Horse and carriage, San Antonio. Photo: Peter Ellegard
Hotel Emma, San Antonio. Photo: Peter Ellegard
SAN ANTONIO ATTRACTIONS
The city’ s star draw, the Alamo is a frontier mission famous for the 1836 battle in which the Mexican army slaughtered 200 Texas rebels including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with four other San Antonio colonial missions.
I was left somewhat disappointed by it.. The tiny building stands in a small park in the heart of downtown, towered over by high-rise buildings and fronted by a busy road with souvenir shops and tourist traps opposite, although there are plans for a museum and visitors centre to replace them.
Nearby is the city’ s real gem, the River Walk. A recent expansion now connects downtown with the Pearl Brewery complex that’ s home to exclusive home from home, the boutique Hotel Emma, extending the River Walk to 15 miles. Take a leisurely, narrated boat trip, stroll under magnificent cypress trees and over stone-arch bridges, relax over a meal at a riverside restaurant or sip margaritas at a bar while a mariachi band serenades you.
A few blocks behind the River Walk, San Antonio’ s 76-year-old Mi Tierra restaurant serves authentic Mexican food amidst colourful decor and more mariachi music.
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