We're back!

Okay, so, we're home, and we had the BEST time. Seriously.

We chose to go to San Antonio & stay on the Riverwalk. I've only been there once, maybe twice, but there's just something about walking along the river surrounded by lush greenery & ambient lighting that stuck with me & nudged me to want to go back. This was the first time that Curt & I have been there together, and it was just so amazing!

When we got there, we checked into our hotel & just hung out for a bit before going out shopping. I had a grand idea. Well, I thought it was grand. I'm pretty sure, though, that if the hotel saw these pictures, we just might find some sort of extra charges on our credit card statement! Haha! I'm sure you see what I mean. :-)

Yes, that's me. And, dang. I'm so outta shape. Seriously. I was dying after that! Haha! The window lighting that we were using on the right hand side of the picture...well...the window didn't go all the way up to the ceiling, so my face was darker than the rest of the picture. When I lighten it up, there's quite a bit of grain. Oh well. I still like them. :-)

After that, Curt & I took a self portrait. I really, really like this shot. I'm so surprised that it turned out as well as it did considering we set the camera on the night stand & set the self timer. I'd push the shutter, then RUN all the way around the bed & get myself where I needed to be. Fun times.

After all this, we went out shopping & to dinner. For those of you that don't know, I'm SO indecisive. So, what do you think happened when we hit the Riverwalk & there were about 4 billion places to eat? Oh my gosh. I wanted to make the right choice, the best choice because we only had the one night in San Antonio. We wanted to avoid the young, party scene, so that automatically took several places out of the running. But, as we walked along the river, we came to a little restaurant called Dolores del Rio almost at the very end of the Riverwalk. You couldn't see into the restaurant from the sidewalk because it was up a small flight of stairs, and there were no windows (that I recall.) Anyway, the host asked us to take a look inside, and when we did, we were in LOVE!

This will be a time when my words fail me. I just so wish that I could recreate the ambiance, the atmosphere with my words, but I'm afraid it's just not gonna happen. This little restaurant was the TINIEST restaurant ever. I mean, it was SO cramped that I actually had my foot stepped on twice. TWICE! Ha! But, honestly, the cramped quarters really "made" it. And, there was no air conditioning. Just fans. I also wouldn't have that any other way. Every little detail played into it's charm...added to it's character. There were probably 10-12 little tables nearly touching each other. Each table had a wine bottle acting as a candle holder which served as the lighting. So romantic.

Anyway, there was a blues band playing. It was so perfect for us. We couldn't have chosen a better dining experience. Almost immediately after we were seated, the band started to play "At Last" by Etta James - one of mine & Curt's most favorite songs together. It just confirmed to me that we were in the right place. It was a little Italian place, and the food was out of control good! There was SO. MUCH. FOOD. Delicious!

I know you all probably think I'm crazy. Yes, being an outsider looking in, I can see that this seems odd that I would rave so much about this dinner & talk of making the perfect choice. But, I just have to tell you...I felt like a lady. For once, I didn't feel like a mom. All the time I feel like a mom, a stay at home mom. It's not a glamorous life, and a lot of you know that. It's amazing how complacent I get in my own life. I just forget that there's anything else out there. I want to know more diversity. Being home, now, back to my evening routine...it kinda makes me sad. But, at the same time, dinner with Curt at Dolores del Rio rejuvenated me. It renewed my desire to feed my soul (not a spiritual soul) with art, culture, adult things. Things that make me feel carefree & full. Am I the only one this way? You know how some things just make you feel...I don't know...satisfied? Free? Like, after a long cool winter, I just feel so truly happy to put on flip flops & a tank & sit outside taking in the fresh spring air, you know? It just felt like a fresh, green spring after a long, cold winter, I guess. Whatever. I know I'm a rambling mess right now. I have faith, though, that atleast a handful of you know just what I mean. :-)

So, yeah. Here are some photos from Dolores del Rio. Yes, the white balance appears to be a crazy mess. But, sometimes, the perfect skin tones just don't suit the picture & mood you're trying to capture. We captured the scene as it was, red cast & all. :-)


The lighting was just so tough. The ISO was ALL the way up, and the shutter speed was ridiculously low. Of course we were shooting wide open, as well, and it was still just so dark. I wish we'd gotten more decent ones. These will have to work, though.

Anyway...so, this afternoon as we walked along the Riverwalk again, we came to Dolores del Rio. I have such a fondness for it, now, that I SO wanted a picture under the sign. We waited & waited & waited for someone to walk by who looked like they could pull off this shot. I'd metered, focused, done everything. All we needed was someone who understood the composition I wanted. Well, the first guy was a really, really nice guy, but he didn't understand the comp. So, we waited, waited, waited again. Finally, I saw a guy with a tripod in the distance. That's GOT to mean a good photographer, right!?! Haha! Don't you love my reasoning!?! Anyway, my assumption was right on, though. Curt asked him to take this photo for us, and he did a fantastic job! Of course, I told him to stand on this particular crack in the sidewalk (I'd focused from that point) and press the shutter. He composed it fabulously, though, and I'm so thrilled with the result! I'm really thankful to him that he didn't drop my camera or run off with it, too! Hahaha!!! :-) (Yes, that was a serious concern for me. I'm a dork, I know.)
Anyway...it really was a lovely weekend. :-)