Sarajevska Brewery, Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzogovina

arajevska Pivara is located in just across the river from the heart of Sarajevo. The establishment serves both as a brewery as well as a restaurant. The restaurant is a spacious two story dining establishment that exudes an aura of history and luxury. The brewery produces Sarajevska beer and water as well as Pepsi products. It is one of the few locations in Bosnia where I found Pepsi readily available...although I normally enjoyed their exceptional beer. The brewery was first opened in Sarajevo in 1864, standing as the first industry in the area.

The beer served at Sarajevska Pivara includes Sarajevska, Sarajevska Premium and Sarajevska Dark. The dark beer is very hard to find in Sarajevo. A few restaurants have made deals with the brewery to be able to serve the dark offering. It is not available in bottles...only draft. Although I normally don't care for dark beer, Sarajevska produces a slightly sweet full-bodied version that I found mildly enjoyable. However, my favorite by far was the Sarajevska Premium.

When I was preparing my trip to Bosnia, I was uncertain about the local food. I did a bit of research, but did not come up with much information that I found useful. What I found upon my arrival in Bosnia was that they have beef the way beef should be served. They eat a lot of veal, which they butcher at six months. The beef is normally around two years old. Older beef is generally made into other products like dried beef. Because the beef isn't pumped with a bunch of steroids and produced locally, the flavor and texture is far better than most cuts of beef I have had in the United States. For that reason, I ate a great deal of beef during my trip...far more than my normal diet allows for.

The beef at Sarajevska Pivara was a perfect example of beef done properly. My favorite offering was the Steak Gorgonzola, which was a Fillet Mignon-like cut of beef approximately eight ounces in weight smothered in a mild cheese sauce. The flavor of the beef was exceptional. The beef was uncannily tender and moist (I order my beef well done and am used to it being tough). Even thoroughly cooked the beef at Sarajevska Pivara was tender. This dish comes with a choice of french fries or vegetables. I enjoyed it with mixed vegetables, which consisted of potatoes, light green peppers (that I found in many Bosnian vegetable medleys) and eggplant. The meal was around 22 KM, which would translate to about 16 or 17 US Dollars. The beer was around 4 KM for a regular glass or 8 KM for a monster-sized glass (probably around a liter).

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Washington Marriott

I really hate to bash a hotel that has outgoing friendly staff. Especially considering the hotel is run by my favorite hotel chain. Not only is the Marriott Washington a Marriott property, it is not even a lesser property in the Marriott Family like Courtyard. This property is a full-fledged Marriott. There are some bright spots to this hotel, but not nearly what I have come to expect from a chain with the exceptionally high standards I have become accustomed to from Marriott.

Marriott Washington is located at 1221 22nd Street NW. A short walk west (about eight blocks) puts you in Georgetown with a wide selection of exceptional restaurants. A longer walk south (about a mile) puts you at the Lincoln Memorial. There are two nearby stops for the Metro train, the closest at George Washington University about a five to ten minute walk from the hotel. A train ticket to the Mall will run about $1.65 from this stop. If you plan to jump on and off the Metro during the day, a daily Metropass runs $7.20 for unlimited use for the day.

Getting to the hotel by car was not difficult. I arrived well before rush hour. Washington DC has an interesting layout, with traffic circles on most of the major roads. Navigating the traffic circles can be irritating, especially at rush hour. Coming from the South, I only encountered one and had little trouble getting on and off. When I was leaving at mid-morning two days later, the traffic circle was backed up and I had to wait to get on and off. Parking at the hotel was thirty dollars for self-park and thirty-four dollars for valet. There was also a ten percent tax on the parking. Parking is an overnight charge, so you are not charged by the number of days you are in the lot, you are charged by the number of nights. You can either park and take a ticket or have the hotel put the parking on your room reservation and code your room key for unlimited access in and out of the parking deck. The underground parking was tight to navigate with large cement columns. I encountered a car going the other direction and had to back up and let him pass to proceed, to give an indication of the tight quarters.

My room was on the third floor. The elevators from the garage access both the lobby as well as the guest rooms (the parking elevators at the Marriott in Alexandria dumps you in the lobby only). As I exited the elevators on the third floor, I was impressed by the large fitness facility. There were five treadmills, nearly as many stair-masters as well as quite a few other devices for the fit-minded. The machines had mounted televisions. Complimentary earpieces were available. The Marriott Washington has one of the nicest fitness facilities I have seen in any hotel I have visited. There was also a swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna accessed through a door on the far side of the fitness area. You have to go past the equipment to get to the pool. This area was in stark contrast to the immaculate fitness area. The pool floor looked dingy and unappealing. The whirlpool didn't look much better. The sauna looked appealing but was out of order.

When I arrived at my room, I wasn't sure if it would mirror the fitness room or the swimming pool. It was a combination of both. The room was nicely appointed with beautiful wood furnishings. The work area was adequate. A large flat screen television was offset to the left of the foot of the bed. The bed was comfortable, but the fitted sheets didn't fit. Come on, now...this is a Marriott! Sheets that don't fit?...you have got to be kidding me. The room was small but not bad. It appeared to have been remodeled, but not recently. It also appears that short-cuts were taken during the remodeling which I will get to shortly. The bathroom was small but well designed. The shower had a convex curtain rod to give the appearance of more room in the shower. The countertop provided extra space by placing the sink in the back corner with an L shaped countertop. For a tight space, the economical use of the area seemed well planned.

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National Museum of the American Indian

The National Museum of the American Indian - Washington DC, is one of three locations that make up the National Museum of the American Indian, with two other museums located at Suitland, Maryland and Bowling Green, New York. The Washington D.C. location opened in 2004 long after I moved from the D.C. area. I have wanted to visit this museum for a couple of years, but just haven't seemed to find a suitable chunk of time to visit. I took a recent vacation to the city, setting aside ample time to drink in the many facets of this excellent museum (a member of the Smithsonian Institution).

The National Museum of the American Indian stands out on the Mall because of the unusual architecture designed by Douglas Cardinal (Blackfoot) with a team of Native American architects. The building exhibits an exotic cliff-like appearance made from Kasota stone, giving the building a very southwestern feel. I arrived before the building opened at 10 am. This gave me an opportunity to examine the grounds around the building which have many hidden treasures. Signs tell a bit of the history of the landscape and how Native Americans employed various wildlife for food, conveyance or shelter. A small wetlands lies on the East end of the building facing the Capitol Building (which is the next building East). Waterfalls scrub exterior rocks known as grandfather rocks. A sign tells the story of the grandfather rocks and challenges visitors to see how many they can count. The Cardinal Directions are marked with exterior markers. Sculptures created by Nora Naranjo-Morse of the Santa Clara Pueblo tribe can be found on the grounds.

The main entrance is located on the East face of the building. Upon entering the building, there were two lines leading to magnetometers and security officers who conducted a cursory search of bags before permitting entrance. The museum is designed (like the Holocaust Museum) to be explored from the top (fourth) floor down. Elevators located across the first floor lobby allow large groups to travel together to the fourth floor. As my wife and I meandered around the exhibits, I noticed that there were several groups of school children with a museum guide providing educational lectures. They seemed content to allow me to listen in to their various discussions.

The Fourth Level contains a theater called Lelawi Theater. The day I visited, all theaters were not operational. There are two major exhibits on this floor called Our Peoples exhibition and Our Universe exhibition. As you exit the elevators, a large window shows a variety of artifacts along with monitors to further explore the origins of the displayed items. Drawers below the windows contain many more hidden treasures. The Our Peoples exhibition was located to the right behind the window collection. This exhibit contained several circular and semi-circular exhibits filled with a variety of artifacts and documentary videos of indigenous people. A variety of weapons and ancient artifacts were on display. Exhibits on specific groups were interspersed, with a final display of gold and clay items that were centuries old. The gold had obviously been polished, but it seemed almost unbelievable to think such rare and valuable art with an unbelievably rich history had one time been pillaged...and even more surprising that such an amazing collection had survived the centuries. This exhibit focuses primarily on Native History.

A hallway divides the Our Peoples exhibit from the Our Universe, with an interesting statue called Allies in War, Partners in Peace by Edward Hlavka in a circular room at the end of the dividing hallway. This statue was a gift from the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. Past the small room housing the statue is the Our Universe exhibit, where the lights are dimmed and the ceiling painted and lighted to resemble the universe. The structures dividing the individual displays in this area seemed far more intricate. The videos and artifacts were not unlike the previous exhibition, but the layout, along with trimming that gave many of the exhibits the feel of a lodge or other native structure made the displays seem welcoming and homey. As you meander your way around the outer displays, you are brought back to the central wall, where several benches provide an opportunity to rest your feet while learning more from the exhibit. Most of the displays are interactive. After completing the circuit, you end up in the dividing hallway which leads back out to the elevators and stairs which lead down to the next level. This exhibit discusses Native Belief Systems.

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United States Holocaust Museum

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.

Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God himself. Never.

A plaque with this inscription, by Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, was posted at one of the exhibits at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shedding a small ray of light on the dark place of an eloquent survivor of Auschwitz. I cannot remember if this plaque was placed by the bales of human hair that was sold in forty pound bales for boat bumpers and other use, or if it was at the exhibit with hundreds of shoes. I can only remember being moved to tears at the succinct anguish captured by Wiesel's words. Weisel had other things to say on this topic, but the most important was "For the dead and the living we must bear witness." That is the purpose of this somber, breath-stealing museum. To bear witness to unmentionable atrocities that some already try to claim never happened (or are exaggerated). Then General Dwight D. Eisenhower understood that people would one day deny the Holocaust. On April 15, 1945, General Eisenhower stated "I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to propaganda.'"

I normally present my reviews in a chronological order, but felt the need to express the mood of this museum first. The quotes of first hand witnesses and survivors are the only way this dark period in our history can really be conveyed. In order to bring that element to bear on these exhibits, quotes and videos are used extensively. Some of the videos are hard to watch, and anyone who can watch them and not be moved, is simply not human. The graphic films are sensibly placed on video screens in recessed areas that require a certain height to view. This was a wise concept employed to deliver the stark truth of the holocaust while allowing a degree of reserve for younger visitors. But this is not Disneyland. Young visitors are still certain to be shocked by the exhibits. I remember meeting Corrie Ten Boom as a youngster, and listening to her biography, which were made into both a book and movie called The Hiding Place. That was my first exposure to the holocaust, and I remember that it had a profound impact on me. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has been on my radar for a long time. A combination of intentional avoidance and schedule conflicts have postponed my visit until my most recent trip to Washington D.C. I regret that I waited so long for this experience.

First and foremost, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is funded by the generous donations of supporters. For visitors, it is free. It will require an emotional investment, a few hours of your time, and you are welcome to drop money into a donation box tastefully located outside the exhibit area. Passes are available beginning at 10 am. The passes are timed in fifteen minute intervals until 3:45 pm. The museum closes at 5:30 pm, but the videos shut down around 5:15 pm as visitors are encouraged to begin exiting the exhibit area. I arrived at 3:30 pm and was not required to obtain a pass (I visited in November, which is certain to be more favorable to unplanned visits). The two hours I allotted for this museum was not quite enough. I would suggest three hours to fully experience the museum, slightly more if you intend to also screen the fifteen minute documentary videos.

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Hotel Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzogovina

If you are considering a trip to historic Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and want to stay in a quality hotel on a budget, then Hotel Sarajevo has exactly what you need. A surprisingly progressive hotel on the outskirts of the city with reasonable prices, Hotel Sarajevo has been providing travelers with exceptional value since they first opened last year.

I was unsure what to expect when I arrived at the hotel after passing a heavily industrialized area. The hotel was visible from a distance, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding area. As I pulled up to the front of the building, I noticed that there was a service station and convenience store attached to the hotel. I have never seen that before, but must admit that the gas pump area was well maintained. The grounds surrounding the building were clean and well manicured.

The guest parking area is located behind the hotel, overlooking a river. Check went quickly, although I had to leave my passport for about thirty minutes so they could record my information. I was provided with a room key that essentially doubles as the power grid for each room. My room was on the third floor. Two narrow elevators sit alongside the lobby, one with a glass wall that allows guests to look out as they are carried to their floor...I took that one, of course. Outside the door to each room is a proximity reader. The card is simply swiped near the pad and the door latch is released.

The desk clerk advised me that I should place my keycard into the slot inside the door when I entered my room. Upon entering, I realized what she was referring to. There is another key reader located inside the door. The key remains inside that reader while your room is occupied. In this manner, the front desk always knows if the room is occupied or not. If you do not put the key into the reader, none of the electrical appliances inside the room will operate.
The key reader is a novel money-saving idea, but not necessarily a great idea (but when in Rome...) The drawbacks to this system are that the refrigerator operates the same way, so any perishables left inside the fridge when the room is empty run the risk of spoiling. This also means the Air Conditioning is not running, and any plugged objects are not getting power. The clock on the phone resets each time you leave. If you leave a laptop turned on and plugged in, it may be completely dead when you return...in my case, it was. I lean a little bit green, so I actually kind of like the idea. It only requires guests to adjust a little bit to the routine.

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Maid of the Mist (Niagara Falls, Canada)

If you are planning a trip to Niagara Falls, you should ensure to include The Maid of the Mist on your travel agenda. I first rode on The Maid of the Mist over thirty years ago (the history dates back to the mid-1800s...far before my time). This ferry can be boarded from either shore. I normally stay on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, so I boarded on the Canadian side. The boat ride is located a ten to fifteen minute walk downstream from the Canadian Niagara Falls Visitor's Center. During my recent visit to Niagara Falls in July, I revisited this special attraction from my younger days.

If you follow the walkway down along the river, you cannot miss The Maid of the Mist. A viewing plaza along with tourist shops and restaurant block the walkway, either forcing you around or over the entrance to the boat ride. Tickets booths are set up on the walkway facing both approaches to the attraction. When we arrived, there were three ticket booths operating (coming from the visitor's section direction). I walked straight to the window and purchased my tickets. I used my credit card, which converted the Canadian price to U.S. along with a small International surcharge. In total, it ended up being less than the advertised $14.50 Canadian and slightly better (with the current exchange rate) than the advertised U.S. currency price of $13.50. My son's ticket was $8.90. Children under five are free.

After purchasing the tickets, cattle gates direct you towards a cement walkway that runs along the main structure. As you zig-zag down the walkway, you arrive at an elevator, where you have to wait for an employee to pack everyone onto the next elevator. We were able to get on the next elevator and ride down. As we exited the elevator from the other side, I was able to see a fairly large line forming on the other side for the ride back topside. We followed the cattle gates from the elevator towards a large tent where we were provided with a cheaply constructed blue rain jacket emblazoned with The Maid of the Mist logo. We donned our raincoats and proceeded forward to the docks.

Upon arrival at the docks, they were preparing to board the next ferry. We were near the front and were able to pick our poison. Most people rushed towards the top, exposed portion of the boat. I began by moving forward towards the front of the boat, but did not like the way the uneven floor followed the prow upward. The area also started to get crowded quickly. Looking back at the fantail, I noticed that no visitors were gathered in that area. We moved to the back of the boat, which was far more comfortable. The only disadvantage of riding in the back was the poor quality of the sound system. We had difficulty hearing the history being narrated from that position. What we did have was unadulterated views of the falls and plenty of room to move around. Not having a crowd was a worthwhile trade-off for the narration.

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Skylon Tower Revolving Restaurant, Niagara Falls, Canada

Skylon Tower, the tallest structure near Niagara Falls, is one of the focal points of the Niagara Falls skyline. The structure was poured in 1964 at a cost of 7 million dollars. The 520 foot structure was opened in October 1965. The yellow elevators are visible from a good distance, running up and down the exterior of the tower core. The elevators have plenty of windows for breath-taking views of the falls as you make your ascent (and again during your descent). The skylines of Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Ontario are visible from the viewing deck of the tower.

Skylon Tower is home to an observation deck as well as a buffet style dining room and a revolving restaurant. The elevator ride to the observation deck runs around eight dollars for children and thirteen dollars for adults. If you eat at either restaurant, the cost of the elevator ride is factored into the cost of dinner. My group opted to dine at the revolving restaurant, where you enjoy a panoramic view of the city and falls while you dine. The revolving restaurant takes one hour to complete a full rotation. The revolving part of the restaurant is situated on a track that runs around the outer perimeter of the room. Elevated bar type tables are located on the inside part of the track while tables that seat four sit directly next to the large windows overlooking the city. A narrow walkway runs between the tables to allow for careful navigation in and out of the dining area. Several breaks in the inside wall allow you to step off the revolving platform to enter or exit.

I visited the Skylon Tower for lunch, figuring the prices would be a bit friendlier at lunch time than they would be during dinner. When I was presented with my menu, I was expecting the prices to be high because of the location as well as the conversion between US and Canadian currency (the prices listed were in Canadian dollars). I was still not prepared for the sticker shock I experienced when presented with the menu. A bowl of soup will set you back eleven dollars. A vegetable dinner runs twenty-five dollars at lunch time, while the pasta dishes run closer to thirty dollars. I ordered the New York Sirloin, which was priced at thirty-seven dollars (the dinner portion is listed at fifty dollars). I have eaten beef in Canada before and have found it to be a bit harsh on my taste buds. However, Alberta beef is generally good. I inquired if the beef was Alberta beef and was surprised to learn that is was USDA. My wife ordered Penne Alfredo, my mother ordered a salad and my son ordered a cheeseburger (fifteen dollars on the kids menu).

While we waited (extensively) for our meals to arrive, we took in the grandeur of Niagara Falls. The view was spectacular. I was able to take some excellent photographs from the tower perspective. The skyline of Toronto (and the CN Tower) were visible from fifty to a hundred miles away (I’m not sure of the “crow fly” distance). Buffalo was also visible from the tower. The 3 horsepower motor gently and gradually took us on a circular tour of the city, providing a view of the falls, followed by the city and returning again to the falls side. The restaurant was not crowded, but we arrived for a rather late lunch (after 2:00 PM). Although the view was nice, I found the wait to be a bit excessive. We waited over half an hour for our food.

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Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

When I was booking rooms for my recent trip to Niagara Falls, I realized I made a dumb mistake. I thought I was booking rooms at the Fallsview Plaza Hotel (in Minolta Konika Tower), but ended up at a different Fallsview Plaza Hotel two blocks away. The former has all rooms located between the 27th and 30th floors and is located 150 yards from the falls. It also has a restaurant overlooking the falls. My son was severely disappointed upon our arrival at our hotel…only to find out that it is not a tower, but a rather non-descript building along the strip near the Falls.

After getting over the shock of my mistake, I realized that the price I paid for my hotel rooms really had to be too good to be true. I booked on-line for the price of around 75 dollars per night (US) after taxes. That is fairly inexpensive for a hotel room a short walk from the falls during July. The listed rates for the rooms are slightly higher than that on the website, but are still very reasonable. There are dinner packages that run as little as 142 per night, which include a 45 dollars dinner voucher and shuttle tickets. So what exactly did I get for my money?

I requested adjoining rooms with two beds in each room. That landed me at the end of the hallway on the third floor, facing the city. My view consisted of some construction at the rear of the hotel. The hotel was nothing spectacular…which was part of the excitement I anticipated with the tower hotel. The hotel is currently undergoing construction, which was not disruptive, but was evidenced by a hole in the ground adjacent to the hotel and some work being done on the second floor (which is likely associated with an International House of Pancakes which is scheduled to open soon). The rooms appeared to have been recently renovated and had a very luxurious appearance. The queen beds offered plenty of room for four people to sleep in one room.

Upon entering my hotel room, I was greeted by a deep red foyer which housed a small cart containing a coffee maker and a six dollar bottle of Evian water. To the left was a bathroom with yellow, white and blue pinstripe wallpaper that was very attractive. The sink appeared to have a granite countertop which I believe was the real thing. The shower was a bit on the short side, but adequate. The exhaust fan looked like it may need some additional work. The hole that was cut in the ceiling to house the fan was visible, indicating that the fan was not securely fastened in place or was in the process of being adjusted. It did not create any problems, other than the fact that the hole was visible. The bathroom offered complimentary shampoo from Suave, which I have always considered a decent but inexpensive product. Not a brand that indicates luxury, but decent in a pinch.

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Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

As you cross the drawbridge in Fort Lauderdale to the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six hotel, the large masts of sailboats, smaller recreational craft and behemoth cruise ships scatter across the waterway providing a fantastic sense of peace and relaxation. The Hyatt is located immediately to the left as you cross the bridge, nestled among waterways that provide marina views to several exposures of the property.

The Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six has a central building that rises above the property. There is a sprawling pool area behind the main hotel building which is surrounded on three sides by two-story buildings that stretch the length of the large property. These rooms provide views of the pool area on the interior and the marina on the exterior. My room was a single King with a marina view. The large room was sparsely furnished but had adequate desk space with a chair for getting work done. A smaller table and two chairs would provide tight quarters for taking a meal in the room. Two night tables and a television stand (which contains a stocked refrigerator) round out the furnishings.

My room had painted stucco-style walls that felt appropriate for a beach resort area. The walls showed wear with patchy paint areas indicating obvious repairs of some sort. I was a bit surprised that a hotel of this reputation would have walls that looked like they belonged in a Motel 6. The art work on the walls was also very sparse. There was a small seascape watercolor located above the desk, a nautical diagram above the bed and a mirror and shelf located in the hallway. The shelf contained two bottles of Evian which cost five dollars each. Yikes! If you see the water, you may be tempted to spend the five dollars. Humic or tannic substances in the water cause discoloration that is not supposed to create any health risk. But the discoloration is still disconcerting to ingest.

Getting down to the basics, I was in Fort Lauderdale on a turn around flight. I only had one night to spend and really required nothing more than a work area to prepare for a presentation and a comfortable bed to be well rested for a busy day of work and return travel. I found the desk area to be adequate for my needs. I use an aircard (Sprint) which had ample signal for uninterrupted connectivity. In the event I needed internet connectivity, wired service is available through Wayport for a fee. The fee is listed on connection, so I did not see the daily pricing. As far as the bed goes, I slept like a rock. The bed was soft enough to be comfortable while providing good support. The four pillows on the bed were more than enough.

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Mills House Hotel, Charleston, SC

At one time, the Holiday Inn trademark was included in the name, but Mills House Hotel no longer advertises itself as a Holiday Inn property. However, if you click on their reservation link you will be redirected to the Holiday Inn reservations website. If you have Holiday Inn Priority Club Rewards, you may be eligible to collect points for this visit. Rooms at the Mills House Hotel start in the two hundred and fifty dollar range. That rate is competitive for downtown Charleston.

The Mills House Hotel enjoys part of the rich history to be found in Charleston. This hotel should easily be given a five star rating (it is listed as a Conde' Nast Traveler Gold List Hotel). However, the small issues I encountered during my stay added up enough for me to deduct a star. So parting from my normal course, I will rate the hotel first instead of last...Four stars out of a possible five.

Mills House Hotel possesses much of the southern charm that you would expect from a small hotel. The doors of this hotel first opened a century and a half ago. The main entrance to the hotel opens directly to Meeting Street, which is a main thoroughfare. There is not a private drive to get off the street. A small unloading area marked with yellow lines fits two cars, so if two people are checking in or someone has called a cab, you will have to circle the block and find an open spot on the side street. If the area is vacant, you can valet park your car from a valet stand located on the front steps of the hotel.

Parking is at a premium in downtown Charleston. Mills House Hotel does not have private parking available. There is a city lot located directly behind the hotel. The city lot will charge twenty dollars per day if the car is not moved from the garage. If you depart the garage during your stay, you will have to pay by the hour, up to twenty dollars per day. In other words, if you leave and come back several times, you could pay as much as forty dollars per day for self parking. If you opt to use the valet parking, you can come and go as you please for twenty-two dollars per day plus tax and a tip each time you call for your car. The valet requests ten minutes notice to bring the car around. For the additional two dollars, the convenience along with the savings in the event you drive somewhere during your stay make it a potential money saving option that I would strongly recommend.

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Tower of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas

As you fly into San Antonio, Tower of the Americas stands as the prominent feature of the city skyline. The tower was built as part of the 1968 World's Fair hosted in San Antonio. Tower of the Americas is located in Hemisfair Park which was created in conjunction with the tower to host the festivities. During the World's Fair, the park featured exhibits from the many cultures that contributed to the foundation of San Antonio.

Tower of the Americas was built eight years after the Seattle Space Needle, which was created for the 1960 World's Fair. The Seattle Space needle stood 605 feet tall, making Tower of the Americas the tallest free standing tower in the United States (at 750 feet) when the tower was erected in 1968. Tower of the Americas held the record as the tallest free standing tower until the Stratosphere was built in Las Vegas (which stands 1149 feet tall). The observation tower at Tower of the Americas was listed as the tallest in the United States until 1996 when the Stratosphere opened.

Tower of the Americas hosts several attractions for San Antonio Visitors. Among the features within the tower are a 4-D theater, a restaurant, coffee shop, photography booth, gift shop and observation tower. Tickets can be purchased from a ticket booth at the base of the tower. The base of the tower also features extraordinary landscaping, with waterfalls and fountains incorporated into the park-like atmosphere.

The restaurant was at one time called Eyes Over Texas. It is now a Chart House Seafood Restaurant. The menu is moderately to high priced, with entrees running into the twenty to thirty dollar range. The restaurant is serviced by its own elevator, so a ticket purchase is not necessary for restaurant patrons. The restaurant revolves, allowing visitors to view the entire city during their meal. The hostess station is located on the ground floor at the entrance opposite the ticket booth. The restaurant hours are from 11 AM until 10 PM on Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant is open from 11 AM until 11 PM.

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Riverwalk Cruise, San Antonio, Texas

When the San Antonio Riverwalk was conceived by Architect Robert H H Hugman, the idea was to incorporate a Venice-like atmosphere in downtown San Antonio, Texas. During the early days of along the Riverwalk, gondola rides were available from a departure point in front of the oldest waterfront Mexican restaurant, Casa Rio. The cruises now depart from several locations along the Riverwalk, using compressed natural gas powered barges. The shallow bottomed barges easily navigate the river, where depths can range from five to fifteen feet. The cruises last between thirty and forty-five minutes, covering the two and a half mile stretch of river in the downtown area. The boats run from 9 AM until 9 PM.

The current cruise contract with the city of San Antonio has been awarded to Rio San Antonio Cruises. Pricing for the water attraction makes for an informative and inexpensive trip through the city. The normal adult fare runs $7.75, plus an tips you decide to bestow upon your Tour Guide. The pricing for residents of Bexar County, Senior Citizens and Military shaves a few dollars off the price, with an even five dollar fee. Children five years and younger pay a modest two dollars to ride. In order to get the discounted pricing, be prepared to show identification. The ticket booths clearly state that ID is required. The pricing rolls the taxes into the advertised price. Group rates are available on-line, where a ten percent discount is offered.

The experience with Rio San Antonio Cruises relies heavily on the Tour Guide you draw. My trip included a would-be comedian whose levity was actually enjoyable. Sometimes Tour Guides try hard to be funny and fail miserably. Others offer dry statistics or bland history without any personality or character inserted into their dialogue. My trip was both comedic and informational. The levity filled the gaps in the tour between points of interest. I’m not sure how many of these guides ride together to work on their material, but I spoke with a friend that traveled with a different tour guide. The experience sounded a lot less fun than mine. During the cruise, the tour guides will point out skyline features along with a brief history or little known facts. For instance, my hotel (The Marriott Rivercenter) is allegedly listed in the Guiness Book of World Records. It seems that an operational hotel called the Fairmont was already sitting where Marriott wanted to put their hotel. A historical preservation group lobbied to prevent the destruction of the Fairmont Hotel. In return for the prime location on the Riverwalk, Marriott lifted the entire three-story tall Fairmont Hotel, placed it on 36 axles, and moved it to another location. I fact checked this trivia on the internet, where I found the Fairmont Hotel’s website. The website details this move in 1986 and verified that it obtained the World Record for the largest structure ever moved on wheels.

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Hemisfair Park, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio has a rich cultural history. The seventh largest city in the United States has many influences, the most visible being Mexican. Home to the Alamo (where Tejanos made their famous stand against the Spanish) San Antonio shares her cultural roots with many other groups as well. German flavors may still be found within the area churches or dining at restaurants like Schilo’s on Commerce Street. Hemisfair Park was built to celebrate the many cultural influences in San Antonio for the 1968 World’s Fair. During 1968, Hemisfair Park shared the culture and cuisine from countries as diverse as China, Japan, Germany, Mexico and Brazil. This diverse heritage may not always be apparent in the strong Southwestern influences visible in San Antonio, but can be found with very little effort throughout the city.

Hemisfair Park is a large park located across from La Villita, which is located in the Southeastern corner of the Riverwalk. La Villita is a small group of artisan shops and restaurants nestled between the Riverwalk and Alamo Street. Beyond Alamo Street, a large sign beacons visitors into Hemisfair Park. A directory located near the Alamo Street walkway lays out the park, which also has it’s own Riverwalk entrance located beneath the Hyatt Hotel. The park has several unique attractions dispersed throughout the area. Notably, Tower of Americas, University of Texas’ Institute of Texan Cultures, Magik Theater, Mexican Cultural Institute and the Casa Mexicana Gallery. The park also houses several gardens and fountains, free standing art and the US District Courthouse, an architecturally interesting building with round walls.

Tower of Americas – I will begin with a trivia question…Tower of Americas stands as the second tallest free-standing tower in the United States. Can you name the tallest? If you answered “Seattle Space Needle” you would be wrong. The Seattle Space Needle was built for the World’s Fair in 1962, making it eight years older than Tower of Americas. However, the Seattle tower stands at a mere 605 feet to the 750 feet of the San Antonio version. The tallest free-standing tower is actually the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, which consumes an amazing vertical distance exceeding 1100 feet! Tower of Americas houses a 4-D theater ride called Skies Over Texas, Chart House Restaurant, an observation deck, Flags Over Texas exhibit and a small café, ticket booth and tourist shop on the ground floor with the theater. Admission includes the theater, observation deck and exhibit. Prices run $10.95 for adults, $9.95 for military and $8.95 for children. Coupons are readily available for two dollars off admission if you take time to find them.

University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures – This museum occupies approximately 50,000 feet of floor space designed to engage visitors with multi-sensory exhibits. The emphasis of these exhibits center on Texan culture to include origins of Texan settlers, contemporary local artists, and interactive geometry. A “back 40” area takes visitors back through time to Texas life in the 1800s. Outdoor exhibits demonstrate what life was like for early settlers. Free parking is available at the Museum. Admission to the exhibits runs a modest $7 for adults or $4 for children, seniors and military. Faculty and students of the University can enter for free with their ID.

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Market Square, San Antonio, TX

Market Square is located in the heart of San Antonio about half a mile from the Riverwalk. This shopping Mecca caters to tourists looking for distinctly Mexican gifts. The market area takes a full city block with Mexican dining, snack shops and endless rows of gift shops. Although the trinkets and baubles begin to all look the same after a while, there are unique items to be found as you work your way through the flea market like maze of shops.

One of the biggest draws at Market Square is the pricing. You can find plenty of gifts for ten dollars or less, with many gifts hovering around the five dollar mark. There are colorful bracelets and jewelry that can be had in the four dollar range (the prices tend to be the same from shop to shop), Mexican wrestling masks, colorful pottery (substantially more…starting around twenty dollars on up), leather goods, belt buckles, colorful glasswear, traditional Mexican clothing, bobble-head animals that are hand-painted, colored eggs full of confetti, piñatas, velvet paintings, bright table runners and more. The overwhelming display of color infusion can be dizzying.

Local family members suggested dinner at Mi Tierra Café and Bakery. By the time I worked my way down to Market Square, I had already overdosed on Mexican cuisine. So I will take their word for it. But Mi Tierra does come highly recommended for “authentic” cuisine. Mi Tierra is joined by another Mexican restaurant called La Margarita Restaurant and Oyster Bar. There is a large Farmer’s Market across the street from the Plaza that runs down the middle of Market Square. The Farmer’s Market is home to many more shops to include some specialty food stores where a variety of hot sauces or southwestern staples can be purchased. There is also a Food Court with a limited fast food menu available.

For those who are interested in art Museums, a gallery called Galeria Ortiz is located within Market Square. Galeria Ortiz features paintings, jewelry and sculptures created by local and regional artists. This gallery is located at 4026 McCullough. The gallery owner, Lisa Ortiz, moved from New York and established this landmark in 1978 when it was called DagenBela Gallery. The gallery was renamed in 1996. San Antonio is home to several art galleries that can be found throughout the city.

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San Antonio Riverwalk

San Antonio, Texas, is listed as the seventh largest city in the United States. The city was founded in 1718 with the establishment of the Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly known as “The Alamo.” The Alamo is centrally located downtown in walking distance from San Antonio’s famous Riverwalk. The Riverwalk creates the cornerstone for San Antonio’s many restaurants, nightclubs, hotels and boutiques. It is an attraction that draws tourists to one of the most scenic metropolitan downtown areas in the country.

Also known by her Spanish name, Paseo del Rio, The Riverwalk was conceived by architect Robert H. H. Hugman. Hugman proposed harnessing the river that once supplied water to the Mission San Antonio de Valero, forming an attraction based on the waterways in Venice, Italy. The slow painful process of creating the Riverwalk provided meager returns on initial investments. From the 1930s through the 1960s, progress was made in beautifying the river with lush gardens, sculpted rock structures and businesses. The early investments may not have been lucrative, but today, the Riverwalk generates nearly one billion dollars in revenue each year. The Riverwalk served the dual purpose of offering a new attraction (which Hugman dubbed The Shops of Aragon and Romula), but also offered to control the temperamental river, which flooded in 1921 resulting in more than fifty deaths.

The Riverwalk meanders throughout the downtown area, with boat roads providing tourists with historic information about the city. The narrow walkways often squeeze tourists together, with no railings to prevent inevitable soakings. The bustling night scene along the river is a product of the many excellent restaurants, night clubs and attractions located throughout the 2 ½ mile waterway. Several restaurants, like Casa Rio date back to the early days along the Riverwalk. Other restaurants, like the Hard Rock Café or Dick’s Last Resort offer the chain restaurant experience to visitors.

Several hotels and convention centers line the Riverwalk. An extension created by the Hyatt allows the Riverwalk to link up with the Alamo. A small group of shops and restaurants called La Villita sit on the southeast corner of the Riverwalk, which has a trapezoidal shape. The Arneson River Theater is also located adjacent to La Villita. The theater has a stage on the interior part of the Riverwalk with amphitheater style seating on the opposite side of the river. In 1968, San Antonio created another park across from La Villita called Hemisfair Park. This park is home to the most visible San Antonio landmark called Tower of the Americas. Several reconditioned buildings, The Institute of Texas Culture, an Art Museum celebrating Mexican artists, lush gardens and water fountains complete the attractions at Hemisfair Park.

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The Alamo (San Antonio, Texas)

Thoughts of the Alamo conjure up images of an ancient mission in the wastelands of Texas. For the uninitiated, this image couldn’t be further from the truth. The Alamo holds her ground in downtown San Antonio, where she is encroached on all sides by progress. San Antonio is among the ten largest cities in the United States, yet the charm of The Riverwalk and The Alamo give San Antonio a flavor that sets it apart from other metropolitan areas.

The Alamo was originally called Mision San Antonio de Valero. Long before the events that catapulted The Alamo into the history books, the site served as a Mission (from 1724 through 1793 when Spanish Officials distributed the lands to Native residents. The name “Alamo” came from the Spanish soldiers quartered there during the 1800s after their hometown of Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. In 1835, The Alamo became the focal point for Texas independence. Residents of Texas came to the aid of Ben Milam and his volunteers who stood against an overwhelming force of Spanish soldiers under the command of General Santa Anna. For thirteen days, the Texans held out, before a massive assault on March 6, 1836 brought waves of soldiers against the fortified mission. The Spanish eventually overran the fort and turned the cannons on the barricaded doors of the church and long barracks, leading to a Spanish victory. Notable among the defenders of The Alamo were the knife fighter, Jim Bowie and Frontiersman David Crockett. Items belonging to these two renowned Americans are on display to this day. The Alamo was a testament to America’s commitment to liberty and the American notion of beating overwhelming odds.

The Alamo is maintained by The Daughters of The Republic of Texas. This group supports the maintenance of The Alamo through private contributions as well as through sales in the gift shop located within the Sales Museum. There is no charge for admission to this historic location, in spite of the numerous nearby attractions set up to soak as much money as possible from tourists. Donation boxes are located throughout The Alamo. It is important to give what you can, as these donations keep The Alamo free. Surprisingly, The Alamo has been maintained by The Daughters of The Republic of Texas since 1905 without any funding from state or local government.

The Alamo has audio walking tour headsets available for rental near the main entrance. However, the interactive exhibits are self explanatory and do not require any additional dialogue. Maps of the location identify the various buildings. As you approach The Alamo, the most visible building (the one you see in photographs) is called the Shrine. This building is a memorial to the men who fell in defense of The Alamo. Along the left side of the location is a long building called the Long Barrack Museum. This building has several compartments with a variety of period artifacts and interactive information booths. This was the same barracks that was shelled with cannon fire during the attack on March 6, 1836. Open since 1968, this building also houses a movie theater called the Clara Driscoll Theater, where information movies are presented.

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Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas

The Marriott Rivercenter is located directly off of Hwy 281, due south of the San Antonio Airport. Getting to this hotel couldn’t be much easier. The hotel is located a short block from the exit ramp. The 38 story hotel is easily visible from the highway, making navigation fairly simple. The hotel does not run a shuttle. Taxi fare runs approximately twenty dollars from the airport. If you use a car rental, there are several return locations around the city for most of the airport rental companies. If you decide to park, expect to pay a whopping 25 dollars per day. If you pay the daily rate, you can come and go as you please without paying extra. Valet parking is also available.

The main entrance into the Marriott Rivercenter opens into a large comfort-oriented lobby. A Starbucks located to the left opens at 6:00 AM for early risers. The lobby has ample seating situated in small clusters for families or conference attendees to meet with a limited amount of privacy. There are also high tables with bar chairs that provide a nice work area complete with wi-fi for those who want to get some work done on their laptop. A bar further back on the left provides more ample space for gathering. The concierge desk is located to the right, complete with information on local attractions. The check-in desk is located further back on the right. Adjacent to the check-in desk are two kiosks. The kiosks are for self-service information about local attractions, early check-in and boarding passes for your flight home and for hotel check-out. The Hertz Car Rental Desk is located around the corner, past a bank of elevators.

There are two elevator banks. They both stop on the first four floors, with access to conference rooms, restaurants and fitness facilities. In addition to the service floors, the banks are divided into upper floors and lower floors. So the floor you are assigned will determine the elevator bank you use. I was on the 32nd Floor, and therefore used the elevators located closest to the check-in desk.

The rooms were equipped with the standard options I expect from Marriott. I found my room to be a bit smaller than I am used to from a Marriott property, but the comfort level was still in keeping with Marriott standards. The bed was comfortable, with plenty of pillows available to meet your comfort level. The work station consists of a desk nested inside another desk, which can be pulled out for extra work space, or nestled beneath for more floor space. The internet connection located on top of the desk is not free. The cost runs about ten dollars per 24 hour period. I brought my wireless card, so the fees were not an issue for me. Dial up is also available, but there is a local access charge if you have a local dial-up number. Long distance charges apply for long distance dial-up.

My room came equipped with a small refrigerator. The tiny freezer located inside the refrigerator is just the right size for a tub of gelato I purchased from HEB grocery store. The refrigerator allowed me to keep cold drinks on hand without any fees. The refrigerator was not stocked with overpriced items which are a common revenue source for hotels. The only convenience item located in my room on arrival was a $4.50 bottle of Evian water. No thank you. There was not a mini-bar in my room, which is fine with me. The flat screen LG television was just the right size for the room, but located in an awkward position. Whereas many hotels locate the television at the foot of the bed for easy viewing, this room had the television parallel to the bed. The swivel base allowed the television to be turned for easier viewing, but a head on view would have been better.

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Hertz Filthy Car Rental

Prior to planning my vacation to San Antonio, Texas, I researched car rentals in the San Antonio area to find out which car company could best meet my needs. Budget and Enterprise came in with the lowest non-discount rates. Because I intended to pick up my car at the airport and return it in downtown San Antonio later in the evening or the following day, I wanted to find a rental company conveniently located in downtown San Antonio. None of the rental car companies were nearly as convenient as Hertz, which had a location inside the Marriott Rivercenter where I had reservations. In essence, I could drop my rental car off at my own hotel, placing the keys in the drop box on the way up to my room.

Rather than find the discounts available for the various rental car companies, I focused on the discounts available through Hertz, which would be the most convenient for me. I checked the internet for available discounts through my various memberships and found the biggest savings through my USAA membership. The USAA discount brought the base price of a compact rental down from 43 dollars per day to 26 dollars per day. Not a bad savings. With taxes, it looked like I was going to be well under forty dollars. I made the reservation and did an on-line check-in. With on-line check-in, if you wait for more than ten minutes in line, you get a fifty dollar credit towards your rental.

When I arrived at the San Antonio airport, there was a Hertz shuttle parked in the shuttle waiting area. I boarded the bus and waited about ten minutes before we departed. The ride to the rental location was less than five minutes. There were three of us on the shuttle bus. One was a gold member, who only had to look up at the board on the Hertz lot to find his rental. The other customer and I entered the Hertz rental building together. There was no line. Two customer service representatives were waiting to assist us…so my wait was non-existent. So much for the fifty dollar credit.

While completing the necessary documentations for my rental (I was expecting to rent a Ford Focus), the customer service rep offered me an upgrade to the Honda Accord for nine dollars more. I did something I rarely do…I took the upgrade. That nine dollars ballooned up on me in taxes and fuel surcharges. Hertz charges $6.99 per gallon for fuel unless you bring it in topped off or accept the pre-paid full tank at around $1.55 per gallon (for San Antonio). I opted for the tank of gas, which was much larger on the Accord than the Focus…something I hadn’t considered ahead of time. I wasn’t planning to do a lot of driving, but I like to have the full tank option in case I don’t have time to gas up. At $6.99 per gallon for gas, it doesn’t take much to exceed the pre-paid option. My expected rental under forty dollars quickly accelerated to a $70.00 rental. That part was my own fault.

After being provided with my contract, I went out on the lot and retrieved my Honda Accord. The keys were already in the car along with a damage sheet that had been filled out. The car was plain white with a beige interior. Upon inspection of the car, I should have immediately gone back inside and changed my rental. I was planning to meet family in the San Antonio area and felt rushed, so I opted to stick with this rental. I think I grew to despise my own decision. The Honda Accord was filthy inside and out. The carpets were heavily stained, there were cigarette burns in the upholstery and the exterior hadn’t seen a car wash in quite some time. The hubcaps were all damaged as well as visible damage on the front right fender, rear bumper and along the doors. This car had obviously seen better days. With mileage exceeding 30,000 miles, I’m hoping this car will be retired soon. It is a disgrace to the Hertz fleet. If there other cars are anything like this one, I will never rent from Hertz again.

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