Winter in San Antonio
When we originally mapped out our travels, we decided Texas would be our last destination before heading back north for the summer. For several years, we wanted to visit San Antonio and spend time with our friends but were never successful. So, this was a must visit destination.
We also thought Texas would be a nice warm climate to settle into for the winter. Despite being warned it can get cold in January and February, we thought “it can’t possibly get that cold”. Those of us from central New York consider anything north of thirty degrees to be warm in the winter. So, fifty to sixty degrees during the day would be just fine, right?
Temperature is an important factor when living in an RV. Let’s just say, we are learning the hard way that sometimes you can’t get far enough south to stay warm in the winter (stayed tuned for our next blog about how we faired through the month of January).
We settled into an RV park west of San Antonio. The park was positioned on the banks of Lake Medina. As the time grew closer to our arrival, we started learning the lake levels were low. I do not think either of us realized just how low it would be. The water capacity was only at 25% but our location seemed even shallower. It was sad to see but after years of drought and the need from increased population, there seems to be little that can be done to rectify the situation without rain.
It was weird and a little creepy to walk the bottom of the lake. It seemed like a desert with a mirage of water in the distance. Needless to say, Jim was not concerned with his novice swimmer of a wife drowning!
There didn’t seem to be much life (animal or human) where we were, perhaps because of the decline in lake life. One exception however was the abundance of very friendly deer who were not at all concerned with walking right up to us. Quite honestly, I think the poor things were starving from the conditions of the area. My suspicion is others felt the same and fed them out of sheer pity.
We did have an occasion when a deer came remarkably close to Sophie. However, once it realized she was alive, it quickly walked in reverse. Sophie on the other hand was unimpressed.
Hoping to find life, we took a few hours one day to visit a small town nearby. Although the stroll though this unassuming town did not take long, we did come across the Medina River flowing through the southeast side of the village. A popular destination to float down or kayak in the warmer months, this river radiated a beautiful green hue and appeared to have crystal clear water. It continues to amaze me how in the blink of an eye we can pass through an area without a care in the world, missing what might be a hidden gem. But if we slow down and take the time to notice, we are fortunate to experience the many wonders of God.
Not long after our arrival to the area, our dear friends, Diane and Klemens, excitedly reached out to us to schedule a time to get together. Our first invitation was to visit them at their home for lunch (and dinner!) where we would plan sites to visit. When we arrived, we found a multitude of brochures neatly laid out ready for us to review. We had so much fun visiting that we didn’t take much time to browse through the things to do in the area. No worries, our friends developed a schedule based what we both wished to see, setting the stage for a fun-filled day.
The day started with a very healthy breakfast – one that was certain to sustain us before we headed to the missions of San Antonio and the Alamo.
Jim was certainly in his glory exploring the missions, but I have to say, I really enjoyed it too. The architecture was simply stunning, and we were fortunate to have a guide share the history. He did an amazing job and really brought to life something that might otherwise look to be abandoned. It sparked a longing to learn more about Mexican American history, something not as readily available in the east where we are from.
From there we were treated to lunch at the oldest restaurant in San Antonio. Its location was in the downtown area which experiencing a bit of construction, happily some of which was expanding on the Alamo. I found it to be a quaint downtown in the midst of a very large city.
A highlight for me was the River Walk. The man-made attraction was a brilliant source of beauty. Beautiful shops and restaurants lined this enclosed oasis. It was a not a busy day, so we were able to casually enjoy the view without the interruption of avoiding people on what seemed like a narrow sidewalk. My ever-protective husband, knowing I would be watching the sites instead of where I was walking, suggested he walk closest to the river. They say only a couple people fall into the river each year – he was going to ensure one of those wasn’t me!
Our tour of the River Walk ended with a boat ride complete with a history of the river. Our guide was entertaining to say the least and really enhanced the experience.
It was a beautiful day not only in warmth and sunshine but also in the love we felt from being treated to the places we so hoped to see during our stay. A few days later we were invited to lunch and a visit to a museum of western art.
We enjoyed exploring with our friends but what struck me most was the joy they had in showing us the city they love. Even though they had likely seen these sites many times before, they seemed to find pleasure in watching us experience them for the first time.
Words cannot express the blessings we have been shown by the kindness of others. Klemens and Diane are no exception. Before we leave the area, we have plans to get together again and explore Johnson City, Fredericksburg, and maybe climb on an Enchanted Rock!
Stay tuned for part two of our winter in San Antonio!
