Museo Alameda - San Antonio

[dalthauser]

I decided to get right to work on my 2008 Bucket list (http://eats-veggies.livejournal.com/59645.html) with Museo Alameda.  It's free on Sunday, and I love free.  I found the map I'd printed out from mapquest and off I went (I made maps of all my bucketlist locations so I couldn't use not knowing how to get there as an excuse).  



Downtown San Antonio is slightly stressful to drive only because they always have freeway construction that causes them to put up high, very narrow, barriers to drive between.  I got off the freeway and onto the main road the museum is supposed to be on - then I see a big sign for Market Square (a Mexican street market I've heard talked about on the news etc.).  Yay - the museum is IN market square.  A bonus!

I parked at a pay lot ($3) and walked across the road to the square.  


There were some awesome shops all Mexican themed which I love only slightly less than Asian stuff.  


I thought of sahlah and her blue dogs when I saw some of this stuff.  Maybe it was the bright rich colors. 


I walked through a few of the shops and even tried on an Alpaca sweater (on the sale rack discounted from $299 to $149....).  



The museum was very small but very nice.  The current exhibits I found notable were the Huipiles and an awesome display on Celia Cruz including several of her gowns and lots of multi-media (on loan from the Smithsonian).  There were also several artists on display (all paintings and murals).  I couldn't take pictures inside obviously, but I snapped their plate and advertisement for free Sunday :-)




I loved the gift shop.  They had a great sale table where I got a 2007 Museum T-shirt and took pictures of some of their Day of the Dead stuff.





On the way out I considered getting me some of that Evil Be Gone spray.....



After the museum I grabbed a Bean/Cheese/Guacamole Gordita at a street vendor.  I wanted to ask them how they made the dough for the shell, but they were really busy.




All in all a good day, AND it cost me less (including gas) than if I'd have driven a few blocks to see a movie.

 

Comments

[papoose.livejournal.com]

I love the brightly colored stuff.

Sounds like a good day :D

[joebanks.livejournal.com]

What other kinds of stuff comes in spray cans? Is there a whole, solve all your problems aerosol industry, that i'm unaware of?

It looks warm there! Great pictures, i like the day of the dead stuff.

My in-laws are at the moment preparing to move out of Banderra to Georgia (not that i would recommend you to go meet them!!) Are you in San Antonio proper?

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

I live in New Braunfels which is about 37 miles from downtown San Antonio - all highway which is nice (when it's not under construction).

I will at some point post something about Mexican day of the dead art. I love it! I also see many similarities of many of their "monsters" (not sure what they represent) and Hindu dieties (ie kali etc.). Curious.

[reyvin.livejournal.com]

I think that's such a great idea that you're doing that, getting out to nearby places. My brother and his wife do that. They play tourists in their own town and make sure that they don't miss anything. I don't do that but I'd really like to. I'm hoping once the stepkids go back to their mom that we'll hve more time and energy to do that. Even with the new baby, I'd really like to force ourselves to go into the city once in awhile and just play tourist so that we don't regret when we move from here that we didn't see thusandsuch or thatandthis.

I love Mexican stuff. That is so awesome. And omg...day of the dead. I love that too. What a neat fair. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for sharing it. :D

[bright-feather.livejournal.com]

HOw great is that?!!!! What neat pictures. I live close to Manassas, VA which has a lot of history. I've seen some of it, but there is still a lot I haven't seen. I should take a page from you and start doing that before we leave this area.

[k2rider78.livejournal.com]

Awesome shots, and I would have bought the evil be gone spray.
I love your bucket list too. Can't wait to see the rest of your adventures. Thanks for sharing the trip.

[thealmightysei.livejournal.com]

omg the cat statues are CUTE!
also what is that evil be gone spray?

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

It's probably some random air freshener. I'm pretty sure they are working off the "if you believe it - it will happen" (much like most religions) :-)