United States – Page 19

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Gardens, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Santa Barbara’s LotusLand

July 30, 2014September 3, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: LOTUSLAND, BEYOND BEAUTIFUL!

First atraction, first day: Santa Barbara’s Lotusland! Talk about a great way to start a vacation – this was it!

Hanging in SB

So, if our adventure started in Santa Barbara, why did we fly to LAX and stay in Carpenteria? Well, this was a road trip which would end in LA, so it was cheaper to fly into and out of LAX, not to mention avoiding a one-way rental car charge. And Carpenteria is only ten miles away from Santa Barbara and about a hundred dollars cheaper than any accommodations I could book in the more famous city.

The Beach

We left Carpenteria early enough to spend some time in Santa Barbara, because it’s one of our favorite cities. The list of things we would have loved to do would be quite long, but all we had time for was a leisurely visit to the beach. Next was lunch and we had fast food.

Finally, Lotusland!

Lotusland is one of those hidden travel gems people talk about, but it shouldn’t be such a secret. Their website says they’ve been having tours since 1993, so I don’t know why more people aren’t raving about it. I lived on the Central Coast of California for six years and in all that time I heard one person mention it in passing and they made it seem like a cactus farm.

Listen to me – you need to go to Lotusland. Beautiful, serene, amazing – these are the words that come to mind. Yes there are cactus gardens, but that’s only the beginning. There are twenty other gardens there, also. From a Japanese Garden to a Water Garden full of water lilies to a Topiary Garden – and the list goes on!

Here’s a map from our tour. At least, Trip Advisor lists it as the number two attraction in Santa Barbara,behind the famous Courthouse, but I’ve been to the Courthouse and it doesn’t light a candle to Lotusland. Santa Barbara Mission is pretty wonderful, but Trip Advisor rates that as number seven. What’s wrong with these people!

First you need to know Ganna Walska, the lady who planned and planted Lotusland, should have her own mini-series. A famous opera singer with five different husbands, ties to both the Polish and Russian royal families and over thirty acres of gardens in Santa Barbara – what’s not to love? Then there’s the gardens themselves. Breath-taking!

Next, you need to know that you can’t just show up at the address on the internet for a stroll through the garden. All tours are docent-led and there are two each day. To tour the garden you have to go online, make reservations and pay for the tour. Then you will get directions about where to show up for the tour. I have to confess that you might get a little sticker shock. The tours are $45/adult and $20/ child, but I am telling you it is completely worth the price of admission. Trust me on this.

We had quite a tour. About half-way through a sweet little old lady fell INTO a cactus plant, which sort of threw everything off – and certainly slowed us down on the next leg of our trip – but that’s for next week. Lotusland is one of those places that I could wear myself out talking about and still not capture the essence of it, so now I’m going to shut-up and show you some of our pictures. Just be sure and come back next week. There’s more fun to come.

The cactus mishap is just about to occur!

Accommodations, DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, Travel Planning, United States

Great Hotel in Carpenteria CA

July 23, 2014August 11, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: GOOD LUCK OR GOOD PLANNING

When you’re traveling, is a good night’s sleep good luck or good planning? Or could it be because you’re too exhausted to do anything else?

We Gotta Get Out of LA

As we surrendered to Navi (the GPS) and headed north, I was fantasizing about pillows and linen,but my job as navigator wasn’t over. About the time we got to Thousand Oaks, Bill wanted to eat. Food was just about the last thing I wanted, but through experience I’ve learned, when Bill wants food I’d better find a restaurant.

Gastronomic Detour

Do you remember what life was like before our electronic traveling friends? You drove along hoping to see a sign on the side of the road, but you’d never just pull off the road, because you might never figure out how to get back. Using that method, I might have made it to Carpenteria without having to stop, but no, Bill tells me to get out my phone. Lo and behold, Google Local tells me there’s a BJ’s in the neighborhood and Bill takes the next exit. We kept Navi pointed towards Carpenteria and used Local to get to BJ’s.

Now I really want to whine and complain about how awful it was, because I was really tired and not very hungry, but we shared BJ’s new Roast Beef Dip Sandwich, and I’ve got to be honest with you, it was really good. In my day we called them French Dip Sandwiches, but I guess in this new politically-correct world, that might have some negative connotation – like all French people are dips. Either that or some teenager planning their menu didn’t know their au jus from their assembly line.

A Reward at the End of our Drive

Sandwich happily consumed, we drove on to Carpenteria and found the Holiday Inn Express where I’d made our reservations. This was an older property, but completely renovated, so you had all the charm of the old with all the convenience of the new. The desk clerk checked us in like a champ, then we found a parking place close to our room and we moved ourselves in.

The room was wonderful. A small seating area and mini-kitchen were separated from the bed by an attractive divider. The furniture was new, but some older decorative touches were carried into the new design to add character. We were very happy.

I would have loved to crawl in bed oblivious to everything, but I knew the drill. I wake up at six and Bill doesn’t. I’d get up raring to go and Bill would be livid at my rattling around, if I didn’t get things ready ahead of time. So, with a foggy brain I started re-organizing everything and getting ready for the rest of the trip, because packing for a flight and packing for a road trip are two different things.

Those gifts that took up half my suitcase? Well they were moved to the tote-bag. All my shoes, belts and accessories? I’d packed a fold-up nylon bag for them. Pretty much everything else we packed needed to be shuffled around, too. When I’d reorganized everything to suit me, I pulled out my exercise gear and an outfit for the next day, then fell into bed. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

A Bright New Day

Yes, I did wake up at six. I slithered into my workout clothes and found the exercise room – a nice one I might add. They didn’t have a recumbent stationary bike, like I do at home, but the treadmills were in good working order and I slammed out an hour of cardio. Then I was starving, so I went to the breakfast bar.

Let me tell you this – Holiday Inn Express rocks their breakfast buffet. My particular favorite is their cinnamon rolls. But they have everything from bacon and eggs to a pancake machine to hot biscuits. They also have healthy things, so with my single cinnamon roll I had a boiled egg, yogurt and apple juice.

I returned to the room and Bill was stirring, so I returned to the breakfast bar with him – not to eat, just for companionship. He got breakfast down, we got ready for the day and headed out.

Vacation Day One is ahead and it was a great one, so come back next week.

DESTINATIONS, Road Trips, TRAVEL, Travel Planning, United States

California on My Mind!

July 2, 2014August 11, 2015 Jane Sadek

Santa Barbara CA — On the Beach in Santa Barbara

TRAVEL THERE: STILL CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

We just got back from California and it was a crazy trip. In fact, it was crazy before we packed the first bag. Just getting the vacation planned had been all kinds of crazy!

The Best Laid Plans

See, last year one of our nephews moved into a new home and had his first child. We were all geared up for a long weekend once our grand-nephew settled in. Then my mom went into the hospital and that meant all travel was on hold.

She was in and out of the hospital several times, but rehab was planned and Bill thought the care-giver needed a break. Everyone seemed to agree with him, so I re-planned the trip for nine days and bought our airfare – just a little too soon. Rehab turned into hospice and then a funeral.

I wasn’t much in the mood for travel, but Bill thought I needed a change of scenery, so I started trying to coordinate a date for new travel plans. However, the holidays were coming up and nothing worked. So, we postponed the trip until March.

Believe it or not, before we could get the trip planned, another game changer came along. A niece and grand-nephew from Egypt would be in California in June. So we postponed our travel plans to June and the trip grew to 11 days.

Does this sound familiar? Does this kind of thing happen in your family? Well, it got crazier.

The Heath Project

If you’ve been following my Friday posts, then you know that sometime in March we decided to start looking for a new home and that search turned into a building project in Heath. Since one thing always leads to another, we put our house on the market, thinking we might be lucky if someone bought it before the end of summer. So, of course, some one bought it, right before we were supposed to leave on vacation – but that’s for the Friday posts. Bottom line, even though it looked like something might undo our plans, right up to the phone call I got as we boarded our flight. We made it all the way to California!

Confession is Good for the Soul

I’ll just tell you right now, with all this planning and re-planning, more than one thing fell through the cracks. I double-booked myself into two hotels on one night, for instance. I packed way too much and ended up with an $85 extra bag fee for another. So travel stuff happens to the best of us. Come along with me and I’ll show you a good time over the next few weeks as I share my experiences – good and bad – with all my blogospere friends.

ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Performing Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Stranded in a Frozen Dickens

March 26, 2014September 28, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: STRANDED IN A FROZEN DICKENSFEST

Galveston‘s 2013 Dickens-on-The-Strand Suffered from Chilblains!

“You can’t always get what you want!” The Rolling Stones were spot on with that one – especially when it came to this vacation. The Polar Express gypped me out of my luminaries on the Riverwalk and then followed me to the beach.

My mom used to say things like, “If you had the sense God gave a goozle,” (and I’m not exactly sure what a goozle is) but I’m sure my husband was thinking the same sort of thing as we froze our assets off, strolling down the Strand.

Important, but Chilly Anniversary

I was expecting big things from this British-flavored festival with its side order of Victorian literature. This was the fortieth Dickens-on-the-Strand and for the first time, it was a three day festival, not just an overnight flash in the pan. What I didn’t expect was London! Actually London has been warmer the few times I’ve been there. This was more like the cold, wet, windy day I’d visited Coventry Cathedral and had nothing but a thin windbreaker between me and the chill. I think that’s the coldest I’d ever been up until that day in Galveston.

Bill really does deserve the Champion Husband of the World Award – at least in the travel department. Anyone with any sense would have headed back to Dallas after our frozen stay in San Antonio, but not me. I was going to Dickens on the Strand and I had friends to see. The friends were worth it. Dickens? Not so much. The festival may have been in full swing the day before, but on it’s inaugural first Sunday, it was a ghost story, and not in a cozy Christmas Carol way.

Still, we found a cheap place to park, walked several blocks to the entrance, paid our fee and landed virtually nowhere. A few braves souls strolled the streets in their Victorian finery, but we had to decide who was dumber for showing up – us or them. A few performers mounted stages and tried to entertain the lost souls wandering the Strand, but it was cold enough out there without stopping and standing in one place. The greatest hub of activity was an area for steam-punk enthusiasts, an important factor in the popularity of the festival, but try as I may, I have very little, beyond a passing interest, in steampunk – and Bill had less than that.

When All Else Fails, Eat

We might have had an interest in chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but most of the heat seemed to be at Yaga’s Cafe. The crowded interior didn’t seem to suffer from it’s lack of an identifiable theme in the decoration or menu. The service was friendly, if not adequate, and the food adequate, if not tasty.

Lunch behind us, we explored the island by car for awhile and decided we’d certainly return, but next time, we’d rent a beachside cottage and the weather would be warmer. For dinner we drove back towards Houston to meet some Pearland friends, Jimmy and Melanie, at Pappas Seafood House. Now that was good seafood and good company. We are fortunate in our friends, even if we don’t always make the best decisions about when to visit the beach.

So, should you go to Dickens on the Strand? I might go back someday, but I’d check the weather, go on Saturday and stay somewhere besides the Beachfront Palms. Come back next week and we’ll start thinking about a new trip!

Architecture, ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Performing Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

The Nutcracker – San Antonio’s Majestic Theater

March 12, 2014September 3, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: SAN ANTONIO’S MAJESTIC THEATER EARNS ITS NAME WITH A GLORIOUS NUTCRACKER

Here’s how I know Bill was bending over backwards to accommodate my wishes on our trip to San Antonio; he agreed to go to a ballet at the Majestic Theater. He played it really cool until afterwards, but then he made a post to Facebook that revealed the truth. He hadn’t been looking forward to it at all, but enjoyed it anyway.

Off to a Rough Start

We needed a bite to eat before the show, so we went to The County Line, a BBQ joint on the River, because it was close to our hotel and we were in a hurry. In our opinion, a BBQ joint is supposed to let you get a BBQ sandwich, but that only happens at lunch at The County Line. For dinner it’s a meat and two veggies kind of a place. Bill ordered a sliced brisket plate and I nibbled around the edges, but my mind was not on the brisket. WHERE WERE THE LUMINARIES?

Remember, I came to San Antonio because I wanted to see the River all dressed up for Christmas. Well, the weatherman threatened icy rain and sleet, so no luminaries were installed. The primary thing I came for didn’t happen at all.

And it was cold! And a stupid sign outside our hotel sent us an entire block out of our way. And did I mention it was cold. Bill was smart. He ignored the occasion and dressed warmly. By golly, I’d brought a special outfit for the theater and I was going to wear it, even if it killed me. Well, it didn’t kill me, but there was a danger of frostbite.

Majestic Lobby Warms up the Night

As soon as we hit the lobby, I knew we were someplace special. I had no idea of how gorgeous the theater itself was going to be, but the lobby was a knock-out.

We were on time. Our seats were good. And this had to be the most amazing theater I’d ever walked into. The pictures don’t begin to do it justice, but they’re all I have. Bill was wishing for more than his smartphone to capture the theater’s interior.

San Antonio’s Nutcracker

The Nutcracker was marvelous. I hope San Antonio will forgive me for being a bit of a Dallas snob. I assumed that a ballet by the San Antonio ballet and symphony might not stack up. It was charming with great dancers and great music. The sets and costumes were out of this world – but not quite as far out of this world as the theater. I’ll leave you with a few more shots. Hope you enjoy.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery

March 5, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

TRAVEL THERE: SAN ANTONIO’S MI TIERRA RESTAURANT & BAKERY

Delicious Tex-Mex Meal Accents a Day of San Antonio Sightseeing

On our final day in San Antonio, the plan was a tour of murals on the west side of the city. Not exactly the poshest of neighborhoods, but there’s amazing street art. We decided to drive the walking tour, which was fine for a while – but only a short while. I recommend bikes.

What’s for Lunch?

I, of course, planned several dining options, but was hoping for Mi Tierra – THE Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio. (Well, at least one of THE Mexican restaurants. Casa Rio on the River is pretty high up there, too.)

Mi Tierra has been open forever and it’s always open. I’d sort of planned on having breakfast there, but fighting the cold weather gave us a slow start, so I moved it into the lunch slot. As many times as I’ve walked by the restaurant during visits to Market Square, I’d never managed to be there when it was time for a meal, but I kept promising myself that I’d dine there someday. The patrons just looked like they were having a lot more fun than everyone else in the world.

Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery, Market Square, San Antonio TX — On the Patio at Mi Tierra

As if it were ordained by the gods, this time we found a parking place on the street right across from the restaurant and thanks to the cold, there was no wait. And then, we found ourselves on a patio again, but this one was a lot warmer than the previous night’s experience. And guess what? Finally! Mariachis!

I was tickled beyond pink. Almost tickled enough to have a margarita, but I’d been so good on my South Beach Diet that I passed up the opportunity, while enjoying every sip taken by the patrons around me. It was almost as good as having one myself. Well, not that good, but nice.

The whole place is a perpetual fiesta. Brightly painted murals, brightly colored pennants, brightly dyed waitress uniforms – everywhere you look is color. And everywhere you looked people were having a good time. This was a Friday lunch hour, but the attitude was definitely late Saturday afternoon.

Being the good girl I had chosen to be, I selected rotisserie chicken as my entree, but the good news was that South Beach allows you to have three bites of anything you want and a cheese and onion enchilada came on that plate. That was the best three bites of the vacation.

Bill chose the special of the day and even though I can’t remember the name of it, I know it was some kind of chicken with vegetables. He even got to eat the rice and beans.

After Lunch, the McNay Art Museum

As we sat on the patio I just happened to mention the costume exhibit at the McNay. Bill had previously confessed he really wasn’t interested in it, but he was quite interested in pleasing me, so under the influence of the cerveza, he decided we’d go. I didn’t jump up from the table and fist pump, but I was tempted.

Sure, Id love to go see the costume exhibit at the McNay.

We paid our bill, stopped to take a few pictures of the bakery case and then headed to the McNay. I’d rave about the costume exhibit, but it was over January 19th and you’d just hate me for seeing it when you didn’t get to. Once he got there, Bill was glad he’d been so agreeable.

I’ll leave you with a shot of Mi Tierra’s bakery case, but don’t fail to come back next week, we’re going to the Majestic to see the Nutcracker.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, Travel Planning, United States

No Mariachis at Durty Nelly’s or Paesano’s

February 26, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Menu, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Certainly not any Mariachis here!

TRAVEL THERE: NOT A MARIACHI IN SIGHT!

Warm Reunion of Friends on a Cold San Antonio Night

One hallmark of my travel planning is finding a way to squeeze in a visit with friends and family if they are anywhere along my route. San Antonio is home to one of my best buddies that I barely knew until a few years ago, even if we did meet decades ago. We’d only casually crossed paths back at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, but rediscovered one another on Classmates. Maturity gave us a whole lot more in common than we’d had as youngsters and Facebook gave us access. Since Bill and I would be in my friend’s town, we took the opportunity to meet he and his wife for dinner.

Searching for Mariachis

Who else but me would have discovered a mariachi competition that just happened to be going during a visit? And who else but me would drag relative strangers around the Riverwalk on the coldest night in San Antonio anyone could remember (but not as cold as it was going to get while I was there)?

When we first started planning the trip, I suggested to my friend that we meet at Durty Nelly’s and he agreed that it was a good idea, but then I found out about the mariachi competition and learned they’d be having a concert at Rivercenter’s Lagoon, so I upended all of our plans to include the free concert. Being the spoiled rotten kid I am, everyone acquiesced to my wishes, except the weather.

Champion that Bill is, he only grumbled a little bit about leaving our nice warm hotel room to walk along the Riverwalk to the Starbucks at the Rivercenter Lagoon to meet Clark and Linda, people he knew virtually nothing about. As soon as we entered the shopping mall I saw an information desk. They didn’t know anything about a mariachi concert, but they did know where Starbucks was. Shortly after we walked into the coffee shop, Clark and Linda joined us. Introductions abounded and everyone tried to make nice.

As we chatted one thing became very clear, no mariachis were going to play. No one with gold braided costumes came in with instruments in black cases. Proud wives, mothers, aunts and cousins were not clustering around the lagoon. In fact, the whole area was becoming quite empty. Obviously, everybody had someplace else to be. The Polar Express had struck again.

Dashing to Durty Nelly’s

So I suggested we retreat to Durty Nelly’s. I love Durty Nelly’s. It’s a not quite clean pub on the Riverwalk that has a crazy guy playing the piano. I literally could have sat there all night singing along with his goofy songs – and perhaps Clark would have enjoyed it too, but the spouses both had this “what in the hell am I doing here” look in their eye. I’ve got to give them credit, they were making the most of it they could, but I may have been the only one having a good time.

Moving on to Paesano’s

So I suggested the next item on our agenda – Paesano’s. Someone in our Sunday School Class had suggested it to Bill and Clark said it was a big favorite with them, so we headed to dinner. The wait was thirty minutes for a table inside the building, so somehow we ended up on the enclosed patio. It was a lot colder than I wanted to put up with, but after dragging these people all over the place, I wasn’t going to complain about where we sat. I’m just not sure who thought it was a good idea.

I’d fill you in on what a great restaurant Paesano’s was, but my brain got numb in the cold. My baked eggplant (the only thing I thought might be safe on my diet) was quite good, but I have no idea what everyone else had. And it was so dark, I could barely see my own dish, much less my dining companions’ faces.

Darn that weather. I’d anticipated my reunion with Clark to be a great time, with much wandering about the River. I knew all the spouses were going to get along grandly and perhaps Bill and I would be singing our way back to our room in the wee hours of the morning. Instead, Clark and Linda beat a hasty retreat home and we power-walked our way back to the hotel. (Note to self: check the weather!)

There’s one more day in San Antonio, so be sure and come back next week.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Boogie Down to Budro’s Texas Bistro

February 19, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Coaster, Budro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX — Worth the chillbains!

TRAVEL THERE: BUDRO’S TEXAS BISTRO IN SAN ANTONIO

Riverwalk Restaurant with Personality, Taste and Attitude

Desiring lunch on the Riverwalk after our chilly visit to San Antonio‘s Briscoe Western Art Museum, we made our way to Budro’s Texas Bistro. Of the options I’d researched, Hubby was most interested in one requiring very little time in the cold. Though I hadn’t previously considered that particular aspect, I knew enough to know Boudro’s was close.

Navigating the River

We’d endured a breezy street-side gauntlet from our hotel, La Mansion de Rio, to the museum, so we hoped the Riverwalk would provide quick access and keep us out of the wind. As we scurried along the banks of the River, I looked longingly at familiar sites, like the entrance to La Villita, but this was not the day for lingering.

We kept our eyes peeled for Boudro’s but realized we’d missed it when we reached the branch of the River heading to Rivercenter Mall. We ducked in to the next building and asked a nice gallery owner if he could point us in the right direction. Come to find out, we hadn’t missed Budro’s by much.

Our Delightful Destination

Not only was the gallery owner familiar with Budro’s, he called choosing it for lunch “brilliant” and mentioned the gallery provided some of the restaurant’s decor. In mere seconds, with the gallery owner’s clues, we were there. And guess what, if you wanted to sit on the patio, heaters and blankets were offered to accommodate your desire. Bill and I were already frozen, so there was no way we would sit outside, but a few folks decided to brave the arctic blast. I guess it takes all kinds.

Most of the time San Antonio has very mild winters, so the most valuable real estate is right on the patio. Like most restaurants, Boudro’s doesn’t have a lot of seating inside and we were lucky to nab the last table. It was toasty warm inside and the menu promised good things.

Blue Crab Salad, Budro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Not South Beach Friendly at all.

A Diet-Challenging Menu

When I say good things were on the menu, that doesn’t necessarily mean things good for people on the South Beach Diet. Pretty much everything offered looked as if it could throw me right off the Beach. Finally I found a Blue Crab Salad. It would stretch the Beach to its absolute last grain of sand, but there was talk of crabmeat, mixed greens and salsa. I figured I could have that.

OMG! Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet creator, would probably have a coronary, but I loved it. It was the richest, gooiest excuse for a salad I’ve run into for years. I did manage to avoid eating the tortilla bowl, but the rest of that sucker I slurped right up.

Shrimp Cocktail, Boudro's Texas Bistro, Riverwalk, San Antonio TX — Shrimp cocktail, Boudro’s Style

Hubby tries to eat healthy too and was challenged by the richness of the menu. He ended up with a shrimp cocktail. Now usually when you order shrimp cocktail, you get a parfait glass full of ice with a few shrimp on top and a side of red sauce. Obviously, that’s not what you get at Boudro’s. Bill cleaned his plate too, right down to the cucumber shrimp boat!

Overall, a Great Experience

Everything about our meal at Boudro’s was great, including the conversation of the people next to us. They were quite the travelers and listening to them select a wine was like a whirlwind round-the-world tour.

We lingered for as long as we thought we could get away with it, but knew we’d eventually have to brave the cold. We wrapped up and hot-footed it to La Mansion. The hotel was only a block and a half away, yet we still nearly froze off anything not under five layers of clothing. It was mid-day and things were getting colder rather than warmer. This did not bode well for our next adventure. I’ll tell you about that next week. In the meantime, put Boudro’s on your list for a meal whenever you’re in San Antonio. We loved it, even if Dr. Agatston didn’t.

ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, Museums, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum

February 12, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio TX — Tagged at The Briscoe

TRAVEL THERE: BRAVING THE COLD FOR THE BRISCOE

New Museum in San Antonio is Worth the Visit, in the Hot or the Cold

I’ve chosen to call this vacation The South Texas Christmas Ramble, but I could also call it The Great Weather Betrayal. It was chilly as we wandered around The Pearl on our first night, but the next morning, as we stepped outside our hotel, La Mansion De Rio, to walk to The Briscoe, the wind was brutal and “chilly” doesn’t begin to describe the temperature. “Frigid” is closer, but still might be a few degrees warmer than we felt.

So, of course, this is the day I’d chosen for an on-foot tour of the Riverwalk. While planning the day’s activities, I’d mapped out a pleasant route along the River, but the wind chill factor demanded we take the most direct route possible and according to my map, that was street-side.

An Interesting Side-Step

On the corner next to our hotel, was St. Mary’s Cathedral. Bill suggested we pop in and see it, but I’m not sure whether he was really interested or he just wanted to get out of the cold. Whatever the case, I’m glad we did, because it was lovely. If you’re ever anywhere in the neighborhood it is worth the stop.

As we headed back into the cold, Bill asked how far we were walking and I answered, “Three or four blocks.” I wasn’t sure, because the map wasn’t clear about it. We went three or four blocks, then turned left and had a couple more blocks. We arrived almost frostbitten.

Inside The Briscoe Museum of Western Art

This museum was on my list of non-negotiables. I’m pretty flexible when it comes to some things, but there are always a few items on each vacation that cannot be missed. This time, it was The Briscoe, a brand-spanking new museum that just opened at the end of October 2013. It’s gotten rave reviews, so I was excited.

After getting tagged with the buffalo sticker above, we were directed to the top floor and work our way back down. Stepping off the elevator we walked into the nearest gallery, which was full of religious icons from the Spanish Colonial Era. The next gallery displayed some of the most beautiful saddles and spurs I’ve ever seen. Then we wandered into a gallery of military memorabilia.

By then, Mr. Bill was ready for a little break, so we sat down in the saddle and spur gallery where headphones were provided for listening to a little Western music. I specifically remember some Woody Guthrie and Kris Kristofferson. It was an excellent way to catch your breath. Also on the third floor are scenes from the early days of Texas, recreated with artifacts and careful reconstructions of the period.

I really enjoyed the third floor, especially the saddles and spurs, but my favorite was the second floor, because that’s where the art-pedal hit the museum-medal. There was a wide variety of genres, mediums and artists, but they were all related to the west. I was particularly moved by the Native American art, beautiful representations of the West’s first inhabitants.

Downstairs is one of the famous Wells Fargo Wagons, the stagecoach that tamed the West, as well as representations of more modern Western Art. From the first floor, you can look down on a teepee gracing the floor below, but you can’t go down there.

The gift shop was lovely, but I noticed it seemed to be directed at the younger generation. Or maybe it was directed at an older generation, grandma and grandpa, but one things for sure, Santa could have loaded his sleigh right there.

It was time to get back in the cold. If you go to San Antonio, don’t you dare miss The Briscoe. Be sure to come back here next week and we’ll go to lunch on the Riverwalk.

DESTINATIONS, Restaurants & Bars, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Las Canarias & the Breakfast BOOOOFAY

February 5, 2014August 12, 2015 Jane Sadek

Las Canarias Fruit and Bran Muffin Breakfast

TRAVEL THERE: BREAKFAST BOOOOFAY AT LA MANSION’S LAS CANARIAS

A Great Start to a Day in San Antonio

One of the perks of staying at Omni’s La Mansion del Rio on San Antonio‘s Riverwalk is Las Canarias. A list of its accolades would take up entirely too much word count, but I knew I wanted to eat there. I also figured with so many awards, the price for dinner would be outside Bill’s comfort zone, so we had breakfast there instead.

The Pocketbook vs. the Breakfast Buffet

As soon as we walked in, the hackles rose on Bill’s neck. There was a $20 breakfast buffet and he doesn’t like any buffet – especially not a $20 buffet for breakfast. He doesn’t think anyone can eat $20 worth of breakfast, but he’s uncommonly opposed to us making the effort to do so. I quickly asked the hostess if we could order a la carte and Bill’s hackles immediately eased.

And it tasted even better than it looks!

When the poor waiter arrived, Bill made it clear we were not having the buffet, so menus appeared. Since I was on the South Beach Diet, about all I could have was the fruit and muffin plate, but as you can see above, that was no hardship. Mr. Bill discovered the Creme Brulee French Toast. After ordering we took stock of our surroundings.

The BOOOOOFAY

We noticed pretty much everyone else entering the restaurant seemed happy enough with the buffet and then we noticed the waiter’s accent. As each table was seated, the waiter would say, “Good morning. Today we have our excellent Breakfast BOOOOOFAY.” The first time we heard it, it was slightly funny. By the time breakfast was over we were having a hard time not laughing out loud. Wanna get a grin out of Bill? Invite him to a BOOOOFAY.

A Beautiful Venue for Any Meal, but Especially Creme Brulee French Toast

The restaurant itself is lovely. White tablecloths, flickering candles and right outside, the Riverwalk. And to give them their due, the breakfast buffet did look delicious. Nonetheless we were happy with our choices. I had plenty of fruit and the muffin was so dense with goodness I was only able to get down a few bites. In fact, I had plenty left over to provide Bill with an afternoon snack of fruit and the following two mornings he had bran muffin with his coffee.

Bill’s French Toast, on the other hand, was an extraordinary meal for which words are inadequate. The look on his face, from the arrival of the plate until he slurped up the last bite, was pure nirvana. Even in the best of restaurants he’ll say things like, “I think they were too timid with the spices,” or “This was overcooked just a tad,” but while he ate his Creme Brulee French Toast, all I heard was, “MMMMMM,” “OMG, this is good,” etc., etc., etc.

Do I think you should go to Las Canarias? I certainly do. Someday I even plan to come back for dinner. I think Bill’s pocketbook could handle it, but he might have a heart attack. Maybe I should try lunch first.

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