The Wandering Disciple

In 1836 the Mexican Army ambushed the Misión San Antonio de Valero resulting in a13-day siege and was a turning point in the Texas Revolution. What would become the Battle of the Alamo sparked the rally cry Remember the Alamo.  Today you can tour the Alamo site as well as a museum which houses artifacts from the Alamo. Much of the artifacts in the collection are from the private collection of musician Phil Collins. He was inspired by the heroics of the Texans and wants to make sure we all Remember the Alamo.  Taken: March 17, 204 at The Alamo (San Antonio, TX)

San Antonio, Texas: Bexar County, located in the heart of Texas, boasts a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. From the early days of Spanish missions and the pivotal fight for Texas Independence to the vibrant cultural diversity of today, Bexar County has consistently played a significant role in shaping the Lone Star State.  The county's historical significance is deeply intertwined with the establishment of Spanish missions, which served as centers of religious and cultural influence. These missions, with their distinctive architecture and enduring legacy, stand as testaments to the early Spanish presence in the region.  Bexar County also played a crucial role in the Texas Revolution, a pivotal conflict that ultimately led to Texas' independence from Mexico. The Battle of the Alamo, a defining moment in Texas history, took place within the county's borders and remains an enduring symbol of courage and sacrifice.  Beyond these historical milestones, Bexar Coun...

The largest of the missions near San Antonio, Mission San Jose is known as the Queen of the Missions.  Founded in 1720, the mission served to provide both a physical home and a spiritual home for Coahuiltecan Natives as well as refugees from the closed east Texan missions.   The mission served hundreds until it was closed in 1824.   It would be restored a hundred years later as part of a Works Progress Administration project and today serves not only a reminder to the past but also an active Catholic parish. Mission San Jose is one of five missions that comprise the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.  The missions stretched along the San Antonio River were like little towns in the Texas plains.  Today you can tour each of the missions and four of the five are still active church parishes.  The only mission that does not function as a church is Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly known as The Alamo. Taken: March 16, 2024 at Mission ...

San Antonio, Texas:   For day three of our Texas trip we headed a little further from the downtown area to explore some of the some of popular city attractions, the zoo and the Witte Museum.  These were attractions that were highly recommended by our tour guide yesterday and always try to visit new zoos when we travel.   We began our day with breakfast at Max and Louie's Diner.  Located in the Embassy Oaks Shopping Center, the New York style diner had a full menu of Big Apple favorites.  I had the Challah French Toast and it was probably the best French Toast that I ever had!  My wife had an omelet that she really enjoyed.  As I looked over the rest of the menu, there are plenty of other things I would have liked to try if we had the time. Our first stop of the day was the San Antonio Zoo.  The fifty plus acre zoo is home to over 750 species of animals.  The zoo had a few animals we have not seen before and the animal exhibits made you f...

Come and Take It!  That was the battle cry of the Texas Independence and the Texans fought for independence from Mexico.  For six months starting in October 1935, brave soldiers from the Republic of Texas battled the Mexican Republic.  Two key battles of the conflict were the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.  Following a loss in the Battle of San Jacinto, the Mexicans surrendered and Texas became its own state. The journey for independence is just one of the Texan stories told at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.  The three story museum just blocks from the state capitol tells the history of Texas from prehistoric time through modern day. Taken: March 16, 2024 at Bullock Texas State History Museum (Austin, TX)

San Antonio, Texas:   Our second day of the trip started with a walk over to the historic Alamo.  The riverwalk was quiet this morning following the St Patrick's celebrations the night before.  We strolled along the banks of the river until we reached the Alamo. At the Alamo, we took a self-guided tour to of the Alamo and its historic buildings.  This old mission was the site of the Battle of the Alamo, a historic battle during the Texas Revolution.  Here Davey Crockett, William Travis and band of Texans were ambushed by the Mexican Army.  The original Mission San Antonio de Valero has been preserved along with other historic features of this mission.  The self-guided tour narrated by Ray Benson told the history of the Alamo.   When we completed the tour of the Alamo, we took a short walk to the other side of the plaza to board the Old Town Trolley Tour for a tour of the city.  Our trolley tour guide was BC and he took us on a informativ...

  As our flight heads westbound across the Gulf of Mexico, the sunshine rises to the east and appears to be chasing the aircraft.  We departed the airport in Tampa predawn at 6:30am and the sun met us mid-Gulf roughly around New Orleans area.   This Southwest flight kicked off our 2024 Spring Break vacation to Texas.  During the next week we will be exploring San Antonio and Austin.  Be sure to check back here regularly as we will have lots of new pictures from our Lone Star State adventures. Taken: March 16, 2024 at Gulf of Mexico 

Austin, Texas: The Bullock Texas State History Museum stands as a pivotal institution dedicated to the comprehensive and ongoing interpretation of the "Story of Texas." Strategically located in the vibrant cultural heart of Austin, in close proximity to the majestic Texas State Capitol, the museum serves as a beacon for understanding the state's rich and multifaceted past. Its central mission is to actively engage a broad and diverse audience through thoughtfully curated and innovative educational experiences that illuminate the intricate layers of Texas history, ensuring that the narratives of the past resonate with contemporary visitors.  The museum proudly bears the name of Bob Bullock, the esteemed 38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas. His visionary leadership and unwavering dedication were absolutely crucial in the initial conception and eventual establishment of this significant institution. A passionate advocate for the meticulous preservation and widespread public ex...

San Antonio Texas:  We got up at zero dark thirty to kick off our Spring Break vacation to Texas.  For this week long vacation we will be departing Tampa International Airport and visiting San Antonio and Austin.  This trip marks our first trip to Texas as well as our farthest west adventure so far. Our trip got started early with a trip north to Tampa and our 6:30 flight on Southwest Airlines.  We were flying on Southwest Flight 1226 non-stop to Austin.  We got to the airport early and breezed through TSA screening.  While we waited for our flight to board, we ate breakfast at Burger 21 on Airside C. We boarded our 5-year old Boeing 737-800 for our on-time departure west to Texas.  The early morning pre-dawn flight had the sunrise chasing us across the Gulf of Mexico.  The flight to Austin was smooth until we reach east Texas and strong cold front.  The turbulence was fun and despite almost zero visibility we landed safely at Austin-Bergstr...

Some of my earliest childhood memories surrounded the holidays and one holiday tradition is the Easter egg hunt. I would get all excited to get out there and find as may eggs I could and look forward to the prizes they contained.  With Easter on the way, the Walt Disney World resort is bringing that excitement back for kids and adults. From now until Easter you can participate in the Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt at Epcot. Grab your card and hit the trails of World Showcase and try to find each of the colorful eggs. Look high and low, near and far to find them all and when you do, be sure to collect your prize.  Taken: March 9, 2024 at Epcot at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

As we wake up an hour later this morning thanks to Daylight Savings Time, we spring forward to the colorful blooms of spring flowers. This bright and colorful garden is courtesy of the International Flower and Garden Festival currently going on at Epcot at the Walt Disney World resort in Central Florida. Be sure to check out the colorful display, delicious food and great music hosted during the festival.  One reminder as we enter Daylight Savings Time, please take a moment to change the batteries in your smoke detector. Three in five home fire deaths are attributed to no working smoke detectors in the home. Be sure each time you change your clocks, you change your batteries.  Taken: March 9, 2024 at Epcot at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

As you pass under this gateway in Central Florida, you are leaving the stresses of everyday life behind and entering the most magical place on Earth. This welcoming site at Walt Disney World has been bringing smiles to faces of kids and adults alike, marking the start of the Disney magic.  The Walt Disney World resort is home to four theme park, two water park, an entertainment center and plenty of resort hotels. Centered around Disney classics, the park features rides and attractions based on Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and more. Over 58 million guests pass through the gates of Walt Disney World each year to experience the magic of Disney.  Taken: March 9, 2024 at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

As the weather gets cooler, animals need to adapt to the changing conditions. Some migrate to warmer climates, some hibernate to sleep it off. The colder waters force manatees to seek warmer waters, pushing them closer to the coast and into waterways with warm water like those around power plants.  This pod of manatees is enjoying the warm waters near the discharge of the TECO power plant in Apollo Beach. Each winter, the canal is filled with hundreds of gentle giants seeking a refuge from the cold waters. Florida Power & Light opened the TECO Manatee Viewing Center, an information center and elevated boardwalk that allows you to view the Manatee up-close.  Taken: February 21, 2015 at TECO Manatee Viewing Center (Apollo Beach, FL)

When much of the country is void of color thanks to cold weather, there are pops of color thanks to wildflowers that span the fields of the Sunshine State. The winter blooms like this Sunshine Mimosa found at Lemon Bay Park.  Lemon Bay Park is a 210-acre nature park located along the shores of Lemon Bay. It features diverse ecosystems like pine flatwoods, scrub and mangrove forests. There is a system of trails that help you travel though the park to see the plants and animals that live within the park.  Taken: January 3, 2015 at Lemon Bay Park (Englewood, FL)

When it comes to being the leader in air superiority, it takes a team effort to maintain the global effort. That's where Team Robins shines. The airman of Team Robins and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex. They are directly responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of some of the iconic Air Force aircraft like the F-15 Eagle, C-5 Galaxy. C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and more.  This effort is on display in the Team Robins exhibit at the Museum of Aviation located on base. The museum spans four buildings and all eras of Air Force aviation. There are over 85 aircraft on display from early gliders to next-gen aircraft.  Taken: December 22, 2014 at Museum of Aviation (Warner-Robins, GA)

Hop aboard the Stone Mountain Railroad and enjoy a scenic ride on the rails around historic Stone Mountain Park. The rock line takes you on a five mile loop that completely encircles Stone Mountain, a 1,686 foot quartz monzonite dome.  Stone Mountain Railroad was once a spur of the Stone Mountain Granite Company used to serve the mines at the foot of Stone Mountain. In the 1960's the rail lines were repurposed to create a tourist scenic rail line and the present day Stone Mountain Railway was born. Today the train is one of the many attractions you can enjoy when you visit Stone Mountain Park.  Taken: December 21, 2014 at Stone Mountain Park, (Stone Mountain, GA)

From this humble home in the Sweet Auburn section of Atlanta came the starting chapter of the journey of a pioneer in Civil Rights. This is the birthplace of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Dr King's childhood was shaped here as he spent the first twelve years of his life here.  Today the home sits as part of the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. The childhood home is joined by Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr King preached, historic Fire Station 6 and a museum that help preserved the legacy of Dr King and his fight to equality.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park (Atlanta, GA)

A giant panda enjoys his favorite treat, a stack of bamboo. Giant pandas spend much of the day eating bamboo and can eat up to 80 pounds of bamboo a day.  Zoo Atlanta has four giant pandas on display and is currently the only place in the United States to see the giant panda. Giant Pandas are owned by the Chinese government and are on loan to the US. The loans for Memphis, San Diego and Washington DC have expired and the pandas were returned to China. The Atlanta pandas are due to return to China sometime this year.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Zoo Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)

As you stroll through the paths of Grant Park, you are strolling though history. In the shadows of downtown Atlanta, this urban park is the oldest park in they city and features hiking trails, a zoo, a farmers market and more. The park was founded in 1883 when local engineer Lemuel Grant gifted the city of Atlanta 100 acres to create a park in the suburbs. A few year later the city acquired more land and tasked the Olmsted Brothers with developing a master plan for the park. Today the park is a popular attraction and one of the prestigious neighborhoods in Atlanta.  Taken: December 20, 2014 at Grant Park (Atlanta, GA)

Like a beacon in the night sky, the illuminated air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport rises above the airfield. At 398 feet tall, the tower is the tallest in the country and provides guidance for pilots into the busiest airport in the world.  Serving almost 94 million passengers a year, Atlanta has been top ranked in the world for years. It's five runways service over 1,000 flights a day connecting travelers to 225 destinations across the globe. The airport is the headquarters of Delta Air Lines as well as a stop for 26 other airlines.  Taken: December 21, 2014 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)