The Alamo

June 18, 2011

We arrived to San Antonio at 12:30 P.M and decided to park on the Riverwalk mall to eat at the food court before going to the Alamo. We went upstairs to the street level to walk over to the Alamo. Upon arrival to the Alamo we walked through the corridors facing the Riverwalk mall we saw an enormous and beautiful tree that had squirrels as it's guests. We went inside the old church where there are exhibits of items from the battle of the Alamo, like a Bowie knife and a rifle. We read tearful letters by soldiers who wrote to their loved ones. Inside the gift shop you find many replicas and toys for sale of the Alamo, which help the Alamo. The Alamo does not get money from the state and it is maintained is by donations and sales of the gift shop. In the center of the room there is a replica of the Alamo. We went outside again and walked around to admire the beautiful greenery and native plants. We saw a huge cactus and a tree right next to a wooden well. We went to the Long Barrack Museum where there are more exhibits. Every hour or two an Alamo staff member give talks on Alamo history in the Cavalry Courtyard where the six flags are flown. We were lucky to have made it to the next talk at 1:30 P.M, which was given by Arnold Vogel. He talked about all the history of the Alamo which was very interesting to know how the Mexican army led by Santa Anna tormented the Texans that were inside the Alamo just because they did not wanted to be part of Mexico anymore. When the battle began the Mexican Army outnumbered the Texas Army and in an hour the battle was over leaving most of the defenders, including famous people, like Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett, dead.

The Alamo is a place where many great and courageous people died for what they believed in. The Texans knew that they were outnumbered but still went on with the battle to defend their rights and beliefs. It might have been the end for many Texans but was the beginning that led to the freedom of Texas.