Jennifer and I went to the International Festival in Houston. We got there by the METRORail which I had not taken before. It was fun. The International Festival had lots of variety of food and performances. I had some Caribbean Jerk Chicken which was really good. Jennifer had an Indian Vegetable Platter. We got to hear Stephen Marley (the son of Bob Marley). We also saw some Irish dancing and a variety of other acts as we walked around the festival. We saw some good art from paintings to glass. Later I had Indian Tandoori Chicken and also had an Indian samosa. What a festive day.
Here are this week's Tonight Show Headlines.
Headlines
A couple of my favorites this week.
Today Jennifer and I went to the Houston Museum to see the Butterfly Dome. It was cool to see so many butterflies flying around me. There were many sizes and colors of butterflies in this rainforest replica including the humidity. What a neat experience.
Here are this week's Tonight Show Headlines.
Headlines
A couple of my favorites this week.
Before Jennifer and I went down stairs for breakfast, we shared a piece of the Opłatek that I received from Nana when I was in California at Christmas. It was our special spiritual Easter moment.
We then went downstairs and had an eggs and bread mix that looked like a casserole. The table was decorated for Easter. Also on the table were eggs with confetti in them which is a Mexican tradition. We then said goodbye to O'Casey's and headed north to see the Natural Bridge Caverns. I have been to a few in California but they were not as big and still working and growing.
It was incredible to see it and to experience it with Jennifer. We then headed home.
It was a perfect trip with a perfect girl.
Happy Brightly Decorated Egg Day!
Happy Jesus Rising Day!
Today breakfast was waffles. Then to see the other four missions I had not seen (both Jennifer and I have seen the Alamo before we met). We started with Mission San Francisco de la Espada.
"In 1731, after their retreat from East Texas, the founders of San Francisco de los Tejas moved the mission to the San Antonio River and renamed it San Francisco de la Espada. Espada appears as remote today as it did in the mid 1700s. It boasts the best preserved segments of the historic acequias (the irrigation system designed to provide water for crops) part of which includes the still working Espada dam and aqueduct. The Espada Aqueduct, which carries water from the San Antonio River across Piedras Creek, continues to feed the original mission irrigation system. Espada Dam, built between 1731 and 1740, is the best existing example of the four Franciscan-designed dams placed on the San Antonio River. The dam is still in use today. Combined, these structures represent perhaps the best surviving physical assembly of an 18th century Spanish irrigation network in the United States. In 1995, the ranch that once supported Mission Espada, Rancho de las Cabras near Floresville, became part of the National Historical Park."
Then saw the Espada Aqueduct that is still working.
Then to Mission San Juan Capistrano.
"Established along the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731 after relocation from East Texas. With a rich farm and pasture lands it became a regional supplier of agricultural produce, which helped support the missions, local settlements and presidio garrisons. The chapel, with its open bell tower is still in use. A more elaborate church was never completed. The site includes a self-guided nature trail."
Then to Mission San Jose.
"Founded in 1720 by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, San Jose became the largest and best known of the Texas Missions and was viewed as the model among Texas missions. After early setbacks, 300 inhabitants were sustained by the vast fields and herds of livestock. A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen of the Missions." The carvings on the church are notable features. The famous "Rose Window" is considered one of the finest pieces of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the country. Other features are the convento area and the stairway to the belfry and choir loft - each of the 25 risers was hand-sewn from a single live-oak log and constructed without nails or pegs. Also featured is a granary with flying buttresses, a gristmill, restored defensive walls, and quarters."
Then to Mission Concepcion.
"This handsome church looks essentially as it did 200 years ago. From 1731, religious festivals were held as friars strove to replace traditional Native American ritual by the demonstration of Christian ideals. Remnants of wall and ceiling paintings in the surviving rooms of the mission's convento have been conserved. Wayside exhibits lead visitors around the grounds and through the various rooms. The site also features a visitor contact station and a sales area."
What a great time though the past.
We had breakfast at our bed and breakfast at a large with the other guests. It was rather fun. It was like waking up with a large family. Today was pancakes and eggs.
We when downtown to Historic Market Square. There were a lot of little stores with lots of stuff in them. Jennifer bought some real vanilla from Mexico.
We then walked to the Spanish Governor's Palace.
A national historic landmark, labeled "the most beautiful building in San Antonio" by the National Geographic Society, it once housed the officials of the Spanish Province of Texas. Over the entrance is the original keystone which contains the carved, double-headed eagle of the Hapsburg coat-of-arms and the inscription, in Spanish, finished in 1749. Distinguishing features include period furnishings and a cobblestone patio with fountain and foliage.
It was great touring the building and the patio.
We then walked to a large Catholic church and walked in during mass.
I grew up Catholic but I never have been in a Mass with a Mexican tradition. During the part of the Mass I was when I walked in was a large wooden cross which moved by the congregation over their heads so all could touch it. So when it came by me I touched it. It was a special moment.
We then went to the La Margarita for the Lenten Special.
It was so good. The best Mexican I have had in a while. We had grilled fish, seafood enchilada filled with shrimp and top with shrimp sauce and queso, rice and black beans. And included with the special was dessert.
We then walked around the Riverwalk.
What a really fun day.
Picked up Jennifer at 7p and headed to San Antonio for our first road trip together. After a few hours, we were hungry and at a truck stop were there was Popeye's chicken. It was a real truck stop because over the speaker they announced when a shower was available. We arrived at about 11p to the turn of the century house O'Casey's Bed and Breakfast. We were in the Kerry Room. I was so tired I crashed immediately.
Today my friend Cindy came into my office and asked me to close my eyes. When I opened them, in front of me, was a cute hollow white chocolate Easter bunny. It was so cool of her. I was jumping up and down like a kid when I saw it. Thanks Cindy.
Here are this week's Tonight Show Headlines.
Headlines
A couple of my favorites this week.
Here are this week's Tonight Show Headlines.
Headlines
Here is one of my favorites this week.
Here are a couple of vidoes of the classic Sesame Street Aliens.
Yip Yip Yip Yip
It has been almost 3 decades since 1972 when man last visited the moon. Now there is a planned moon landing by 2018.
Jennifer and I went with Nathan and Melissa to The Houston Museum of Natural History. We saw the The Royal Tombs of Ur: Ancient Treasures from Modern Iraq which was cool to see. Also saw the Body Worlds which was interesting. I liked looking at the actual body parts like the organs and the nervous system but the bodies in a curtain position like talking on a cell phone or playing cards seemed wrong. Using bodies for learning and studying is ok. Using it for art? It is not ok. We also looked around saw other exhibits like the Hall of Gems and Minerals which were really cool looking and the dinosaur fossil replicas in the Hall of Hall of Paleontology. Jennifer liked the shells from the different parts of the world in the Hall of Hall of Malacology.