SABBATH REST, A CELEBRATION, and THE PACIFIC WAR MUSEUM

We had a quiet breakfast on the River Walk again this morning...I'm going to miss that part of our daily routine! Then, we headed one hour north to the Hill Country, known for its green, rolling landscape and fresh air to a tiny town named Waring. Boerne Christian Assembly is located there, near a town center smaller than Laura Ingall's "Walnut Grove". It consisted of a general store and the church...that's it. We were late because we "blinked" and missed the turn!

We were blessed by singing the old meaningful hymns, communion at the Lord's Table, and a sermon about the meaning of "Sabbath's Rest", meant for the rejuvenation of the spirit. Afterwards, we shared in a potluck and friendly conversation, centering mainly on life in the San Antonio area.

Soon, it was time to depart, so, on the way back to the center of town, we drove through the booming town of Boerne (pronounced: bornie), a popular place to settle. Evidently, many rich Northerners have changed the flavor of this quaint German community.

Back at the hotel, we freshened up, and walked down the river to Casa del Rio...the oldest Mexican Restaurant in the area, built on a piece of property granted title by the king of Spain in 1777. Originally, it was a hacienda, then, in 1946, Alfred F. Beyer took advantage of the location and developed a business using canoes, gondolas and paddle boats. This use of the property, along with the family restaurant, opened later, helped to create the River Walk of today. It was here I chose to celebrate my birthday with "Chili Rellenos" (Poblano pepper stuffed with cheese and seasoned meat, then deep fried), and my favorite dessert...flan (custard)!

It occurred to me that I hadn't described the RiverWalk in my last post, so, since it's at the heart of San Antonio, here goes. Imagine more than two miles of tall buildings, some hotels, others shops and restaurants, adjacent to each other, on either side of a 20-30 ft shallow, meandering river. The river is flanked by stone walkways, approximately 5 feet wide, that allows a scenic stroll, and access to the lowest level of businesses. There are are 35 bridges at frequent intervals, that allow access to both sides. Occasionally, there will be a stone staircase leading up to the street level, and historic areas of the city, but the river walk is virtually invisible on that level. On a busy day(today!), one is passing shoulder to shoulder with other tourists, each scanning the umbrella covered tables on the river side, full of patrons enjoying their tasty fare, and on the other, the restaurants and shops. Add to this, aged shade trees growing along the path, ducks, birds, and fish in and around the river and at your feet, the sounds of conversation, bustling waitpersons, and commentary from the guides in the flat-bottomed tour boats, and you have a clear picture of this popular destination!

Memorial Day dawned bright, with a little excitement during breakfast. We noticed a pigeon struggling to swim across the river, looking for a landing area low enough to climb up to the stone walkway. His movements looked odd in the water, as it appeared that he was doing the butterfly stroke! I didn't know pidgeons could swim, so I watch the bird's maneuvers closely. I was relieved to know it arrived safely. I've spent my life "rescuing" animals in distress, but as my kids and friend, Marcia remind me, my care does not always result in survival!



Out to the rolling hills we headed, and on to the town of Fredericksburg, where the world class, "National Pacific War Museum" is located. The former Nimitz Hotel, graciously serving travelers and the military in the Victorian Era and beyond, houses the memorabilia and history of Chester Nimitz, Admiral of the Navy in the Pacific during WW2. His grandfather, who opened the hotel, was a great influence on Chester. His values of hard work and determination, stories of the sea and frontier Texas military, formed the boy who would one day be the highest ranking officer of the US Navy.

The George H. W. Bush Gallery (which took us 3 solid hours to view), featured the entire story of the Pacific Campaign, using films, memorabilia, photos and narration which chronicled each operation throughout the war, as it dealt with Japanese forces attepting to occupied each island. It was overwhelming to see the casualties and effects the war had on both sides. Power and greed are strong motivators for war, and I wondered if history would be different today if nations would build their empires through influence instead of bloodshed! For an entirely different view of this war, check out the "Uncle Eric" books here.

 

We then visited the combat zone, where an authentic military plane, PT boat and tanks were displayed. For an interactive game and virtual tour of the exhibit click on the link here. 

The day ended with a hearty meal at "Der Lindenbaum" restaurant, a must-do for the Del Boccio clan, since Fredericksburg was originally settled by Germans immigrants!