Sunday, October 31, 2010

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY…ODDS AND ENDS

Saturday, October 30 – We took a ride up to Ingram to see Stonhenge II. It is a replica of the famous megalith in Salisbury Plain, England.

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It is 60% as tall as the original and 90% as large in circumference. Along with the replica of Stonehenge, there are two Easter Island-type statues.

Paul always the funny guy.

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Unfortunately, the Stonehenge is in a state of disrepair....it's falling down. There is a donation box trying to collect the necessary money to save it. They need $50,000 and are at the $30,000 mark. If you are going to see it, you better hurry.

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About a half mile down TX-39 from the Stonehenge is a really cool shop....Copper Cactus.

bldg

The yard is full of cooper art from Mexico.

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marsha

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There are three buildings full of hand made jewelry, Indian blankets, furniture and other western style art. Sherri and Jay own the building and most of the items in the three building are originals that Sherri and Jay made. This is a really neat stop!

We rode home on TX-16 between Kerrville and Medina. There are warning for trucks and RV's of steep windy roads.....a warning well heeded! It is a beautiful ride through the country, but DON'T take your RV this way!

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This looks straight but don’t kid yourself. All we saw were signs with S shapes on them.

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We took Bella on the river walk. No not in San Antonio....the Medina River runs next to the campground, so we took her down there so she could explore.

The water is so clear. You can’t even see it in the pictures just some ripples.

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Bella had a real long drink.

bella-drinking

Now for Paul. He didn’t know Marsha was watching as he attempts to across a log.

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He acted like he crossed the Grand Canyon. In reality, if his foot would have hit the water it wouldn’t have gone high enough to wet his sock. Such an adventurous man!

So many deer in the RV Park. They come right outside the MH to eat.

It starts with two and then…

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it multiples.

deer

Sunday, October 31 – Happy Halloween!  We attended the 8:30 a.m. service at Bandera United Methodist Church. It was Youth Sunday. Now, we enjoy seeing the youth involved in the service but this was a very different service. The youth conducted the entire service which would have been fine if we could have heard at least a tenth of what they said. We don’t think any practice every occurred and no one knew how to fix the speaker system. It was very unorganized. Unfortunately, one gentleman actually got up and walked out. We have no idea who the ministry is, his name wasn’t even in the bulletin. Not one of our better worship experiences.

What a rare day for us…we didn’t do a thing! Paul got the motor home ready for traveling tomorrow; Marsha doesn’t really know what she did all day. Oh, she says she talked to her dad and her Aunt Johanne…what a BIG day she had.

Thanks for stopping by. We hope to see you again real soon. Have a great day!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY…SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

Thursday, October 28 – We had appointments in San Antonio this morning for physicals to upgrade are life insurance. It seemed to go well.....I think we both passed????

Afterwards, we went on the Texas Missions Trail to visit the San Antonio Missions. in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus.

The Coahuiltecan Indians were the predominate Indian Tribe in the area.

Our first stop was Mission Concepcion.

outside

outside-hall

The doorways are very low. Marsha fits through easily.

doorway---marsha

Paul is another matter.

doorway---paul

It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America.  The Church was dedicated in 1755. Except for the gradual disappearance of the colorful frescos, little of its appearance has changed.

back-to-front

Altar

altar

Beautiful pews

pews

Marsha and her ceilings…tons of color.

ceiling-colors

Paul was fascinated with the locks.

paul-figuring-lock 

The extensive art inside the buildings contains a blending of Christian, Spanish, and Native art elements. Experts restored original frescos on the convento walls and ceiling in 1988. Here are some of the original frescos still visible in several of the rooms.

This one is called "Eye of God" or “All Seeing Eye”.

art-3-eye-of-God

The other frescos do not have names.

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art-2

Prayer garden

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Religious services are still held at Mission Concepcion. Seasonal decorations may be seen in the church's interior.

Our next stop was Mission San José. This is the largest Mission.

Wall around Mission.

wall

Church

mission

Plaza where building such as the blacksmith, carpenters, etc. were probably located.

plaza

In 1719, Father Margil de Jesus, a seasoned Franciscan missionary, was at Mission San Antonio de Valero (today's Alamo) requested permission to establish a second mission south of San Antonio de Valero. The Marques agreed and founding ceremonies took place on February 23, 1720.

Families lived in two-room quarters.

apartments

Fireplace

apartments-fireplace

The building of the limestone church, with its extraordinary Spanish colonial Baroque architecture and statuary began in 1768. At that time there were 350 Indians residing in 84 two-room apartments. Based on Father Morfi's description in 1777, Mission San Jose came to be known as the “Queen of the Missions.”

Front doors are being refurbished.

door-front 

They were able to uncover some of the original coloring on the church.

outside-color

The Rose Window at the San José Mission in San Antonio is known as much for its mystery as for its beauty. The biggest riddle of all is why the Rose Window is so named. It is not related in any way to traditional roses. It really has pomegranate around it.

The short version of the story goes like this…a noted Spanish sculptor named Pedro Huizar, charged with carving a religious window at San José, instead used his considerable talent to carve a monument to his lovely sweetheart, Rosa. When the window was complete, he sent for his love—who died in a shipwreck on her way to New Spain. How sad.

rose-window'

There use to be a roof over this area. The clergy lived here.

arches 

inside

Altar

altar

Door way

inside-door-way

We enjoyed visiting these two missions.

Before we went back to the motor home, we decided to visit an historical site in Bandera. St Stanislaus Catholic Church is the oldest Polish Catholic church in Texas. The second oldest Polish Catholic church in the United States. The Church had its beginning in 1855 when 16 immigrant families from Poland landed at Indianola, Texas. They then proceeded to Bandera to settle. This was only six weeks after the settling of the first Polish Parish in the United States at Panna Maria, Texas.

outside 

inside

So much color.

front

looking-back

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The stained glass was hauled by wagon from a port on the Gulf and installed by determined farmers.

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A gorgeous church which continues to hold mass every day but Monday.

Friday, October 29 – Woke up this morning to 39 degrees and of course the furnace wouldn't come on....jeesh! We'll have to have that checked-out!

We drove to Love Creek Apple Orchards in Medina (about 10 miles north) for what is called the “Best Hamburger in Hill Country.” Now it's the only burger we've had in Hill Country, but if it isn't the BEST we'd sure like to find one better.

paul-hamburger

If you are ever in Texas Hill Country, be sure to head to Love's. Oh, and there apple pies..... WOW! We didn't taste one, but we saw 'em. Unbelievable! It takes a 14-inch slab of dough to drape over the 4-pound mound of apples grown in their apple orchard. Unbelievable price too.........$22.95 for a whole pie.....Yowzie!

pie-sign

pie-lady

We then walked around downtown Bandera. Not much worth seeing there! We did check out the Honky Tonks and know where to go tonight. We are headed to the 11th Street Bar. It has a huge outside patio area with a huge dance floor. Had a great time at the Honky Tonk.....hee..haw!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you back real soon. Have a great day!