Vitamins.... and on to The Alamo!!!

As I left Dallas on Wed about 11 am I took the 635 loop to I-20 planning to then go south on 35E. I spotted a TA sign in the distance and wondered if it might just be the other one that is supposed to carry my brand of vitamins. I stopped and  YAHOO!  got the last 2 bottles they had which will last me at least 2 months! Plenty of time to order once I get to Tucson.

 

Meanwhile I drove to New Braumfels and spent the night at another TA. I had wound up in the slow traffic in Austin for quite a stretch, and it was to dark to try to find the Potter's Creek Park, one of the campgrounds of Canyon Lake, also a COE campground (gotta love these!)

However, after touring The Alamo today, thats where I am now.

 

So yes, one of my almost lifelong wishes was to see the Alamo..... you know, the place where that awesome Davy Crockett (my childhood hero) breathed his last! I remember watching the Davy Crockett movie and TV series as a young girl. and my mom had the sheet music to it and played it on her piano and we all learned the words and sang it over and over.....

 

I felt it was worth taking the guided tour, and found out things the movie or history class didn't teach us, or taught us wrong... did you know Davy's sidekick, Georgie Russell, never did go with Davy to Texas and die there beside his pal?????
There were only 200 defenders against Santa Ana's 2000 soldiers.
Senseless slaughter? Not when you learn all that went on before and after.

 

Anyway, I also learned that the actual Alamo mission, had quit being a mission. I also learned that it was located at the back section of about a 4 acre complex. This is what it looked like at the time of the battle.... That part at the right top corner? That was the mission building. That wee little piece... The courtyard in front of it with a diagonal right side, and the rest of the perimeter was mostly long row houses where at first settlers lived,  and then the 200 men that were defending .

 It would be too long to tell you more, so I'll just post some of the pictures I took.  I drove all around the Alamo before finding parking available where my RV could fit into. It was 2 blocks away, a huge parkinglot across from the Scottish (?) Museum and Library. I was very careful as I walked to commit to memory the direction I took. These horse-pulled carriages can be seen traveling the streets near the Alamo. I did not ask how much for a ride; figured I could walk it.

There are also trolleys (maybe just fancy busses, they don't run on tracks)

Cute little things!



When I neared the Alamo I saw this first, a monument commemorating the defenders.

Thier names are all written there. II was surprised to see on of the men's last name was "Bonham". Same last name as my husband's cousin. I put in a phone call and found that indeed it was a relative. How interesting....

The mission looked much like in the movies.

We were allowed to go inside but not take pictures there. I was told it had something to do with the artifacts, and possible ruination or deterioration of the walls, which, I was also told, this IS 80% of the original mission building. Here I am standing in front of the commemerative monument.

This photo below was taken from what would have been the outside southern wall, lower left point

These are other buildings and structures of the Alamo battleground. I cannot remember the names of them all, but I love the architecture.

This is one end of the long barracks museum (below)

 

I think the photo below houses the gift shop and more, which displays Crockett's rifle and powder bag, as well as guns carried by others.  You can also see a bell above the doorway. I don't know if it ws the original mission bell.

This sprawling tree below was planted 100 years ago as a 40-year-old tree, brought in also to commemorate the fallen soldiers. Hauled in and planted at 40 years old!!!!! That must have been an awesome feat in those days (1912)

A Spanish canon

Col. William Travis's famous words...

Our tour guide, has been doing this for many years and is very knowledgeable. He gave us facts on the Mexican revolution and why the battle at the Alamo was so important. He also told us the real reason Davy Crockett went to Texas.

If you have never been, and have a chance to do so, I highly recommend this as a important historical stop. It makes one stop and think about the sacrifices others have made in the name of freedom.

 

After walking around almost 4 acres and the standing on cement during the tour while being given pertinent info, my feet hurt so bad by the time I got back to the RV. I almost wish another carriage had come along just then......

More tomorrow......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.