Rock 'n' Roll, Baby - Sunday, August 30

At 7 a.m., we met Susan at the Trinity University Pavilion to walk a 10k Hannibal Pianta route. She is trying to make sure the route she mapped out is a full 10k. The route passes  a number of buildings with Hannibal Pianta cast concrete work and and a couple of old churches.

At the start of the walk we had sprinkles, but they were so light we weren't even sure it was raining. The sprinkles stopped and the day warmed up, but we had clouds which helped keep the temperature down.

Most of our walk was in Monte Vista Historic District of San Antonio. Not only did we enjoy seeing Pianta's work on some homes, but many homes in the neighborhood are gorgeous.

Mural on a restaurant

Greek Orthodox Church, St. Sophia, 1926

Hannibal Pianta concrete work

Greek Orthodox Church

Detail on top of tower -
Greek Orthodox Church

As we walked down one of the streets in Monte Vista neighborhood, I asked Bob if he wanted to be in pictures (pun intended).

Film crew's trailers.

The film trucks were right across the street from San Antonio Academy (established 1886). Here are a couple of the buildings. Who knows, you might see them in a movie one day.

Franklin House at San Antonio Academy

Stribling House - San Antonio Academy

Once we entered the neighborhood, I lagged way behind because I wanted to take photos of the cool houses and details on them. According to a Texas Historical Commission marker:

Monte Vista Historic District

One of several San Antonio suburbs created between 1890 and 1930, Monte Vista has retained much of its historic character from the that time...

The neighborhood is an eclectic blend of many styles of architecture, including Georgian and Renaissance Revival, Mediterranean, Neo-Spanish, Victorian, and Art Deco...

Characterized by its distinctive homes and colorful history, Monte Vista is a reminder of San Antonio's growth and turn-of-the century development.

The next few photos are of the Jay Adams House. The following information is from a Texas Historical Commission marker in front of the home (paraphrased): Built by developer Jay Adams, this three-story Queen Anne-style house is built of rusticated limestone and wood. Features of the house include covered porches, wood shingle decoration, carved stone detailing, leaded and stained glass windows and elaborate metal work. Delightful details include a rounded corner tower, multi-planed roof, and intricate front porch railing with griffins flanking the main entry.

Jay Adams house

Close-up of griffin on carved stone base

Griffins flanking the main entrance

We marveled at this tree trunk!

The walk finished with a tour through Trinity University, past the Chapman Center with its beautiful fountain, passing by the Palmer Chapel which has lovely stained glass windows, and along a bark chip jogging trail.

"The Scholar is the Student of the World,"
by Waldine Tauch

After the walk, all three of us went to Jim's Restaurant for breakfast. We then went our separate ways. I think all of us took naps after the walk.

Sunday evening, was our rock 'n' roll date night. For starters, we headed to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Our waiter was thrilled to hear about Australian Pink Floyd; he had never heard about them before. While he was in the kitchen talking to his co-worker, he said Led Zeppelin 2 was the opening act! We had no idea we'd be hearing TWO bands as our tickets said only "Australian Pink Floyd."

From the Hard Rock Cafe, we walked to the Majestic Theatre. A week and a half ago we had been here for the Weird Al Yankovic concert where we had seats on the main floor under the balcony. This time our seats were in the mezzanine, so we had a full view of all the gorgeous hand-crafted decorative plaster, statuary, and ornate carvings in the Majestic Theatre.

Decorative plaster in the mezzanine
(and, no, I'm not plastered)

Mezzanine

Decorative plaster everywhere

The white peacock

Inside the Majestic Theatre

Then it was time for the show. Led Zeppelin 2 started the evening and they were good, but we were looking forward to Australian Pink Floyd.

Led Zeppelin 2's drummer doing a solo

After a short intermission to change out equipment, Australian Pink Floyd took the stage. From the very start, it was hard to tell the Aussie Pink Floyd from the original Pink Floyd. Of course, Australian Pink Floyd has been playing for 20 years. (Man that makes me feel old!)

The show was excellent. We clapped, we sang along, but mostly just enjoyed the musicianship of this band along with the accompanying laser light show.

Fantastic back-up singers...each had her own solo
on one song.

"Another Brick in the Wall" with a huge, creepy
inflatable "teacher" on the right of the stage

Of course there had to be a kangaroo in here somewhere

Did I mention we loved the concert? So ended our walk and rock 'n' roll day.

Travel Bug out.

Rodeo San Antonio and Styx - Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

Well, howdy. Today's blog comes to you courtesy of our evening at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo on Friday, February 27. For starters, we parked at a lot on a side street away from the main arena. Shuttle buses picked up riders every five minutes, we had a shorter walk to our destination, and did not have to pay $10 to park.

Let me tell you, it was cold that night! We were bundled up in heavy winter coats, gloves, sweatshirts, heavy socks and I even had my beautiful scarf to keep my neck warm in the freezing wind. We wanted dinner from the outdoor food court. We made one very quick pass, decided on the chicken yakisoba noodles, paid for our food and hightailed it inside a building where we found a table to sit and eat.

Most of our time was spent indoors shopping at booths before the rodeo semifinals began at 7:30 p.m. The booth that won my heart for the best name and display was...Trailer Park Trinkets.

This isn't just any rodeo. The PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association) voted The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo as the Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year for the 10th consecutive year (as of December 2014). Attendance at the rodeo and stock show grounds is now over one million visitors per year.

We took a quick selfie with my cell phone before the rodeo began.

"Cell"fie

Tonight we watched the rodeo semifinals from our perch high up in the AT&T Center. I DID NOT forget my camera!! Even though temps outside were downright frigid, our seats high in the arena were quite toasty.

At 7:30 pm, the rodeo started with a laser-light show. Pretty awesome. Our rodeo admission included a Styx concert after the rodeo. Can't beat that. Styx is one of my all-time favorite rock groups.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo logos

A cowboy, a boot and a saddle combo in laser lights

Next were the precision riders to present colors and to usher in the American flag for the National Anthem.

Flag presentation

When the rodeo got underway, we watched bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping, as well as little kids riding on the backs of sheep. We had a fun time.

Bareback riding

This cowboy is having a very rough ride!

Look at that horse jump!

Winner in female barrel racing. She was excellent.

Cowboy thrown off the bull

Look at that bull kick!

The rodeo was entertaining, but we were really there to see Styx perform. As soon as the rodeo was over, the dirt was groomed, and a revolving circular stage was set up in the middle of the rodeo arena.

Then Styx came on stage. They were wonderful, especially their keyboardist, Lawrence Gowan. What a showman he is! OMG, he was playing the keyboard with both hands behind his back, and he stood behind the keyboard, reached over and played from the back side of the keyboard. He also had a helluva voice. One of my favorite parts of the concert was when he was the only one on stage. He played famous chorus lines from other rockers, e.g. "I can't get no satisfaction" from the Rolling Stones, and had everyone sing along.

We sang, we yelled, we enjoyed. The next day my throat hurt. All for a good cause.

Tommy Shaw still singing after all these years

Styx

Styx

Lawrence Gowan

Cell phone flashlight apps light up the AT&T Center

Tommy Shaw on the Jumbo-tron

Playing from the opposite side of the keyboard

Lawrence Gowan singing on the keyboard

At the end of the show, we bundled back into our warm clothes for the chilly walk to our shuttle. We were home a little after midnight.

While I'm on the subject of music, I forgot to mention that the other night when we went to Hans and Lisa's for dinner, Hans mentioned he writes songs for and plays in a surf music band. He gave us a copy of his CD, " The Sand Devils." We took it home and have played it ever since. Surf music is like what The Ventures play, or perhaps music similar to "Wipe Out." Thanks, Hans. We are getting hours of listening pleasure from your music.

Travel Bug out.