BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN SONORA, TX

MUSEUM SHRINE FIGURES

MARKET DANCERS

Monday, July 27

Yesterday (July 26) we drove from San Antonio, TX to Sonora, TX. We saw the famous Market Square in SA, which was a charming scene. We bought some stuff from a Guatemalan shop run by a charming Guatemalan lady, with whom we swapped stories of her lovely country. There was dancing by locals of all ages and skill levels. We also went to a nearby "Alameda Museo", where we saw a very powerful photography exhibit about teen age immigrants.

Sonora was a bleak and almost empty shell of a town, with some lovely architecture. I posted a few images.

Today we had a long, hot drive from Sonora to El Paso, a big city replete with confusing interstate ramps. After flailing some, we found our motel, and fell into bed. More flailing yielded a takeout dinner at a local Sonic -a surprisingly OK grilled chicken salad.

Tomorrow we go to Tucson and plan to stay with a good friend for 3 days - a needed respite from the road. Friday, July 31, we go to Phoenix, where we audaciously made a reservation at the Biltmore for 3 days - WOW!

Texas is a HUGE state, seemingly endless, we will be happy to enter New Mexico, and Arizona.

J&J

Houston, San Antonio!

ALAMO!

SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK

Today we are in San Antonio, and hope to post a few images from the Alamo, Riverwalk, and a few city scenes. It is HOT, we took an afternoon break and saw the latest Harry Potter movie, we both liked it with some reservations, but it was a SUPERB way to relax a bit and beat the 104 degree afternoon heat.

http://jack-judy.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow we go to Sonora, TX, and hope to see the caverns there. That reminds me, better get a reservation!

Please remember that all comments, suggestions, etc., are MOST welcome.............. Judy & Jack

Below - Houston Fine Arts Museum

Above images are from the sculpture garden of the
Houston Fine Arts Museum.

We arrived in San Antonio after a longer than expected drive from Houston, accidents and a mis cue from our otherwise trusty GPS, Hermione. We whirled around in circles on hair raising ramps in Houston rush hour, but finally made it to I10 West. THEN we ran into a huge slowdown due to an accident - ah, the joys of travel! Houston was full of art, the Fine Arts Museum is HUGE, filled with a highly varied collection. Alas, they were very negative about photography, contrary to what their web site states. Wehave some images of the sculpture garden, and a few that Judy snuck in from the African gold exhibit. We have a nice room in SA, plan to stay for a luxurious 2 days in our spacious room. We should hustle now, ere it gets TOO hot, and see what the famed "River Walk" is all about. I'll post a few images from Houston.

J&J

Food notes!

A few thoughts about southern food:

1. If they could figure out how, they would fry water.

2. Virtually everything else IS fried!

3. We finally got a good, flavorful meal in Houston, at a little Greek Cafe near the museums, called "Sophia", 1601 W. Main Street. Fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared. Judy had Arugula Salad, I had a chicken mango sandwich - all yummy!

BELLINGRATH GARDENS, MOBILE, AL

Above are 3 images from the Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile, AL - all Judys with her Panasonic FZ-18. (Edited by Jack in Lightroom)

The above 3 images are from Wakulla State Park in FL - taken by Jack with his beloved G1 camera.

Hi Gang:

Beaumont, TX, was a bust art wise. Art Museum of SE had it's main gallery closed for a new installation, and it didn't impress all that much anyway.

We took off for Houston early, and had a WONDERFUL time at the spectacular Menil collection and serene Rothko Chapel. We got caught in a strong storm while in a byzantine chapel, turned out to be a nice experience. Unfortunately, photographs were NOT permitted at any of these places. Tomorrow we plan the Fine Arts Museum,supposed to have a great glass exhibit.

I'm posting (at long last) a few images from Wakulla State Park (FL pahandle). Hope you like them - more later.

We are finally getting our "road legs"........ J&J

We had a lovely visit to the LSU Art Museum, luuch at a nearby cafe, and have arrived safely in Beaumont, TX. Nice Holiday Inn with internet access - YEAH!!! The exhibit featured local artists, many faculty members of LSU, and was of very high quality, colorful, and really worthwhile. It is fun to see all of these museums!

Tomorrow we plan to visit the Art Museum of the SE, a big deal in these parts, and will deliver a report.

Tonight, I hope to, at last, download images from our cameras, and upload some here.

See ya later..... J&J

Hi gang:

Finally got back to it today, no internet in Mobile, AL., we are now in a rainy Baton Rouge, LA, contemplating breakfast and the university art museum. Beaumont, TX tomorrow, huge art museum of the SE (allegedly).

Trying to keep all our "stuff" organized in the van is a challenge - we will sort things out as we move along.

We hope the rain subsides as wee seek the museum - we shall see!

J&J

Hi All:

Whew, we made it on the road at about 10:30 AM, saw the Appleton Art Museum in the afternoon, now at a new Best Western near Wakulla Springs State Park, just below Tallahassee, and the site of many Tarzan movies.

The museum was a real surprise, a high quality Asian collection that elicited a lot of "wows" from Judy, housed in a virtual palace of marble and granite! :-) If you have not seen it, it is WELL worth the trip - Just 2.5 hours up from Sarasota, very near Ocala.

Hope to take a boat ride on the springs tomorrow, weather permitting, wish us luck.

An astoundingly good dinner was had at "Posies" in the metropolis of Panacea, just when we thought nobody was open in the boonies on Sunday evening. The crab cakes were 2nd best we ever had, the fried chicken was juicy, flavorful, and not greasy. We are so grateful and relieved!!

I'll upload photos soon!

J&J

Departure tomorrow!

Today was our granddaughters (McKenzie) big day - she appeared in a play at the Florida Studio Theater, the culmination of a 2 week stay with us, and a 2 week acting workshop. The play was TERRIFIC!!

After lunch we said our goodbyes, and we hope to make our final van preparations tonight and take off tomorrow morning. If all goes as planned, we will visit the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, FL tomorrow, then proceed to Wakulla Springs State Park just below Tallahassee.

It will be fun if some of you will kindly leave comments for us.

Thanks.... Jack & Judy

Departure preparation

7-17-09

The big day of departure approaches and there are a lot of details to attend to. Our granddaughters (McKenzie) play is Saturday and we hope to depart the following morning.

Personal stuff, photographic, computer, etc, etc... oh my! Hope to keep you all posted as we progress, and perhaps upload some images as we travel.

Have a GREAT day!!!

Jack & Judy