Monday, Feb 20

Today is President's Day here, which is a national holiday . Gil & Roger were supposed to golf, but Gil decided to cancel because he figured the golf course would be too busy with it being a holiday. It was supposed to be a beautiful day today, but it was cloudy and dismal when we got up.

Lois, Roger and I have all read The Descendants, and we have been waiting to go to the movie together. So we decided today would be a good day to do that. I was excited to see my boyfriend George. We went to the matinee and, when we came out, the skies had cleared and it was 21 degrees. We stopped for a few groceries, then headed back home. Gil had stayed home to read and help any damsels in distress. He seems to stumble across people needing help all the time and, being the guy he is, he goes out of his way to help. This morning, it was a new lady at the condo who couldn’t get connected to the internet at the office. We have all been having trouble connecting, so he ran upstairs and got Roger to help her connect. They couldn’t solve the problem, but they tried . ;o)

The four of us played some normal 500 Rummy (we had to remind Lois how to play, and retrain Gil, whose mind has been completely distorted by the crazy Lambsy rules). I won ... yeah!  

Tues, Feb 21

It was shaping up to be a beautiful day, with temperatures in the mid-70’s. Gil & Lois had been down to the Alamo and River Walk before we arrived, and Roger & Gil had gone the day Lois & I were at the play, so it was my turn today.

Roger & I headed out there after lunch, while Lois went for a walk at the park near the condo and Gil stayed home. We stopped at the Alamo first, then headed to the River Walk. We walked a bit, and passed thru the old town (La Villita) which now has artists, craftsmen and restaurants in the old historic buildings. Then we decided to take a narrated river cruise, which was awesome. Jason was our caption / tour guide, and he was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable . We had a 35 minute tour around the river for $8.25 each. We learned that the River Walk is on the original San Antonio River, but that the city had (in the 1930’s) planned to divert the river and pave over it. Two conservationist women and a 25-year architect named Hugman lobbied to save the river area and to put up the River Walk designed by Hugman. The city approved the plan, and it took two years to build (1938). However, it didn’t really take off for years. Merchants didn’t embrace the River Walk area, and it wasn’t until the World’s Fair in 1968 that it was "discovered" by the world and has, along with the Alamo, been the biggest tourist draw for San Antonio since. Needless to say, it is now full of restaurants and hotels.

After the River Walk boat ride, we walked to the San Fernando Cathedral, which was founded in 1731 and is among the oldest Catholic parish churches in the southwest. We also walked by The Spanish Governor’s Palace, and thru Market Square (La Mercado).   (P.S. I decided a better name for Roger is “shopping assistant”. He is
my shopping assistant, as he helps me looks for the stuff I’m shopping
for, carries my bags, gives excellent directions, etc. He can be Gil’s shopping assistant too (I'm willing to share), but
Roger prefers my working conditions and benefit package.) ;o)

We had promised to be home by 6, and Lois & Gil had pulled together a fabulous Texas-style supper (beef brisket, baked beans, potato salad & corn on the cob). Fantastic.