On the second full day in Houston we headed out to Galveston. When we considered why, we couldn’t quite remember other than the famous Glen Campbell song and seeing it battered by hurricanes on the news over the years. Anyway, the north of the island is quite an historic place having been a harbour for pirates originally, and then a thriving port. Some of that history still exists, and there is industry, but otherwise it is like we imagine Key West 25 years ago. That is to say, not over touristy but you can see where it’s going. The South of the island, on the Gulf of ?, is Benidorm 🏖.

We returned to Houston and then jumped on the tram and travelled to a large park area near the museum district. A lovely park that has……wait for it…..a reflecting pool, and……it reflects! It’s shocking we know 🙄. We also spoke to more lovely locals whilst at the park, all of whom can’t get over the British accent 🇬🇧.

The next day, Labor day, we packed our bags and left for San Antonio. We travelled a circuitous route via a small town called Alice, no explanation needed, and a giant plastic Rattlesnake outside the chamber of commerce (a wooden hut) in what was basically a road junction called Freer 🙂. That’s when is started to get really hot for pathetic Brits like us 🥵. Travelling through the plains of Texas – scrub land with huge ranches – temperatures hit 40 C, and if the car stood still for more than 10 mins in the sun it registered 42..43…44 etc.

Having melted, we arrived in San Antonio. Another lovely Airbnb right next to the river. They have done a really amazing job of creating many miles of lovely river walk to navigate part of the city on foot.

Today we walked a lot of said river walk, and visited the Alamo, the Cathedral and the historic market. The old adage “you don’t know what you don’t know” could not be more applicable than to the Alamo. We all see the pictures, hear about the battle and know a little about Davy Crockett, but that is one small part of it’s history. From a meeting place for native tribes to Spanish mission to Texan rebel fort to Mexican fort to Texan fort to US fort, after Texas joined the union, to Confederate fort during the civil war, and finally rescued to be a historic monument!

As we type this we are now off to a rather lovely outside bar area called “Elsewhere” that we found last night on the river walk. Fingers crossed we don’t literally melt 🫠 before we reach their very excellent fans with water spray 🙂…and of course beer 🍺. Tomorrow we are visiting some caverns – underground=cool=thank god – and another of the original Spanish missions 👍. Then we head for Fort Worth via Waco, and some more Americana for Gem.