San Antonio Missions and Riverwalk Barge Trip

Saturday I got a slow start, wrote in my journal, did some laundry, packed up my suitcase, and worked on the blog. My mission today is to visit El Concepcion Mission. But I can't find it. So I went to the San Jose Mission which is right on Roosevelt Avenue - the same street as the RV resort. The rangers helped me find it. It is super easy when you know where to look. I bought some post cards, two National Parks stamps for the Missions, and a T-shirt for Logan.

Then headed out for El Concepcion Mission, which is located on (where else) Mission Road. It is actually really close to my RV Park, but behind it on Mission - and NOT on Roosevelt as the sign on Roosevelt says. And that big open space on the other side of the fence behind my camper is a golf course. The parking lot at Concepcion is really small; just sit and wait for someone to leave. It won't take long.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna was built over a period of 15 years and dedicated in 1755. It is the oldest unrestored stone church in America. The limestone used to build the church was quarried on the site, and forms 45 inch thick walls. I did notice that even on the 80 degree day of my visit, it was cool inside the church. It was not just a church, but the center of a mission community that was built to protect and convert an agrarian group of Native Coahuiltecans who were facing twin challenges from marauding nomadic Native American tribes and the western movement of Whites. The friars taught them farming skills so they could sustain their lives within the mission walls. This mission (not the church) was founded in 1716 by Franciscan Brothers from Spain. The Coahuiltecans eventually assimilated into either White or Mexican cultures around San Antonio, and are not presently an active tribe. Today, El Concepcion is an active church with its own congregation. I remembered to take my big tripod this time so I got some good photos of me; in front of the National Park sign and in front of the twin bell towers of the church.



The architectural style is called Spanish Colonial, but it incorporates a lot of Moorish design elements - especially inside. The National Park brochure says, "Colorful Moorish designs mix with images showing both Native American and Spanish Catholic influences." It is quite unique among old Spanish mission churches in the Southwest because of the Moorish influence. They have worn off over the last 200+ years, but the twin towers used to be painted head to toe with colorful Moorish geometic designs.

History was well-presented on large white boards. The interior of the church itself was amazing with its perfect melding of Spanish Christian and Moorish design elements. I took a lot of photos of the interior and baptistry. The baptistry was not identified as such, but the park ranger verified that is what indeed one left over from the days when European Catholics would not allow women inside churches, so baptisms took place in a separate chapel, or a separate building. I think the photos below give a good idea of the Arabic influence present inside, especially the dome and the door.



At about 4 pm, I headed downtown to River Walk. It was much easier to find a parking space this time of day. Walked to River Walk and looked for a steak place (I was getting a little tired of Mexican food every day). Should have walked further south, but near the Alamo the only steakhouse is Saltgrass and they had an hour wait for a table - not even on the patio. Went to Rio Rio. I had to sit inside, but was able to get a beef guisado. Not bad. They had a mariachi trio that traveled thru twice singing Mexican songs. Enjoyed them.



After dinner, I bought a ticket for the River Barge tour and then tried to find where they load. Not an easy task. Got on board after waiting in a long line. Sat across from a friendly couple from North Carolina. The barge tour seemed longer today than 8 years ago. I think the section by the convention center has grown longer. The "river" isn't a real river. It is a dredged catch basin for flooding, but they have damned it up to keep water in it now for the tourists. The San Antonio River near my RV resort has no where near this much water in it. You would not even be able to ride a canoe in that stretch of river, much less a barge. The photos give you some idea of the design aesthetic of River Walk.

The woman manning the parking lot booth gave me wrong directions to St. Mary's Street, sending me exploring quite a few downtown streets. On my travels on the streets of downtown, ran into these two Mexican army historic re-enactors standing in front of the CVS Pharmacy. I finally did manage to get out of downtown and made it "home." Had some wine and talked to my D-I-L Autumn and some friends on the phone. It was a great last day in San Antonio. It would have been better to have someone to share the experiences with, but all in all my trip to San Antonio was a good one, and I would come back again.