San Antonio by the river.

We arrived at our hotel “Marriott by the riverwalk”, caught up with the rest of the team (now we are eight) and went walking!!!

San Antonio river walkway.

Russell enjoying the colourful gardens.

Seven (plus one photgrapher) in search of a Mexican restaurant, recommended by a friend of Jai Leigh as our dinner destination.

Busker under a bridge, Al and Chip looking on.

Rainbow umbrellas, at a restaurant, lining the shores of the river.

The evening was young and we did not give up on our five block walk, although tempting as we passed many delicious cooking smells!

We left the river, and headed north (or south) up at city level.

And finally (a good 30 minute walk) arrived at the marketplace.

A very much decorated Mexican/Spanish part of town.

Sharing the fruit, and enjoying the buzz of the marketplace.

Serenaded through a very delicious Mexican meal.

We then headed back to the river to take our river cruise, now it was dark and all the Christmas lighting is on display.

Past the gingerbread house (actually the courthouse) Trina and Sue staying close so as not to get lost.

So…… everyone else on tour in San Antonio decided this also was a good time to take the cruise! Rather a queue but we managed to get our ride after not too long a wait.

The lights reflecting on the river.

One of the many bridges we passed under.

Statues and huge trees on the riverbank – glowing from the light reflections.

The electricity services building lit up like a Christmas tree!

Lila Cockrell theatre – with the total top half in a mosaic artwork design.

Back to dock, the wind blown out of the team, all ready for an early night and a big day of adventures and fun tommorrow!

So it’s good night from the 23rd floor of the Marriott Hotel in San Antonio Texas!

A seven am deadline departure time, and we were on the road north from Lake Jackson – first stop Goliad!

In search of a coffee through the main street Christmas bunting!

And I say ‘careful what you wish for’, today I probably would have been best without a coffee.

The county courthouse in the middle of the Goliad town square.

Friendly locals, and Tonas daughter-in-laws’ sister (Keli), was there to show us around her town!

This is Keli’s Christmas tree decorating project, where all the town groups and school classes come in to decorate a tree, and then these are donated to families in December!

Russ in front of the hanging tree in the square, that served as the execution spot for the town deviants.

Then off in search of the two historical sights, earmarked for a visit, just out of town.

Mission house of Zuniga. 1722 to 1830, a catholic mission settlement for local people, who worked the land and raised cattle. This was pretty much abandoned after 1830 during the struggle for Texas to gain independence from Mexico, and restored as a historical site in recent years.

Inside the very Spanish decorated chapel.

Trying the traditional headwear on for size – the metal balaclava making my neck shorter by the minute (extremely heavy).

A weaving loom used by the missionary families.

The out buildings, homes of the families.

The plastered, restored missionary buildings and chapel.

Then on to the fort, that was built to protect the missionaries and local landowners.

Fort Bahia. After the Mexicans massacred the Texans, in an attack in this town of Goliad in 1835, the Texans eventually won in a battle closer to Houston later in the year and the first steps for Texas to become independent of Mexico began.

The Presidio Chapel, here at this fort was where the signing of the first declaration of Texas independence took place, in 1935.

A little bit of Texas history, I hope I have this correct.

So we have just arrived in San Antonio, let the party begin! I will start a new story for this part of the adventure.

Today Tona left her Lexus Jeep for us to drive, sooo….

A button to start, move the steering wheel into position, move the seat and away we go! On the right hand side of the road and Russ navigating!

First stop the coffee bar and this cute little caravan Christmas display, bringing camping into the Texas winter

A bit of Christmas shopping at TJ Max (Steph you’ll appreciate this).

Home for a little break…and off to collect Tona from work.

Tona and Sue getting nails done, Russ came for the ride to navigate but couldn’t decide on a colour for his nails!

Sue and Tona had fun, all ready for our four day road trip starting early in the morning.

Driving in at dusk, finally the wildlife came to visit.

These little guys (deer) in the yard at dusk.

We are looking forward to our road trip and visiting lots of new places, and catching up with more cousins, over the next few days. Hope ya’ll are ready for the ride!

Another very chilled day in the ‘heart’ of Texas. Our hearts at least!

Making a cold meat curry from the left over lamb roast, needed a few essentials (like curry powder)

Hitched a ride into town with Garry again early afternoon (no public transport out here).

Walked today from one end of Lake Jackson to the other , navigating freeways (no pedestrian crossings) and enjoying the sunshine.

The treasures we found (not necessarily bought)

A huge array of Christmas cake boxes (this ones for you cousin Trish), unfortunately not collapsible so unable to stock up!

Trudi!!! I hear you girlfriend!

A whole city of replica Christmas houses – and people.

We had arranged for Tona to collect us on her way home, a trip to the charity shop, and Russ was getting a little thirsty!

Low and behold….

Restaurant and bar just leaped our in front of us!

The complimentary snacks and a nice cool beer before home to finish off my curry for dinner.

The family all left for work before the Kiwis got up this morning, leaving us to ‘amuse’ ourselves.

Showers, coffee, washing, newspaper, crosswords and sudoku!

A beautiful day in Lake Jackson so we went for a walk out to the road.

Admiring the blocks on the way and keeping a lookout for the wildlife (deer, bobcats, raccoons) sadly the only one we saw was a snake on the road that was well and truly Roadkill.

Trying to amuse ourselves – not really succeeding (a terrible movie on tv) and Gary, Chucks brother arrived early afternoon and very kindly dropped us to the town.

Even Russ was keen on looking at shops by this time!

We finally made our way to Walmart and had a great time in this superstore.

George look what we found – a small sample of Christmas jersey options, of course not needed for the NZ summer Christmas!

Shopping done, mainly food and beverages, we made plans for Tona to collect us on the way home from work.

Russ hanging out with the shopping trolley.

In a busy car park of trucks!

The temperature has dropped even though we have sunny days ahead and looking good for our side trip towards the end of the week.

It’s all about eating here in Texas, especially since we arrived the day before thanksgiving. Tonas mum told me that I could just buy a new pair of jeans if mine are getting a little tight!

Last night it was my turn to cook.

A kiwi lamb roast for the family with Russ carving the meat. A little hiccup as I started cooking the meat at 180 (thinking Celsius) and two hours later realised it was farenheight and all I was doing was warming it up! Temperature corrected and all turned out well (if a little later than planned)

This morning was church – the meaning of Christmas service – with lots of singing and very relaxed atmosphere. We met lots of Tona and Chucks friends who were all very welcoming.

Then off to lunch at the local airport with Tonas mum and dad!

A local seafood restaurant with delicious prawns, stuffed crab and crawfish!

James enjoying the fish tank, before heading home to pack up and head back to their home!

The sun came out and it was a lovely warm afternoon!

Russ had a rest and then Chuck took us for a drive to Quintana – south of Lake Jackson, where all the industrial, petrochemical HUGE plants are!

Freeport container port near the gulf coast

New LPG conversion plant being built!

Huge industry and the development of a major US income.

Back home as the sun was setting, left over roast for dinner! And an early night as our hosts are back to work tomorrow! Might need to earn my keep and do some chores around the house!

We have a crocodile encounter – even though Texas is Alligator country. Crocodiles are from other parts of the world.

The family, kids and grandkids and the kiwis went for an outing to the ‘Crocodile Encounter’ Park this morning.

First up were the piglets!

Followed by; close up and personal with some smaller creatures!

Frilled lizard – James, Eric and Chuck having a wee pat.

Snake, a harmless cobra so they say.

And a baby alligator!

Moving along behind our guide around the park…

Feeding the giant tortoises celery sticks.

Followed by some very close Alligator encounters (these big guys were behind fences)

Alligators do not attack humans (mostly east smaller animals) and as they are native to Texas can stay outside over winter.

Unlike the crocodiles who come from tropical climates and need to be inside heated spaces.

These big crocodiles are already in their inside winter homes.

The teenagers still outside for now but soon to move to warmer huts.

Tour not yet over we still had some furry animals to visit.

Goats! A world wide breed!

Lemurs with zebra tails running around their enclosure.

Bongos – striped antelopes

And a little bit of Australia in Texas – Kangaroos dancing with their keeper.

James, Eric, Kelly and Baby Emma – the family pic of the day!

Off to a BBQ joint in Angleton, where Russ went to school as a teenager, for lunch and home for me to cook the family a Kiwi Lamb Roast for dinner!

And the adventures continue in Texas.

In Lake Jackson south of Houston – the girls hit the town this morning.

As you can see the anticipated franticness was a little lacking.

We visited J.C. Penny’s, Target, Academy Sport and a coffee shop.

Kelly with a Christmas tree of socks, hats and scarfs.

Tona and Kelly lining up for the checkout in Academy Sports….apart from the checkout line, it all seemed like a normal shopping day!

And in the mall, Santa is missing in action.

After the department stores one last stop at the supermarket to stock up for the weekend.

Back of the truck full up, so it was time to head home to give the boys a break from babysitting.

They were out the door pretty smartly for a round of golf. Weather in this part of the world is pretty mild, around 22 degrees, a little cloudy but quite warm.

An afternoon of watching basketball with Polly is planned.

The 4th Thursday of November is thanksgiving day in USA – an afternoon of cooking yesterday and up early this morning for more food making!

I sort of helped – mixed and chopped and some dishes!

Turkey ready to go in the oven, pies made, Veges cooked and that was only the half of it.

We all loaded up, folks and food, and headed to Tona and Chucks sons’ house for thanksgiving lunch!

Serving up the main course, I was wondering when the other 50 people would arrive to eat this feast!

A plate of turkey, ham, sweet potato, Mac and cheese, green bean pie, corn pie and a number of other dishes I couldn’t fit on my plate!

The hosts – Ashley and Travis and Tona.

My choice of deserts – pumpkin pie, apple pie and pecan pie! Just had to try it all! (Actually there were several more choice but just couldn’t fit on my plate or in my stomach)

So, full to the brim, a special treat was then in store for the kiwis. The Texans mostly drive big Trucks, however the two sons are ‘Mustang Men’

I was treated to some cool rides!

Travis’s ’66 Mustang 2.8L

Chris’s 2015 5L ‘Stang – there’s some power under the hood of this one!

A kiwi dream fulfilled! Well almost apart from owning one myself that is.

This day is akin to our Christmas back home, where we eat until we cannot eat anymore and then it’s family game time, before everyone falls asleep!

Here its Bocce (or as we know it pétanque) The adults circumnavigating the backyard and the kids playing on the playground!

These Kiwis (Russ and Sue) are very blessed to share this day with our Texas family!

A very long day of airports and airplanes yesterday, landed two tired kiwis in Houston Texas around 3pm local time (10pm euro time)

Thank goodness our friends, Tona and Chuck, were there to meet us on arrival and navigate the roads back to our home for the next three weeks – Lake Jackson!

Last night we got to sleep very late Euro time (2.30am) and very early Texas time (7.30pm) so this morning we were up early local time… from now on we are on Texas time. (Even though right now our bodies may disagree). The joys of travelling around the world!

Coffee by the pool – sunrise around 7am. And the sun came up bright and warm.

The kiwi flag is flying next to the US flag to welcome us.

A wander down to the lake and pontoon, being wary of the bobcat family living in the bush behind the house, and alligators that live in the lake!

Nope didn’t see an alligator, but we are assured they are there.

The neighbours dogs, golden doodles, (there was four of them) spied me and came running over to say hello, one barking and another jumping on me for cuddles.

Tona took Russ and I into the township, before the family arrived, and we are having an afternoon of cooking in preparation for thanksgiving tomorrow.

The chocolate and pecan pies cooking in the oven..really looking forward to tomorrow!

Now after a sunny morning, in good fall Texas weather, we have thunder and rain. Great afternoon to be inside with the smells of pies cooking!

We are very spoiled in this part of the world and privileged to share this special time of year with our friends and their family. I’m guessing thanksgiving feast will test the flexibility if our stomachs!