Lackland Air Force Base day 1

Leon's grandson, Gunnar Bird, has spent 8 weeks at basic military training, aka boot camp, in San Antonio, Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. At last we have arrived for his much anticipated graduation.

Before we can take the trailer on base we had to go through an inspection.

Funny how they even look under the hood. If you just drive the truck onto base they don't check hoods.

As we drove to the fam camp we passed new recruits going through their training.

At 7 am there was a runby of those graduating. I have never seen anyone built like this guy on the left. I would not want him in my face!

The squadrons ran by while families shouted and cheered.

Later in the day we went to the coin ceremony. Gunnar's parents are so very proud of him!

Grandpa and Airman Bird salute (army and air force).

The coin ceremony was most impressive.

After the ceremony we spent much of the afternoon visiting at the campground. Tina, Steve, and Trisha listed to one of his many experiences. Yes, that is Gunnar. He lost 17 pounds and five inches from his waist. Perhaps we should start running.

San Antonio missions

This is one of five missions along the mission trail in San Antonio. The San Antonio mission is better known as the Alamo. Much more information about the missions on the national park service website.

The stone church at Mission Concepcion was dedicated in 1755.

Had there not been a wedding in progress we could have gone inside the church. We were hardly dressed for a wedding. This is the oldest unrestored church in America.

Some of the original frescos are still visible in some of the rooms.

From town one could ride the trolley to the mission. We even have a senior pass good for four years. We pay .25 to ride.

The other mission we visited was San Jose. We arrived just as the visitor's center closed but still got to take a quick look.

I can only imagine how busy this place would have been 200 years ago. Perhaps the aroma of bread would have filled the air.

This is the "Queen of the Missions,"  the largest which has been almost fully restored. Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church as the center of the community.

This is the area where the missionaries would have lived.

Nobody knows why this is called the Rose Window. There are several theories.

The WPA did a lot of restoration work in the 1930s. I am most impressed by the stonework.
 It certainly reminds me of European churches.

It would not take much wood to heat this small room. The doorways are really short as the people were shorter then.

 One of several entry gates. The mission housed both Indian neophytes (those converted to Christianity) and Spanish soldiers.

These wall surrounded the mission to protect them from attacks by Apache and Comanches.

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Again we used participated in the Garvan Gardens reciprocal program to visit the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.

The rose garden was blooming profusely.

It surprises me to see so many "houseplants" blooming outside in December as we go further south.

The gardens showed different types of landscaping for various climates.

The waterfall in the fern grotto would be refreshing on a hot day.

There were beautiful colors in some of the cypress. Here an Egret kept flying across the pond grabbing snacks.

The Flame of Jamaica was my favorite. This was a very large bush or small tree just covered with these blooms.

The acequias is a replica of the system of canals that carried water to all the missions at one time.

We went through sections that represented the different areas of Texas such as the hill country, the arid southwest, etc. This was quite a nice stop on a sunny warm 80 degree afternoon.

Mexican market

Each trip to San Antonio requires a visit to the Mexican market so we hopped a bus and rode over. I am not sure Leon agrees.

I am still wondering why the Christmas tree is in the bed of a yellow pickup truck.

I debated getting this plate for your Mexican parties, Kelly.

The crowds were light this day and we had the place pretty much to ourselves!

San Antonio, Texas riverwalk

We stopped overnight in Austin and arrived in San Antonio on the last day of December to await Leon's grandson Gunnar's graduation from Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base.  Our first day in San Antonio was spent locating our camping spot. Lackland AFB had told us that we could come early and stay there but we found out differently at the gate. The American Legion in town became our choice. Cheap, aren't we! Up on the rooftop...afterall it is December .. Leon went to fix the antenna.

We weren't there ten minutes when the garbage truck pulled up. Talk about feeling like a garbage truck magnet!

We were only about ten minutes from downtown and wasted no time heading for the riverwalk.  We stopped by the Alamo along the way.

Me: "You don't need a haircut." Leon: Yeah, but I could sure use a beer!"

I was so happy to finally arrive at the riverwalk again. We enjoyed a snack at Schilo's first!

The tour boats were busying traveling along the San Antonio river.

It was such a peaceful walk.

Who knew there would be such chilly nights. The Christmas lights hanging in all the trees were truly beautiful.