San Antonio. 12th October 2025.
With a population of over 1.5 million San Antonio is the seventh biggest city in the USA, it’s therefore not surprising that the roads are so busy around the hotel. The noise of the traffic was quite loud last night but in fairness did not stop us getting a decent nights sleep. Occasionally I was woken by the sound of a passing police siren but that is something you come to expect here in the US.
We had decided that we would have a quiet day today as we had booked the rodeo for tonight and didn’t want to tire ourselves out before it. We had a drive to the local Walmart this time making sure that all our packages were accounted for before returning to the hotel and relaxing by the pool.
The hotel is full of children taking part in an ice hockey competition so the pool itself was full of young boys jumping and splashing and doing things that young boys do. It was quite reminiscent of being on a cruise in the summer holidays.
The location for the rodeo was about a twenty minute drive north from the hotel in a little town call Bulverde. The grounds opened at around five o’clock and we arrived soon after.
There were a few stalls selling hats, belts and other rodeo paraphernalia together with a steak restaurant and a BBQ.
We decided to try out the BBQ and went for two meats ( brisket and sausage) together with two sides ( mac n cheese and potato salad). It was delicious and although not a huge serving there was plenty for Sylvia and I to share.
The rodeo itself started at 7 and was preceded by a cowboy church service conducted by a pastor who looked as if he had taken part in one rodeo too many as he walked very stiffly across the arena. A parade of flags ( USA, Texan and pink for breast cancer awareness) was followed by another prayer and a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
A round up of Texan longhorns was the first event ………
…………..followed by the totally bonkers sheep riding. Here children as young as 4 were strapped to the back of sheep and had to stay on for as long as they could. Many of them had hardly been released from the cage before throwing their young riders to the ground , while their parents cheered and hollered from the side. These Texans know how to breed tough kids – no snowflakes in this State.
Other events followed such as bull riding, calf tying and horse races with a mixture of cowboys and cowgirls. All in all a very entertaining evening although some of the events were perhaps a little cruel on the animals ( not to mention the child cruelty). As a final event the MC invited all children under 12 into the arena and three calves were released with ribbons on their tails. The first children to collect the ribbons won prizes , it was pandemonium for about five minutes, but the children and their parents seemed to enjoy it.
The following photos will give a taste of the evening.
Tomorrow we are making our way into the city to visit the Alamo and other attractions.