On to New Braunfels and San Antonio

This is a long blog so if you don't have time; just look at the pictures.  After Fredricksburg we traveled to a VRBO in another German community named New Braunfels.

It too has old buildings and German culture. 

We stayed in a little more modest place without columns in the front, but a picket fence.

New Braunfels is a water playground for Texans in the summer with tubing on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers as well as the famous Schlitterbahn waterpark .  This being the off season we didn't see any tubing going on. 

Our accommodations were perfect for our five.

As we drove to our VRBO and every evening and morning we were there, we had a parade of deer moving from the river to someplace in town.

The first evening I counted two dozen lazily walking through town. 

A large fawn getting nuzzled from mama. 

I have heard that Texas has a lot of deer but I had never seen them walking around in town in such numbers. 

One buck walked right by Mack on his bicycle.

Another deer took a rest in the neighbor's yard.

OK, I get it. 

On to San Antonio, about a 40 minute drive away and of course we had to stop at the Alamo.

Nearby was the Menger Hotel which we stayed in while attending a  REACH conference many years ago.

Here we are scrunched up on the outside of this Christmas Decoration.

Of course if we are at the Alamo it is only a short walk to the River Walk. 

For a special treat the Grands got to go on the River Boat.  Someone looks thrilled.

Off they go for a 40 minute ride on the river.

Then it was off to lunch at a nearby Market.

 The market had everything we needed to make our home more authentically MEXICAN.

The next day we made a short trip to Gruene; another place to shop.  I saw a sign in a store  that I liked.  It said, "I'm not bossy, I just have better ideas."

I guess you can make a living selling this stuff, but as I said it was the off season.

Lunch at the Grist Mill wasn't busy as you can see.  It was part of an old cotton mill and grist mill.

Then it was off to Landa Park.

I was impressed by this old Live Oak that has to have it's branches supported.  Pictures don't do justice to its size.

For some reason the vultures were around so we didn't stand still very long.

The Comal River is only two and a half miles long but it is fed by natural springs.  The water was amazingly clear! 

My, Mr. Goose, what large brown eyes you have.

M had the great idea to call her youngest sibling who lives in Bandera to join us for lunch on our way back to Abilene.  She and her husband, Virg, were able to come to Fredricksburg.

So as the full moon greeted us after four days of travel, we celebrate the safety of our travels in Texas and anticipate another Christmas.

Since I didn't have enough birds in the long blog, I added this Mockingbird.

Looking back on the trip the highlight was unexpectedly seeing Marilyn's sister and husband.

Ellie told us the highlight was riding the bikes at the VRBO.  So nice that they still see life in simple terms.

German Roots in Texas - Fredricksburg

We are back in Texas and as the sign says, it's good to get "Luiken back" in Texas.  (sorry)

The original settlers were a cut above common folk.  The founder of Fredricksburg had to  negotiate with Texas for some land; then negotiated with 20 different Indian Tribes to not attack the settlement.  It is said that it is the only treaty which remained in good faith on both sides.  The man went on to be in the Texas legislature.   

The town is quaint with many old buildings, like this bank, and old stores and German culture.

We packed a lunch and though it was cloudy and cold we had a good time.

I asked a local lady what we should visit in just a short time like we had.  She said to go to Dooley's 5 and dime; "It smells just like it did when I was young cuz they use the same wax on the floor."  Ok if a five and dime is the most unusual store, let's go.

The store reminded me of the old five and dime in Eldora which we would go to occasionally.  It had things I hadn't seen in a store since I was a child.

You can tell the Texans were cold.

She also recommended a visit to the Holy Ghost Lutheran Church.

A janitor filled us in on the original size of the church which was later extended.

I thought the name pretty well summarized their doctrine: Evangelical, Protestant, and Holy Ghost!

I would recommend a stop at Fredricksburg if even for a couple of hours.