Why I started this blog.

 

How did I decide to start this blog?

Let me give you a little history. 

 

 

I moved here to San Antonio, TX on September 3, 2009.

 

I had not gone any farther then the Walmart less the 2 miles from my home.

I did not know where any thing was, I did not know how their bus system was as there were no city busses by me, and I don't drive.

 

The nearest bus stop to me was a 5 mile walk, then at least 2 busses to get to "Downtown" proper.

 

Finally after being cooped up in the house for over a month with just the wanderings of Walmart to keep me occupied I decided enough is enough.

 

But I had "cabin fever" so bad, I did not care. So I put on my walking shoes and grabbed my back pack and took off to the nearest bus stop.

 

 I got off my bus at the corner by a hotel on the Riverwalk and promptly got lost.  I got very lost.

I was scared, confused about where I was supposed to go, and could not even find my way out of town to get back home.

 

Here I was, a woman in her 40's, ready to cry like a little lost child.

 

Now, I don't remember street names, can't distinguish North from South or East from West as I had only been here a month, I don't drive and this was maybe the 3rd time I was on the bus, and it was most certainly the farthest I had ever gone by bus.

 

I kept seeing yellow shirts everywhere. I finally got the courage to talk to one of them and discovered they are staff from Centro San Antonio. They are City Information Specialists. 
They are located at 219 E Travis, San Antonio, TX 78205
P. 210.224.7747, F. 210.224.5716
email is: jrichards@downtownsa.org
website is: www.downtownsa.org/centro
 

They were the first to show me the Southern Texan Hospitality that is world famous. 

 

They gave me a map, gave me directions, and gave me the best tip I have ever received to that point.

I was told:

I was told as long as I can find the Alamo, I can find my way anywhere around Downtown.

Then the Famous Yellow Shirt told me, after I get comfortable finding the Alamo, then mark the major landmarks like the Menger, the Emily Morgan, Ripley's (yep, we have a Ripley's, it is great for giving people directions).

 

Luckily, I found the Alamo was only 3 blocks away from where I got off the bus.  I had no idea I was that close.  I thought I was miles away according to the directions a few people gave me.

 

Well, I continued my day, I got home safely, and have since been downtown, and all over town since then. 

 

4 years later, in 2013, I still don't  know all the street names, but I know a lot of the landmarks. 

 

I decided that very day with the kindness of that Famous Yellow Shirt, that the only way I am going to get to know my new "Home Town" is if I treat it as a giant vacation.
I regret not remembering this persons name, but if you read this, you know who you are. 

The very first thing I tell people I meet is look for the Yellow Shirts, then find the Alamo. You will be able to find anything in San Antonio. I give the people I meet the same advice I was given my first day Downtown.

 

I don't often get to spend a day just wandering around looking at the sights, but when I do, I will document, and research, and edit and add and etc. etc. etc.

 

There is so much to see and do in San Antonio.  The long time residents here have NO IDEA OF HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT!!!

 

There is all sorts of museums, parks, pools, sights, hotels, history, nature, architecture, culture, art and friendly people that I am sometimes very amazed that they take all this for granted.  

 

Come "tour" with me as I find all the secrets, and surprises that San Antonio has to offer.  

 

I look forward to being your "Tour Guide Extraordinaire"

 

I am not a professional writer, but I think that is what will make this Blog a success.  You will get a real opinion from a real person, who has really lived the experience of being here in San Antonio daily.  You won't get a "critics review" from a 1 week vacation from a travel magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 



B-Cycle 2013 Limited Edition Medal

Only 150 available this year.

 

This is the 2013 San Antonio B-Cycle Fiesta Medal.

 

Here is a link to their site to you can get some back ground information on them and what they do:

 

http://sanantonio.bcycle.com/

 

I strongly encourage you to get a membership with them whether you have a bike already or not.

There may just come a day when you are in town and decide, hey, lets rent a bike while we are here.

This is one of the perfect companies to rent from.

 

Each year they put out a Fiesta Medal.  As you can see from this post, I was able to get the 2013 medal. 

 

If any one has a 2012 or prior years medal they would like to donate to me, I will make sure you get donors credit on this post.

 

Per their Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/sabcycle?fref=ts

 

on 4/15/2013, they posted they only had 150 Medals to give out for this year.

 

I dropped everything I was in the middle of, hopped on the bike and make a quick jaunt to go pick up my Medal for the collection.

 

While I was down there I happened to get a call from my Medic, told him where I was, and he came down to get a medal as well.

 

While I was waiting for him to come down, I took out my sash, and pinned the medal to the every growing collection.

 

One of the gentleman working there came out and we spent a few minutes talking.  I did not get his name, but I did promise him that I would link them to this post.

 

Please feel free to share this post, and to follow me.

As I get the rest of my medals cataloged and researched, I am sure I will be coming back to do some updates and some edits, so thank you for bearing with me.

 

I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

http://pinterest.com/medicsgirl210/fiesta-the-party-with-a-purpose/