Recent trip to San Antonio for my birthday. Visit the RiverWalk, The Alamo, see downtown SanAnton. Learned quite a bit about Texas history and Texas independence.
Such as - The Alamo was actually a slaughter by Mexican Army under Santa Anna and not Native Americans. Not sure why I always thought it was against Native Americans - I'm getting it mixed up with the battle with Geronimo or the Battle of Little Big Horn? American History usually crapped out around the Civil War and focused on the East coast during that time. Don't know much about the rest of American History between 1865 and present.
Also - after that battle, Santa Anna continued on to what is now Baytown and the Houston Ship Channel only to be met by Sam Houston, the future first president of Texas. Fifteen minutes into the Battle of San Jacinto, after crying "Remember the Alamo" Santa Anna was captured and the Mexican Army essentially defeated. Now I understand why the city is named as such, the significance of the San Jacinto monument and holiday.
The riverwalk is a great example of revitalization, landscape architecture, and place making. When one is down in the "river" only small glimpses of streets above are afforded between large, old, and thick trees and other vegetation. The many bridges, vehicular and pedestrian, over the river gives away that there is an upper world allowing frequent and easy access, but again, there is good separation. It was interesting to see the different atmosphere and clientele between each realm: the tourists in the underworld and the, I can only assume, regulars top side. It was also nice to observe some cross pollination between the realms, but I suspect its more tourists visiting top side than the other way around.
Good experience - good to walk - good to sit and people watch, nosh on the side of the river in a cafe atmosphere - good to see the "back" of buildings revitalized - good to see the layers and levels and intense Terra formations of restaurants falling out of the bottom of buildings claiming as much level surface as allowed for tables and sitters. While I have not been to Europe, this is what I would think Europe would be - quite un-American standard.
