A New Love! (Texas #2: Thurs., June 20, 2013)

Tonight I have a rich love for all things Texan: the Gulf Coast, the large chemical industries,  the wildlife which includes deer, seagulls, tiny bright green lizards; the flat, straight roads which stretch into the horizon, the gas and oil rigs, the naturally friendly and quite helpful human inhabitants, the rich history and the varied and excellent cuisine.

Driving to Port Lavaca on the Gulf Coast on two-lane roads was interesting, particularly when a huge tanker truck was intent on passing Dorothy's little red Prius.  "Indian Blankets," bright orange wildflowers alongside the roads, and medium-sized prickly cacti beautified the endless landscape of fenced fields.  Herds of many different breeds of cattle were on the ranches.  Peggy and I searched for the long-horned cows we want to see but Dorothy said that none qualified.

Half Moon Reef Lighthouse in Port Lavaca is three stories tall but seems small in comparison to others I have viewed (please see Blogpost, "All the way UP!", Tues., June 11, 2013). But I enjoyed it just the same.  Moved inland from the Gulf of Mexico, now folks can just walk up steps instead of having to boat to reach it. Its hexagonal shape is different from the others, also.

Half Moon Reef Lighthouse in Port Lavaca, Texas

Our next stop was in Port O'Connor, also on the Gulf of Mexico.  We strolled out on a long pier.  The water is clear and we frequently stopped to check out the sealife below: schools of small fish, graceful in their abrupt turns here and there, plentiful jellyfish, plodding their way who knows where.  Dorothy identified one of the larger varieties as 'Man-O-War.'  The three of us swapped stories of relatives who have been stung by jellyfish in the ocean - and the extreme pain of this.

FYI: it is remarkable to discover different marine life in the waters on opposite coasts in America.  In the deeper, darker waters of Chesapeake Bay, you find thousands of small, white, identical jellyfish.  In the bay in Seattle, Washington, there are hundreds of starfish of varying sizes.  I love being an explorer!

At the end of the pier were two fishermen, a grandfather and grandson.  The elder informed us, "When the tide comes in, the fish really bite."

Pier, Port O'Connor, Texas

There were more pelicans here than I've ever seen before near a beach.  I find it soothing to watch them soar and dive for their dinner, back and forth.  They are dark, large, and easily spotted.

Dorothy's family has maintained a small cottage near the sea in Port O'Connor for generations. Driving around and around the narrow streets, she was thrilled to find the yellow house: "I thought it was blue."  Since our tummies were grumbling, we drove around again till we found a local restaurant, "Cathy's."  Peggy and I had grilled cheese sandwiches, fried okra and hush puppies, super tasty. Dorothy enjoyed a large hamburger and fries.  We SO longed to stay in Port O'Connor for at least a month!

Knowing all the local areas which would interest us, Dorothy took us next to Goliad. First stop: Goliad State Park, site of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit of Zuniga Mission, founded in 1722.  It was closing time but a kind young park ranger told us, "Hurry in, put your fee in the box when you're finished."

Main Altar at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Mission, Goliad, Texas

We marveled at the wonderful state of preservation of the almost 300-year-old mission church. It was cool inside despite the 95-degree heat outside.  We were surprised by the deep emotion displayed in the statues and paintings of this Spanish mission.

Painting depicting Veronica after wiping Jesus' face during his walk to Calvary, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Mission Church in Goliad State Park, Goliad, Texas

Not very far down the road from the Mission is Presidio La Bahia, a fortress and grounds of extreme historical importance to both Mexican and American citizens.  A large house, outside the fortress, then part of Mexico, was the birthplace of General Ignaxio Zaragoza Seguin in 1829.  Zaragoza led revolutionary forces to defeat the Mexican dictator, Santa Anna.  This led to a new democratic government and the subsequent celebration of the Cinco de Mayo.

To the rear of the fortress is a monument to the American Colonel James Fannin and the tragic battle in 1836 during which the Mexican dictator Santa Anna defeated the Americans. General Santa Anna slaughtered nearly 400 of Fannin's men, one by one, as Fannin was forced to watch, then murdered Colonel Fannin after this battle for Texan independence from Mexico.  The battlecry, "Remember the Alamo, Remember La Bahia!" inflamed Texans to take back their land from the Mexicans.

La Bahia fortress, part of Goliad State Park, Goliad, Texas

Dorothy was kind enough to drive us through her family's beautiful ranches near Cuero, Texas, full of herds of cattle, then to the small but elegant town of Cuero, her birthplace.  I have never seen such a magnificant, large courthouse of red stone.

DeWitt County Courthouse, Cuero, Texas

Last stop of the day was back in Victoria for a fine dinner overlooking the Guadalupe River at the Pump House Restaurant.  The sun was low in the sky as we headed back to Dorothy's house for a short chat, then bedtime.  See why I LOVE Texas!

Dorothy at the Pump House waiting for our fabulous fish dinner