San Antonio Missions National Historic Park
The Spaniards' colonization of the New World included the conversion of natives to Christianity. To accomplish this they built many missions. We've visited some in California and others in New Mexico. Quite a few were also set up in Texas.The Alamo was one of 6 missions built in the early-1700's by Franciscan monks in
this area. The monks welcomed and cared for natives and converted them to Christianity. These missions were a going concern for a 100 years before the monks left and the lands were redistributed to the inhabitants. Without official church presence, the missions soon fell to disrepair and the rocks that made up the walls of the community and other materials were taken to be used in other projects.
It wasn't until the 1930's that there was an interest in restoring and reopening these missions. With depression-era labor and an agreement between state and federal governments and the Catholic church, the missions were rebuilt and continue even today to hold weekly services.
We took an informative ranger-led tour of the Mission San Jose and drove along the Mission Trail past two other missions. The missions were built within a few miles of each other and along the San Antonio River.
We drove across the Espada Dam completed in 1745. 
Acequias (gravity flow ditches), dams, and aqueducts were built to provide a continuous flow of water to the farmlands and the mission walled-communities. 263 years later these water-control structures are today still being used in farms.
The River Walk
The San Antonio River used to make a big "U" through downtown. When the river flooded, the whole business district suffered. By cutting a channel to bypass the "U" and installing flood gates, damage from most high waters has been alleviated.
Foresighted individuals kept the "U" from being paved over. Today there are 2 1/2 miles of paved walk along both sides of the river. Trees, plantings, benches, and fountains are all maintained by the city's parks department. There are foot bridges and stairways up to the road level to help the pedestrian navigate this route. 
On this beautiful warm and sunny day, the restaurants along the walk were doing a booming business. and captains of flat-bottomed boats were ferrying people from place to place along this route giving guided tours of the sights along the way. A few boats were being used for floating meals.
Spring must be here. Momma ducks and brood were out swimming.
