Lakes, Lilies and Friendly Folks
Trip Start
Jul 06, 2011
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Trip End
Oct 06, 2011
San Angelo, Texas
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Fort Concho was headquarters for the 4th and 10th Cavalary and 16th infrantry. Today Fort Concho is fully restored and holds numerous events throughout the year along with the extremely popular re-enactment. There are over 2,000 volunteers who participate in the re-enactment all dressed in period clothing with some dressed in full military uniforms either marching or riding horses. There are a few hand-sewn quilts hanging in the museum that date back to the Civil War era. Fort Concho was also home to several companies of black soldiers who got the name Buffalo Soldiers from the Indians due to the wooly hair on their heads like that of the buffalo. The museum is very informational and interesting and certainly worth a visit.
We drove to downtown San Angelo to explore some of the well-known tourist attactions. First stop, Eggemeyers General Store, the original San Angelo general store. One side of the store is dedicated to cooking. You can find every tool, knife, pot, pan, bakeware, and appliance you could want plus homemade jams, jellies and preserves, as well as dip mixes, snacks and bottled sauces, a great selection of coffee beans, and condiments. There is also a large selection of cookbooks along with a good selection of other books too
Then there are the old-fashioned things that will surely spark memories – real wooden blocks for children along with other hard-to-find quality toys, Madame Alexander dolls, hand-blown German glass ornaments. They have Polish pottery, and many other dishes. They sell delicious hams which are glazed and baked in the store. Honey, their own “Sweet and Hot” tomato relish which is great over cream cheese for an instant party food. And now, hot off the press – there is a wine bar in the works, literally. Located around the fireplace, with rocking chairs for kicking back, the section will serve wines by the glass, German beers, and, of course, their good coffee. The wine bar will offer a variety of wine accessories, including Riedel Crystal glasses, and decanters, must-haves for the serious wine enthusiast. [Excerpt from Texas Food and Wine magazine]
We had lunch at Miss Hattie's Restaurant and toured her "Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum". Story is she was divorced from her husband. They had a 2 story home downtown. He keep the downstairs; she kept the upstairs. She needed to make money so she opened a bordello and made lots more than her husband.
We also did a self-driving tour with audio through our cell phone on murals painted at different downtown locations. They were about the history of the town and were amazing.
One day we visited the International Lily Pond Garden (see photos) and finished up with a walk on the 4 mile River Walk. The River Walk is along the Concho River and has numerous bronze statues, rock gardens, picnic areas and lots of foilage.
We would definitely visit San Angelo again if we had the opportunity.
Comments
Very neat. How fun it is for you guys to see all this