I just spent the 4th of July weekend in San Antonio to get a feel for what it will be like in 2010 when we attend the 75th International Convention. The was a wonderful welcome sign was hanging on the wall at Club 12 where I attended a couple of meetings. The folks there can't wait for us all to come on down. Texas was wonderful, hot, friendly and scary to visualize 60,000 alcoholics strolling down the Riverwalk! It's not so much a city, as a really big town. There is a Texan superstician that no building should cast a shadow over the Alamo, so there are not that many tall buildings as in other large cities.
The Alamodome where the convention will be, is across the highway from the downtown action. We will have to walk about a half mile to get there. There is a large Convention Center closer where I imagine there will be meetings also.
I did all the touristy things so I could get the Texas flavor of it all. I took the trolley to Guenther House and had the best bisquits in the world at the converted home of the family who owns Pioneer Flour. Carb freaks, don't miss this one! I rode out to Gruene and had lunch at "Rudy's, the wurst barbque in Texas," and had a soda tray full of smoked meat with a side of a loaf of bread. It was an experience! Also in Gruene, I sat on the wooden bench of the oldest Dance Hall in Texas where John Travolta filmed the movie "Michael." Ahh….I smelled cookies!
I would highly recommend seeing the IMAX movie in the RiverCenter Mall about the Alamo, then walking down the street to stroll quickly through the real Alamo, a large empty, then on to a really cool gift shop! I waited online for an hour to get into the actual Alamo, rented a 55 min. tour on headphones but due to the crowds couldn't make it to the last empty side room. Although I live in the tropics, I was about to pass out from the heat. Not a breeze in the Alamo, no a/c or any movement in the stiffling day.
Best food, Boudros…they make the guacamole right out of the skin at your table. The waiter confided in me that they sell a million dollars in guacamole every year.
Although I have a wait list for guests at the Gratitude Cruise Hotel, General Service has not made announcments yet on properties that they have locked up. Registration will be open Fall, 2009. Save your pennies for this one! It is not to be missed.