26/03/17 from the Capitol to the Riverwalk

Sunday for us means not resting, but action. Early in the morning, we decided to spend a few hours. We really wanted to see Austin and the Capitol. Ute and Robert, on the other hand, wanted to head straight to San Antonio. That's what we did.

Austin on early Sunday is very relaxed in terms of traffic. We were able to drive back into the city from the south very comfortably and had the privilege of finding a disabled parking space right at the Capitol. Perfect. We went inside right away because we wanted to avoid the expected big rush. That worked out very well, one side was completely optimized for wheelchairs. Safety check with stern-looking officers, no problem. Then we were inside. The seat of the Texas legislature is almost entirely accessible to the public. In the middle under the dome is a huge Texas star logo. Mom had been looking forward to this photo the whole vacation.

Today, however, we were lucky that for an hour an orchestra played a serenade, sitting right on this star, well, no big deal. We went to all four floors and explored everything. We were in the House of Representatives, which comes across as very historical. With leather chairs with the Texas coat of arms on them, and all the representatives of the past years on boards on the wall... then we visited the underground new part, modern but fitting perfectly with the historic part. Magnificent... Around the building, as is often the case in America, there is a great park with lots of sculptures.

A tip for everyone visiting Austin, drive completely from the south via Congress Avenue to the Capitol building, because beforehand you will find bars and pubs with live music everywhere and from the bridge you will have a fantastic view of the Capitol!

It was early afternoon and we set off for San Antonio, home of the Spurs and one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. Later in the evening, we can confirm that. The first impression is a bit different, there is no big skyline, the Tower of the Americas, which was built for the World's Fair, stands out. Downtown is very narrow for American standards, without skyscrapers but with many small and modern houses, but also old buildings with small shops.

The highlight, of course, is the Riverwalk, a river that stretches around the city with paths and bridges on both sides. There are more than 70 bars and restaurants to be found there and it is beautiful. You can also take a boat ride on the Rio San Antonio, but we didn't treat ourselves to that. There is supposed to be a laser show every evening at the San Fernando Cathedral, using the entire church facade as a screen. Unfortunately not today, because right in front of it, the local qualifying for America Ninja Warrior 2017 took place with a lot of fanfare. We could hardly get close, but the crowd was thrilled. In between, we also visited The Alamo, where Texas' independence from Mexico began. Super interesting for history fans. Even 2 Germans defended the fortress and thus the freedom of the Texans 180 years ago and gave their lives for it, but we gladly declined the offer to buy the $27 photo there.

All in all, we really liked San Antonio, it was wonderfully warm until the evening, and then we stopped at a Walmart at the edge of the city. Tomorrow we're heading towards the Mexican border. Oh, one more thing comes to mind.

The Texas we have experienced until today has surprised us. Everywhere we encounter lush green in all its facets. Apparently, this season is perfect for a visit, it's wonderfully warm but bearable. I can well imagine that in midsummer everything will be quite burnt here... and besides, we have been to Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, and we haven't seen anyone openly carrying weapons. Except for the police, of course, but that continues to round out my very positive image of the USA."