Texas Hill Country and New Orleans - Gifts That Keep Giving

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta has us leaving New Mexico feeling very happy and satisfied. We are filled with dreams of returning someday. In the mean time we are beginning to feel a bit road weary. I must say the road to and through El Paso adds to the desire to get home. Our entire trip we have seen beautiful country side and sights but…..the stretch of Highway 10 from El Paso to Fort Stockton TX is a piece of land that makes you want to be somewhere else. We spent the night in Fort Stocktonbecause of the distance not because of desire. After one more day of driving through West Texas God gives you the blessing of The Texas Hill Country. Beautiful trees, hills, green and deer everywhere – Oh yes and many many wine houses!!! We stayed in the town of Kerrville which was an easy drive to San Antonio.

Our day in San Antonio starts with a visit to the Alamo. I was prepared for it to be small. Everyone has told me it would be. So it was larger then I was expecting. No pictures inside. It was a very busy day and the Alamo was filled with tourists. The heavy dirty walls did speak of strength and endurance. It is hard to imagine the faith, fear and courage our heroes experienced here 23 Feb to 6 Mar 1836. A wonderful temporary firearms display had just opened that day too. Yes, complete with Bowie knives. The grounds are beautiful and shaded.

*Brady was happy to finally see grass, flowers and deer!!

*Alamo Monument

*Alamo does look quite small from the front

(Inside is bigger then I was expecting)

*Pre - Battle Foot Print

 

*Us and the Alamo

 

 

 

Just across the street takes you to the River Walk. I was surprised to find that this is a true river upgraded a bit to accommodate sidewalks, restaurants shops and hotels. This is an area that wooed me into feeling sophisticated and classy. Don’t miss the river boat ride. The guides are fun and informational. To complete our day we had cocktails in the oldest pub on the river: The Esquire. As a side note – if you every see Smoked Steak on a menu –TRY IT!!!

*What an amazing mosaic tucked under a bridge

*Don't Miss the River Boat Tour

*Just a building front?  Looks like it

*Worlds Fair Art

* Salena Bridge

 

The Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch is a National HistoricPark. So your admittance fees are covered by your Senior Parks Pass. The LBJ Ranch is an entire complex. His one room school house is on the grounds, LBJ had his childhood home rebuilt on the grounds as a guest house in 1964. Cattle freely roam and the pecan trees are plentiful. The ranch house still has a working runway and Air Force 1 is on site. No pictures inside the house. The guide did stress that LBJ was a wheeler and dealer any invitation to visit was tied to negotiations. He had three TVs in the living room (ABC, NBC and CBS). His dining room seat, complete with a telephone had a clear view of those sets. Wall phones are throughout the house and more TVs are in his bedroom. You know that in its time this home was a center of power and negotiations. This is easily forgotten by the southern comfort and grace you feel. 

*Hard not to love a man with a brand

 

*LBJ School House

*LBJ Childhood home - relocated to the ranch

*Amazing Ranch with a very humble resting place

*Cattle do have the right o way 

*Yes... A Presidential Juke Box

*LBJ would host chuckwagon BBQs  - Comon - thats fun!

*The Ranch

*Yes - I could live here

*LBJ Pintrest idea - Have all your guests sign cement pavers!

 

 

Also in the park is the Sauer- Beckman Farm. It is a charming original farm depicting rural life from 1900 to 1918. During the seasons they plant gardens, raise live stock, and can fruits and vegetables using 100 year old equipment and techniques. We have seen several farming reenactments. This one does have a very authentic feel. There is much to see at the LBJ Park. You could plan on two nice days here.

*Make sure to give yourself a chance to yes this great little farm on the park grounds

*The farm familys first home

*The Tea Set shows itself again

*Home built after the cotton boom

*The Colorado River - La Grange TX

 

 

One of the best parts of this trip has been stumbling on surprises. On our way to The George H. W. Bush (41) Library we had a turn the truck around moment. We drove by the store front for one of our fun reality shows “Junk Gypsies”. Two cute Texas Gals find old junk and make it Junk Chic. The store is cute as a bugs ear but this is some pretty Texassized priced designer junk. We had no celebrity sightings other then Large Marge.

*Me and Large Marge

*A few fun ideas by the Junk Gypsy Gals

 

 

The George H. W. Bush Library is located on the Texas A & M University. Like all of the Presidential Libraries we have gone to it follows the life and career of the respective POTUS. The story of George H.W. is was really quite interesting and inspiring to me. Raised in a prosperous family he took his young wife a baby boy to Texas to seek his own fortune in oil, ran for political offices; some won and some lost, Director of the CIA, Ambassador to the UN, and China VP and P and gracious citizen. He really is just a cool dude. Don’t forget Barbra! Her humor and plucky attitude makes her seem so familiar. I would love to know her. We went on a Saturday in October. It was dumb luck that Texas A&M had an away game. Sure helped with crowds. We loved this visit.

*Les outside the George H W Bush Library 

*I fell in love with this handknotted wool rug in the lobby

*The limo

*Barbra picked the most beautiful gown - My favorite yet

*George and Les

*Little Millies are through out the Library with questions and answers

*I would feel better - how bout you?

*Here - maybe not so much

*Camp David was dog friendly

*Camp David Office

*More Berlin Wall

*Desert Storm Room

*The Day the Wall Came Down

*Some of the last roses of the season at teh Barbra Rose Garden

*This Czechoslovian Car Club made the parking lot pretty classy

 

 

Our last stop on our West Weird Summer Vacation was to one of our favorite towns, a day trip to New Orleans. We have been here many times and have gone to and seen most every tourist attraction. This town is very familiar but always gives us something new. We love the run down beauty of the French Quarter and chose to spend our time here. Walking from a coveted $5.00 a day parking space we saw a group of people and road blocks. Not an usual sight here, but it is 11:00am. Turns out it was filming for NCIS – New Orleans. Yes, I missed one more celebrity photo when Scott Backula walked right past us and welcomed us to NOLA, jumped in his black SUV and was driven off. The fun of NOLA for us is eating, drinking and street musicians. Anytime of day you can count on these. After lunch at Pat O’Brians we headed toward the French Market. This is an artists flea market completed with food and wine stands, tee shirts and cheap Marti Gras beads by the 100 pack. On our way we saw the New OrleansJazz NationalHistorical Parkon N. Peters Street- Surprise! Our timing was right for a jazz history lesson and some great live piano ragtime. There is also a self guided walking tour offered of musically significant locations. You can listen at http//:www.nps.gov/jazz. I am so happy the music and New Orleans contributions are being preserved by our park system. We shopped and stopped at Cafe’ Du Monde. We ate our fill of Powder Sugar drowned Beignets (Light textured fried doughnuts) with café o lait chicory coffees and enjoyed the “working for tips” saxophone player positioned just outside the café perimeter. The sun is setting so we picked up ½ a Muffaletta to go for dinner (Foccacia Bread Sandwiches filled with green olive spread, ham provolone, mozzarella and salami) Yes half is enough for two people. You may see these foods offered in other places in the country. Feel free to try them. When you come to the Crescent City you will taste the difference. This may sound like a relatively dull day to most. We are in love with this town. I am sure it does have a voodoo spell over me.

*Filming Stage?

*Actors or drunk Sailors ?

*French Quarter Views

*Inside the NOLA Jazz National Park

*Food like no where else - Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice Seafood Gumbo

*Shrimp and Crawfish Etouffee'

(We really wish we could eat more)

*Beignets like no other - Caffe' Du Monde

(Travel hint - don't wear black)

 

*Jackson Square

*Love this town

 

 

The next morning we packed up to head back home to Zephyrhills.  We do still have 10 hours of road ahead.  No hurry – We will be glad to check back into reality, but we’ll never forget this wonderful opportunity to run away and follow the road.  We thank God for watching over us and keeping us safe.

 

22 October 2014

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