So here we are in San Antonio, Texas.

3,239 miles done. About 8,000 miles to go.

Feels like we’ve already motorcycled a lifetime.

It’s fiesta time in San Antonio and it felt like we hadn’t left Mehico! I’m not complaining, it seems like every time I’m in town the ladies start dancing!

Thanks ladies. It’s much appreciated.

Now please don’t be jealous – if you had a motorcycle they would dance for you too. Until then you can share a look at my dancing ladies.

Just look at the great motorbike parking space at our hotel.

Thanks hotel. It’s much appreciated.

So what’s the first thing we did on the first morning in San Antonio? Well we did the obvious thing, the big ticket thing. Surely you know what San Antonio is famous for?

We went to the Alamo! Yes this is where it is.

It started as an 18th Spanish Mission where a community of friars brought Jesus to the people. No not the guy that part fixed my motorcycle in Nicaragua, the other one.

This main building was the church but later, once the missionaries had left, the Spanish military added a few walls and defensive structures.

Much has been written about the battle of the Alamo but what do we know as fact?

‘In 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas’.

Well that’s the truth isn’t it?

After all that’s how the movie website, IMDb, describes the 1960 ‘historical’ movie ‘The Alamo’, directed by John Wayne, starting John Wayne and Richard Wydmark that went on to be nominated for 7 Oscars (note: it only won ‘best sound).

Isn’t that how most people think of the Alamo? Isn’t that how it’s spoken about? Isn’t that what’s taught?

So what is the truth?

As you know this blog isn’t just a traveller’s diary – it’s a bloody education for people with short attention spans. Don’t thank me, it’s my calling. I’m an educational missionary bringing pint sized stories for pint sized brains. So let me tell you a story.

It all starts in 1821 when Mexico wins its independence from Spain. At the time, Texas was part of Mexico which had a federal government similar to the United States. So in 1829, when the Mexican government outlawed slavery, it allowed Texas to continue using slave labour.

In 1832, Mexican president and general, Santa Anna took control of the government. Everything was fine for a while but we all know what dictators do don’t we – they dictate!

The Texans didn’t like the centralist policies of Santa Anna and wanted a federal type government where they had control over their own laws. Basically they wanted to do as they pleased. In particular, issues of slavery, immigration and customs were very contentious between Texas and Mexico.

Growing tensions led to rebellion in 1835 and so begun the Texas Revolution.

As you can see, this isn’t a story of self sacrifice by freedom loving settlers fighting in the service of liberty for Texas. Oh no! – this was actually a fight for freedom to enslave people.

Ouch, that’s a uncomfortable truth!

Now, to the battle of the Alamo. I won’t go into the immediate lead up to the battle because this is a pint sizes travel history. I’m not giving you a quart. You quart sized brain people need to find supplementary information elsewhere. Sorry quart people.

Around 1800 Mexican soldiers, led by General Santa Anna, surrounded the Alamo. Inside were around 200 defenders, led by the frontiersman James Bowie, Lieutenant Colonel William Travis and the famous folk hero, Davy Crockett.

After a 13 day seige, the actual Battle of the Alamo began on March 6, 1836, and lasted 90 minutes.

Every fighting soldier was killed and, it is said, that even those who surrendered were executed by Santa Anna.

Although the Alamo was a defeat, it galvanized the rest of Texas against Mexico and General Santa Anna. A few months later, Sam Houston led Texas to victory and Texas gained it’s independence.

It’s often quoted that around 200 ‘Texans’ bravely fought and defended the Alamo. Let me tell you the facts.

Of the 200 or so men that fought and died at the Alamo, 29 are known to be from the United Kingdom.

It’s not been possible to trace all the nationalities of the men involved and it’s actually thought the UK defenders could have been as much as a third of the men. To that you can add a few other soldiers from other European countries.

Of these men, four were Scots – John McGregor, Richard Ballentine, Isaac Robinson and David Wilson.

John McGregor is often known as the piper of the Alamo. It is said that during the siege, MacGregor engaged in musical duels with David Crockett – McGregor playing the bagpipes and Crockett the fiddle. 

So that’s a full pint of Alamo history for you.

Talking of pints, after the Alamo we went for a beer. Look it was hot and humid and I felt sure Susan was getting near a Code 1 and needed to rest in somewhere cool.

You don’t get anywhere in San Antonio much cooler than this place!

You know what’s coming to you now – more pint sized history! Actually, I promise it’s only a half pint this time.

In 1861, a 17yr old bartender opened his own saloon but quickly learned people didn’t have much money. So he came up with the idea to accept horns and antlers in exchange for beers and whisky. The Buckhorn collection became one of the world’s largest collections of horns and antlers.

Cheers horns and antlers. Thanks for helping Susan recover.

Goodbye San Antonio we loved your company.

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