San Antonio Day 3

Well, dang.  It's our last day in San Antonio and we are facing a long drive home.  Somehow I have a hunch that traffic will not be as nice to us as on our way here.  It's now just a few days before Christmas and people are on the move.

We are off to breakfast at a VERY old and "must see" place.  Parking in a nearby garage, it's just a short walk - about 3-4 blocks and a beautiful morning.  As we move along on the sidewalk, I spot a church that just must be peeked into.  Oooooh --- it's beautiful.  St. Joseph Parish has members entering and exiting the entire time so it's hard to get pictures without invading their privacy, but I do try.

I spy quilting everywhere.  It's true - look at the inside of this archway.  I love the nativity too.  What a lovely way to start the day.

Looking out into the middle of the street is La Entorcha de la Armistad, which means The Torch of Friendship.  It was created in Mexico by the renowned Mexican sculptor Sebastian.  It's gift is intended to signify the longstanding friendship and roots shared between Mexico, the US, and Canada.  It is 65' tall and was dedicated on June 27, 2002.  Sebastian says, "When designing the sculpture, I thought of creating a symbol of light and I came up with the idea of a torch that stands tall to evoke friendship and unity.  I envisioned two tall columns rising and joining at the top in a playful dance to form the torch.  From all angles, it reflects the different facets of the relationship between our countries:  sometimes festive, at times complex, at times very strong, but at the end, integrated and harmonious."

Ahhhh, the restaurant.  We are now at Schilo's and once again, I am seeing quilt patterns.

"Schilo's started as a saloon in the 1900s in Beeville, TX.  'Papa' Fritz Schilo moved the saloon and his family to San Antonio, TX in 1914, and mama Schilo started serving some of her classic German recipes a few years later in 1917.  All was well in the world, as Mama and Papa Schilo settled into the hustling, bustling big city of San Antonio as the restaurant and saloon started to build the first generation of happy Schilo's customers.  Mana Schilo's timing was perfect - 1920 prohibition hit America, closing all saloons, but the Schilo's fortunately didn't keep all their (deviled) eggs in one basket.  While the rest of the country's establishments shut their doors, at Schilo's the beer kegs were rolled out of the coolers, and the famous Schilo's Family Root Beer kegs rolled in and filled the tap lines to quench their patron's thirst.  The frosty mugs stayed frosty, root beer suds ran down their sides and the Schilo's family prevailed. 

In 1942, Schilo's moved to it's current location which was originally a currency exchange bank.  In fact, the original bank vault is now a walk-in cooler.  After three generations of Schilos family operation, the Lyons family purchased the establishment in 1980 and has maintained the proud German, family-owned tradition of hard work, good cooking, and having fun.  Now, 100 years old, Schilo's is the oldest operating restaurant in San Antonio."

The food is good, service a bit slow, and they, once again, serve alcohol in addition to their root beer.

So many of the original parts are still in use.  LOVE these hat racks at the end of each booth.  People use to actually wear hats AND took them off indoors.

Well, I think that's about it.  Our bellies are ready for a drive and it's time to point the car north once again.  As we walk back to the parking garage, we are on the other side of the street and above the Riverwalk.  Some daytime views are always good for the soul.

And one last "quilt" pattern spotted.  It's definitely time to go home.  I think I need to sew.  What a fun trip this has been and we will definitely be back to find more wonders to explore.  San Antonio, although a HUGE city, has managed to keep it's original feel and history. 

Note:  I was right --- It took us TWO hours longer to get home due to traffic.  We even stopped in Lorena to explore the town and have lunch at a cute cafe only to discover that there really isn't any town or cute cafe.  Chicken worked and back on the road we went.