Traveling with the Longdogs: Witte Museum

My granddaughter Morgan is interested in theater, film, and anthropology but it seems she also has an interest in dinosaurs so we took a trip to visit the Dinosaur special exhibit at the Witte Museum.

It's amazing how they can put together a whole dinosaur from a few bones.

These kids were having so much fun with this screen allowing you to see yourself with the dinosaurs that the adults didn't stand a chance of trying it out.

....which left us to look as these more sedentary displays.

I think Morgan and Steve may have been discussing who could have gotten away faster if they were being chased.

Ah, the vegetarian of the group.

Shades of Jurassic Park movies.

And then we moved away from the special exhibit to the regular Witte displays. This guy senses movement and talks to spectators. I have to say it's a little creepy considering his eyes.

I love the horse displays.

Yes Morgan, they really do have horns that big.

All in all, it was an enjoyable day spent with family and culture.

On my way home from the Texas Ramblin' Roses rally in Goliad, I spent a few days at Braunig Lake RV Resort just south of 410 in San Antonio. I went there because a group of my Pink FlaminGoes friends were in town. We had a busy few days. Some had never been to San Antonio and some hadn't been in a very long time so sightseeing was definitely in order.

First we went to Mission San Jose. There are five missions in San Antonio. Probably the most well known is the Alamo. Now the Alamo is obviously important due to its prominent place in Texas history; however, the other four missions are better examples of actual missions. All five are National Historic Parks. They are jointly run by the National Park Service and the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio because they are active churches. It is a partnership that works out very well as the Catholic Diocese is responsible for the actual church and the National park Service is responsible for the rest.

This is the church part of the mission.

This is part of enclosure around the mission. I should have mentioned that there is no charge to tour the missions and a park ranger gives regular tours. They are great but keep in mind that you will be standing for some time in different areas while you hear the history.

Artifacts from the mission days.

One of the entrances into the courtyard.

Front of the church.

There are numerous placards with info about the history. The missions were built more to occupy and hold the land than to help the Indians. In fact, the Indians were not treated very well at all.

After the ranger finished his tour, several of us walked outside the wall to check out the mill.

This is the Rose Window in the church.

Another day found us touring the Witte Museum. Just a hint for visitors, entrance is free on Tuesday nights. We were there during the day but we enjoyed it never the less.

The museum has several different diverse areas.

There is a wonderful early Texas section.

Next up they had a demonstration set up for riding a bicycle on a high wire. Of course, Karan was up for the challenge.

There she goes. She to pedal forward going across and then backwards going back.

Then there was the evening we headed down to the Riverwalk for the Lantern Parade. We had dinner on the balcony at Rio Rio Cantina overlooking the Riverwalk.