March 2013 - San Antonio

This past weekend we drove to San Antonio to see Bailey in a cheerleading competition.  Bailey's team didn't go on until about 2:45 so we decided to go and see the missions.  There are 5 missions in San Antonio if you include the Alamo.  All but the Alamo are still working churches where Mass is held.  The Archdiocese of San Antonio takes care of the churches and the city takes care of the grounds.

Mission San Francisco de la Espada (aka Mission Espada):

This was the first mission in Texas founded in 1690.  The priest was hearing confessions that morning but we just missed him.

 

Mission Espada.

  

Inside the church.

There were all these remains of outbuildings around the grounds.  This looked like it was the remains of a house.

The grounds were incredibly peaceful.  These trees must have been hundreds of years old. 

It was only after we took the photo that we found out we weren't supposed to sit on the trees.  Oops!
 

The girls are standing in front of what was a barracks for the Indians.  The Spaniards ran the missions and tried to teach the Indians the Spanish culture.  This was my favorite mission.

Mission San Juan Capistrano:

This was the second mission that we visited.  It was founded in 1716 in eastern Texas and moved to its current location in 1731.  It was self-sustaining. 

I think they were having a quinceanera or something here.  The church was locked and you couldn't go in.

 

This cross in the middle of a cactus patch was at the entrance of the mission.

This was one of the outbuildings.  I believe it was the church office.  All the windows were boarded up.

All the stations of the cross were outside along the path leading up to the church.  That was kind of cool. 

Resting under one of those fantastic trees.  Notice they are not sitting on the tree.  This was my least favorite.  There was a lot of construction going on and I think it ruined the ambiance.  Plus a tour bus had just dropped of a bunch of people.

Mission San Jose:

This mission is known as the "Queen of the Missions".  It was certainly the largest compound of all.  Founded in 1720 the full name of the mission is Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo. 

 

The mission fell into disrepair and in the 1920's and '30's it was restored.

 

Inside the church.

 

The altar.

The walls that went around the compound made up the houses where the Indians lived.  It was like a group of duplex homes.  Each door was the entrance to a dwelling and each dwelling had two rooms.

We actually go to go into some of the rooms.

This was like a turret but on the ground floor.  Those little holes were where I would assume the Indians would put their guns to defend the mission.  There was an upper level as well.

At the other end of the mission was a room that you could go into that showed what the insides actually looked like during the time they were occupied.  This was certainly the largest of the missions and the nicest.  It was my second favorite.  It was very peaceful here as well.

Mission Concepcion:

The mission was founded in 1716 and relocated to this current site in 1731.  The church was dedicated in 1755 and is the oldest unrestored stone church in America.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisma Concepcion de Acuna.

There was a grotto to the left of the church representing Our Lady of Lourdes.

The church from the side.  The outbuilding was a convent.

There was some kind of event going on at this church as well so we couldn't go in.  That was a shame because there were supposed to be some frescos in the church that are 250 years old.

Mission San Antonio de Valero:

 

You really can't come to San Antonio without at least walking by the Alamo.  There's just something about it that draws you to it.  After dinner, Cheryl & I walked over to Alamo Plaza to check it out.

Right next to the Alamo is the Menger hotel.  I've always wanted to stay here but I never do.  Next time.  It's supposed to be haunted.

Looking for ghosts in the Menger hotel.  They were just starting a ghost tour!  I wish we'd known.  I'd have stayed up for that.

Dinner was at Mi Tierra, of course.  I love that place!  We had a really nice time.  It was a great little weekend getaway with the girls.