Remember The A La Mode

Westjet passengers practicing Social Distancing

Yesterday was pretty ho-hum. We didn't even leave the country. Today will much more interesting as we fly from Calgary to Houston. Our room was comfortable and quiet and we were at the airport by 9:00 am for Westjet flight 1572 in a much bigger and more comfortable plane, this time with real engines that go whoosh. Our seats are just to the attendant's left. One of the unexpected perks about my illness has been discovering how much more comfortable it is to board the plane before the crowd. I have felt quite justified in lining up with the parents with tots and people in wheelchairs in order to get a head start on my hobble down the jetway. So much so that, as I have recovered, I find I develop a limp whenever entering an airport. It must be one of the side effects they didn't warn me about. No worries this time though as we have seats at the front of the plane to make this trip as comfortable as possible.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas

In about 5 hours we are circling George Bush Intercontinental Airport north of Houston. Our plan originally was to overnight in Houston then head east the next day. Time constraints are now removed and, when you think about it, how could we go to Texas and not see the Alamo? My brothers would never forgive me. So we hang a right out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and head west to San Antonio.
We will take the Tollway as it will save us half an hour and we're probably less likely to get lost. I didn't know about America's toll roads until enlightened by a birder friend. They are quite a bit faster if that matters to you. Your rental vehicle comes with a transponder that is turned on when you rent. If you stay off the toll roads there is no charge, but the cost is pretty minimal. We will try to stay on secondary routes after this and be a little more connected to the place.

What impresses us first is how small the Alamo is. I guess things grow in the imagination.

The Alamo National Monument, San Antonio, Texas

For all that, I am impressed with the weight of history about the building, and I must say that history got it right in "Remember The Alamo!". If I kind of squint I can see Davy Crockett and George Russell, out of powder and shot, desperately swinging their Tennessee squirrel rifles as Santa Ana's soldiers swarmed over the battlements right here in front of me!

         

These pics give a little more perspective. Stepping back from the Mission we can see the city around. And hear it - Interstate 37 roars by only two blocks away. I try to picture it as it was on the 6th of March, 1836 when the Mision San Antonio de Valero was the biggest building for hundreds of miles in any direction, and the Mexican and American armies fought over the border territories. Now it looks like this.

Here are a couple of 3 minute videos with a little background about the building and the historical issues. Enjoy. Tomorrow we head south to Corpus Christi on the Caribbean Coast.

Deconstructing History: Alamo

Deconstruct the myth shrouding the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution