San Antonio's Riverwalk & Missions

This morning we walked the entire Riverwalk. Part of it is just a magnificently landscaped walkway and part of it is lined with restaurants and shops.







Most of the restaurants have tables right along the river's edge. We took advantage of the riverside seating where we could watch the water taxis going by and the people strolling along and had lunch at The Republic of Texas restaurant (the red, white and blue umbrellas on the other side of the river).



It exists one level below street level and is quite beautiful and vibrant.












In the afternoon we toured Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, one of the five missions established in the San Antonio river valley. The Franciscan friars' objective was to convert indigenous hunters and qatherers into Catholic, tax paying subjects of the King of Spain.




The Indians struggle for survival against European disease and raiding Lipan Apaches led them to the missions and to forfeit their culture. The Indians quarters are seen here along the inside of the exterior wall of the Mission.







Everything changed for these neophytes: diet, clothing, religion, culture - even their names. They were required to learn two new languages, Latin and Spanish, as well as new vocations.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 9

Friday, 10/7/2011: It rained off and on all night and the postponed Special Shapes Mass Ascension was cancelled again. Since we both got up early, we said goodbye to what friends were still there (some left yesterday and a few more very early this morning). We packed up and left the Rally at 8:30 a.m. and headed on to Las Vegas, where we lived for 8 years, to visit with some old friends.

This will be the last post for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. I’ll close with some additional pictures of Special Shapes.










The two pictures below will give you a good feel for the size of some of these balloons.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 8

Thursday, 10/6/11: Today was supposed to be a Special Shapes Mass Ascension, but another approaching storm cancelled this event, the winds aloft being too strong. Luckily, with both Marcia and I taking pictures, I think we already photographed most of the special shapes on previous days.

Below are just a few of the special shapes.







I took advantage of the day to do a few chores around the rig. Tonight was our Farewell Dinner, another wonderful catered dinner, the main course being Polo Parm (Chicken Parm). With the day’s balloon events cancelled, a few of the caravan decided to hit the road early, but there were still many good friends, both old and new, to say, “Good Bye – Safe Travels” to.

Because of continuing winds, the Evening Glow of the Special Shapes was minimal, but they did get another spectacular fireworks show off after dark.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 7

Wednesday, 10/5/2011: The rain continued throughout the night, leaving the launch field pretty soggy, and the breezes were too strong for any launches, so the Flying Events were cancelled for the day. We visited the Balloon Museum in the morning.

Many people don't realize that ballooning in Albuquerque began some 20 years before the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk and over 100 years before the first modern ballooning celebration there.

The "City of Albuquerque" balloon was launched by "Professor" Park A. Van Tassel on July 4, 1882. This first Albuquerque balloon flight ascended from a vacant parking lot on Gold Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Van Tassel himself later recalled of this ascent that:
"...The town was just beginning and the gas plant from which I filled my balloon was so weak it took two days to fill the balloon, during which the customers went without heat or light. But they were willing as it was the first ascension that they had seen. Needless to say, I was the hero of the hour."

Many flights were made from Albuquerque in ensuing years. Today, Albuquerque is known as the "balloon capitol of the world" due in large part to hosting an international balloon fiesta since the early 1970's.

Three other types of powerless flight:






































At 4:00 p.m. it was Social Time again in the Hospitality Tent, followed by a Chuck Wagon Dinner. The dress was western, and most did their best to look the part. After dinner, we were entertained by Syd Masters. Syd writes and arranges a lot of his western and country music and has played with many country stars. He was fabulous!

Syd Masters (center)

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 6

Tuesday, 10/4/2011: Another beautiful morning. Slept in again, missing the Dawn Patrol, but got up as the balloons began to arise from the launch field for the Flying Events. Got a lot more great photos, as we did yesterday, the Albuquerque Box was working again.



One of the balloons landed right in our area, at the Hospitality Tent. The pictures below show many of our caravan members helping to land the balloon and get it put away.

The balloon lands



With help, the pilot flies the balloon basket into his trailer

The balloon gets rolled up

and put away in its bag

The main event for the day was a bus trip to Santa Fe. The afternoon weather wasn’t looking good and we opted out of the trip. Instead, we went back to Old Town and wandered around leisurely through the shops. We then went out to the local Camping World to pick up some RV items we’ve been wanting. A Model Train Store was our final stop before heading back to the rig.

We encountered some off and on rain as we ran around. Back at the rig, the rain stopped long enough for us to get our two pups out for a nice long walk. Then the sky opened up. It rained so hard for a short time that I couldn’t even see the RV’s on the other side of the drive from ours. It showered off and on for the rest of the evening.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 5

Monday 10/03/11: After two early rise, long days, we decided to sleep in this morning. We missed the Dawn Patrol, but were awakened a few minutes after 7:00 a.m. by the wooshing of propane burners right over our RV. Today was the first day of four days of Flying Events, testing the skills of approximately 350 pilots participating. They are competing for $100,000 if the weather allows them to compete for four days. If they don’t get four days in, the prize drops to $40,000. The pilots have to fly a minimum on 1 mile away from the launch field, and then return to the launch field, drop down without hitting the ground and drop a ring over one of several poles on the field. Well, the Albuquerque Box was working today. The balloons lifted of the field staying low and flew right over us (we’re about ½ mile from the launch field). Then, after going the minimum mile away, they lifted up into a higher elevation that would carry them back over the launch field. They’d go by the field, drop back down to the lower elevation that would then carry them back to the field. As they approach, they drop down to toss their ring over one of the poles. They rise up again and head out to find a place to land. Many landed in vacant areas in the RV parking area. The balloons were up for at least 3 hours today. Another game on another day will have them once again flying away and back to drop a small sandbag on a target on the field, seeing who can get the closest.



That's our coach on the left

After all the balloons were down for the day, we went quilt shop hopping, stopping a the 3 shops closest to us. We, of course, purchased some fabric at each of them, including a balloon quilt kit to remember our trip by.

At 4:00 p.m. we enjoyed a Social Time in the WIT Hospitality Tent followed by another catered dinner; lasagna, salad, bread and desert. Another wonderful day.

The gas balloon race ended tonight, being won by a UK team. They traveled 974 miles, staying aloft for 71 hours and 32 minutes. The American team that spoke to our group at our orientation last Thursday finished 2nd, traveled 928 miles, staying aloft for 69 hours and 25 minutes. Both teams beat the race’s record for time aloft.



A balloon coming right toward us














The balloon directly over us

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - Day 4

Sunday, 10/02/11: Yesterday we stayed in the RV area and watched the Dawn Patrol and Mass Ascension from in front of our RV. Today, I got up at 5:15 a.m. and headed over to the Launch Field. I got to see the Dawn Patrol set up their balloons, fill them with air and then heat it to lift them upright and take off into the pre-dawn darkness. As they ascended, upon instruction from the ground, they alternately or all together fired up their burners for sensational glows. Quite at sight!

Along with thousands of other spectators, I wandered around many of the hundreds of balloons being laid out, filled with air and heated upright waiting their approval to lift off. You can get right up to the balloons during this process and talk with the crews…even look up inside the inflated balloons. You really can’t appreciate the size of the balloons until you wander along and through the packs of balloons as they launch. A record 345 balloons were launched yesterday in the first hour. I wouldn’t be surprised it the record was broken again today.

At 11:00 a.m., we boarded buses for lunch at the Pyramid Marriott Hotel. After a wonderful buffet lunch, we were treated to an hour of dancing by the Ballet En Fuego Latin Dance Review.






Then it was back into the buses again for a trip to The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, owned and operated by the 19 Pueblo tribes of New Mexico. We spent two hours there watching live tribal dance performances, toured the museum and shopped items made by authentic pueblo Indians.


A book that was just published in September titled Code Talker was on sale at the Pueblo Center Gift Shop. During WWII, the Japanese had managed to crack every code that the United States used. But when the Marines turned to its Navajo recruits to develop and implement a secret military language, the created the only unbroken code in modern warfare – and helped assure victory for the US over Japan in the South Pacific. Chester Nez is the only surviving member of the original twenty-nine Code Talkers, and this book is his story. Authored by Chester Nez with Judith Schiess Avile, they were both there and both autographed my copy of the book.