The hype for the Total Solar Eclipse crossing the United States is definitely much bigger this time than the Total Annular Eclipse in October. Many more people traveling to get a glimpse. Lots of NASA and NOVA Scientists have come to the area just northwest of San Antonio, Texas to report and do scientific experiments during the eclipse. We are staying on the Northside of San Antonio. We travelled here yesterday – through very busy airports, rental car craziness and the highways are also very busy.

A must do when in this area of the country is Tex-Mex food, as local as possible. The Ay Chiwawa! Restaurant is close by our Residence Inn hotel. So while we wait for our room to be ready, we drop in for lunch. Did not disappoint. Leftovers for later.

The hotel is clean with certain items in our room replaced with new items—- but then there was this chair…..Not sitting here!

Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating for viewing of the Total Eclipse. Normally this part of Texas would be sunny. Today, cloudy with occasional sunshine.

We decide to take a trip downtown early a.m. to see The Alamo. It isn’t open yet; you are still able to walk around downtown. This is not the popular riverwalk area which I’ve been to before. This is a downtown that looks like they are hoping to attract more people with some renovations and newer looking restaurants and bars on Houston Street.

Old neon is still around too!

We walk by one of the renovated buildings, Hotel Gibbs built in 1909. There are historic markers on the wall and on the sidewalk outside. Impressive place.

But this building is even more impressive looking – the Emily Morgan Hotel built in 1924 as a medical building. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Claims to be the most haunted building in San Antonio…https://ghostcitytours.com/san-antonio/haunted-places/haunted-hotels/emily-morgan-hotel/

The displays, sculptures, and monuments outside of The Alamo Museum are nicely done. Warning: Too many pictures follow! Inside the museum, there is more detailed information about the history. It appears they are renovating a building across the street to expand the museum. Texas’s Independence forever!

The monument to Texas Independence is quite impressive. Too bad they had to put a fence up on the side that includes the names of David Bowie and Davy Crockett so people don’t damage it.

Back at the hotel to experience the Total Solar Eclipse with clouds. Every once in a while, you could catch a glimpse of the sun during the eclipse. I captured a partial pix for about 2 seconds while shooting a video.

I’m sure you have seen on TV or internet the experiences people were having across the USA where maybe there weren’t any clouds. What I can tell you is that experiencing what happens during the time of totality is really eerie, unique, and made this trip worth totally worth it. The birds go silent, all the lights turn on as if it is night, and the wind picks up, it cools down several degrees – even with clouds!

Before we leave, more Tex-Mex food. We tried to go to El Mirasol yesterday but it was so crowded we couldn’t even find parking. Today, early, no crowds and delicious.

Always fun to come to Texas and a nice way to end our trip!