tex-Mex. There's not much difference, in my opinion, but others might disagree.
8. Most restaurants have these colorful umbrellas, and a few are even decorated to resemeble the Texas State flag. Texans are very tied to it, and Americans love flags, as I've shown before. We hang them everywhere.
9. I like this photo, and the design of the glass building. It feels at times as if you're in a tropical paradise here, with palm and fruit trees hugging many of the walkways. Yet, there's no beach. :) The climate in San Antonio is very hot, and in early April when I was there, it was already +25. In summer, it would be unbearable for me, and locals even advised against visiting during July and August.
10. At one point, this was the tallest hospital in America, towering 23 stories. It's known as the Nix Professional Building, and has a rather tragic myth associated with it. Some tour guides claim the developer, Joseph Nix, committed suicide in 1932 by jumping from the roof. His project was considered the most innovative at the time - a hospital, multiple physicians' offices, and a parking garage all in the same facility. He was burdened by financing during the Great Depression, but eventually the structure was built...and now lives on.
11. Away from the River Walk, you can find all kinds of parks in San Antonio. I was completely shocked by how lovely this place is after visiting Dallas - which I consider one of the ugliest cities in the USA.
12. Due to the extreme heat, most of them have water fountains, or other cooling units where children can jump around and play.
13. I can't understand the appeal of this? I like these carriages, but only when you can ride them on a snowy or cold winter day, wrapped up in a blanket with warm cocoa in your hand. They can be lovely in Central Park, or some other enchanting landscape, but asphalt or city streets? It's quite expensive also - around $60.
14. I was in the city for work, and only had one day to roam about without a car. The housing I saw is typical of small town America, basic single story homes, some of them in disrepair. Lots of pick-up trucks. :)
15. Nicer neighborhoods also, with the festival wreaths and ribbons hanging from balconies and windows. A Mexican tradition. Texas is appealing due to the very low cost of living and healthy job market. The average home price is around $190k. Half of what it cost in my area of Northern Virginia.
16. Local dive bar. I like such places! :) Eccentric and wild characters can often be found in them in all countries.
17. If you visit this city, it's worth the effort to go to the Tower of America for sweeping aerial views of the city landscape. The 750 story Tower has a circular observation deck, and was built as the theme structure for the 1968 World's Fair. Cost for admission is $10.95.
18. City landscape, the same as all others, with a lot of highrise buildings. The reason I can survive in Washington, DC is because such structures are prohibited for security reasons, and there are strict zoning regulations and height restrictions for developers. The thing that caught my eye from above is the blue, flower like design on the top of the circular unit, but I don't know what it is?
19. This shot gives you a better idea of a typical San Antonio neighborhood.
20. Traffic on a late Friday afternoon wasn't so bad, and I read online that the average commute time in San Antonio is only 25 minutes! Compare to my commute of 90 - 120 minutes EACH way per day. So, you can see there are many benefits to living in this city, however they do not outweigh the cons for me.
21. Your ticket to the observation deck also gives you access to a cool 3-D film called "Skies Over Texas." You put on these red frames, and are taken on a visual adventure through the State, highlighting all of the social and cultural nuances that make it unique. It's really fun, as the seats in the theatre shake, a watery mist sprays into the crowd at various points, and you really feel like you're on a journey. :)
At the end of the movie, you're reminded that "Texas isn't just a State...it's a state of mind." This is true. Texans are probably some of the most prideful residents of any State in the USA, and very Republican. It's one of the most conservative places in the country, so it's best to keep your mouth shut and avoid the topic of politics if you're a raging social liberal like me.
You only need to know that current Presidential candidate Ted Cruz formerly served as the State's Solicitor General. In this capacity, he tried to ban the sale of dildos and successfully argued before the Supreme Court that a Ten Commandments Monument on the official State grounds is constitutional and should remain. He's really a brilliant lawyer and arguably one of the best advocates for conservative positions in the USA, at least from a legal standpoint. But as a leader of my nation - I can't even imagine it.
The San Antonio locals are friendly, lively and cheerful. It's a great town to visit, or spend a weekend, but to live there permanently - no thanks. :)
P.S.: some readers often ask why I capitalize the "S" in State when referring to places in the USA. The quote above is a prime example of why. "Texas isn't just a State...it's a state of mind." The word "state" is used to convey two entirely different meanings, and capitalizing the word when referring to a place simply distinguishes the thoughts and concepts. There is no official grammar "rule" on this point, just my personal preference.
Other posts from San Antonio
Tell me a story...San Antonio style
Life hacking: how to have a psychedelic experience while eating tacos
What lifts you?
