P52 Week 41 -- Water

What is there to say about water, that ubiquitous, life giving substance that they have now found on Mars? Those of you who have read my blog know that I love water – specifically tropical ocean beaches.

I could write more about that, but have decided to scale down the scope of water to a short stretch of the San Antonio River as it flows through the city of the same name. Last week I spent five days there with my daughter and her good friend. They were both attending a photography conference. I played tourist.

I learned while there that, after a devastating flood in 1921, the city wanted to construct a huge underground storm drain. The women of the San Antonio Conservation Society fought this solution. They helped turn the tide and instead, a flood control system was built.  The charm of it all was that, along with the water channels, dams, and a lock system, a picturesque waterside urban park was created. Yeah, ladies!

I strolled along the River Walk my first morning there. The river was so quiet and still. I could hardly make out the direction of flow.

I marveled at the mosaics on the walls, the designs poured into the concrete paths, the textures of the stones and worn steps. I loved the abundant vegetation, some of which I recognized – bougainvillea, hibiscus, palm trees – many others I did not. Magnificent bald cypress trees overhung the waterway, softening the glare of the humid heat.

A few homeless sat in the shade of overpasses. A battered work barge chugged by with a smiling, weathered-faced driver.  A large net, like a snowplow, was attached to the front of the barge, and it was scooping up the debris that had collected on the water’s surface. A Hispanic gardener sprayed the path clear of leaves and detritus and watered the bushes. He cautioned me to stay clear of the long hose.

Even as I approached the touristy U-shaped loop of the river, hardly anyone was about – at 10 am. That, along with the eerie, deserted urban landscape we experienced on our taxi ride from the airport the evening before, made me wonder whether there was any vibrant life in the city of San Antonio.

Friday’s walk painted a different picture. I marched the half mile from our riverside hotel to the touristy area and was delighted to see a livelier scene. The restaurants were packed; tourists of all shapes and colors strolled about; booths were being set up for a weekend fair. Over the weekend, I had my fill of Tex-Mex food and steaks at riverside restaurants. I also tasted some pretty darn good Cuban and Italian cuisine.

The San Antonio River Walkway: calling it the river of life may be overstating it, but it is the lifeblood of the city’s tourist industry. Yes, it was hot and muggy at times. Yes, there was the smell of urine in some of the corners of the River Walk. Yes, it was kinda touristy. But darn it was fun, and I’m glad I got to experience it.