Today, Roger, Lois and I went to visit the Missions of San Antonio. We had such a beautiful day, with temperatures up to 28 degrees (80's). The weather here is funny – cold one day, and hot the next. Jason, our guide yesterday, said they have one season here – summer – and their average temperature is 60 degrees. He said people assume that means that some days it’s 50, some days it’s 60, some days it’s 70. But actually, you can have 30 degrees one day and 90 the next, averaging out to 60. And it’s true – the temperature fluctuates like crazy from day to day.

The missions were walled communities that were built by the Spaniards and the mission Indians . The missionaries were sent by the Spanish King to convert Indians to Christianity and to recruit them to be Spanish citizens. The hunter-gatherer Indians complied because they needed to to survive. They were experiencing a drought and an epidemic of illnesses, as well as attacks from enemy tribes such as the Apaches. Becoming part of the mission provided them protection inside the walled community. The missionaries taught them how to farm, as well as other skills like masonry and weaving. The Indians helped to build the community and the Catholic churches, and the aquaducts needed to irrigate the farm lands. The missionaries also tried to quash their culture and history ... but that's another story.

There are four missions in the San Antonio area – Espada, San Juan, San Jose, and Concepcion. We visited all four. The churches at each of the missions are still active parishes but the buildings, along with the structures around them, are in delicate condition due to their being 300+ years old. Roger forgot the "no touch" rules at San Juan and almost got thrown in the hoosegow for sitting on one of the walls. It was a woman Park Ranger - this is the second time he has been in trouble with a lady Park Ranger. tsk tsk.

When we got home, we found Gil with a chipped front tooth. He had bitten down on a cherry, and half of one of his front teeth (denture) crumbled. He looked like he could be running a swamp tour!! LOL. Not funny. Anyway, he was a good sport about it. Tomorrow he plans to go to a denture clinic with a lab onsite to see if he can get it fixed.

Forecast for tomorrow is 87 degrees – the highest in the country. Finally some weather to sit at the pool!   :o)