R. Craig Collins > Web Page Design > Portfolio > South Texas

2001, South Texas © R. Craig Collins, 2001/8

Some pictures from Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Labor Day, 2001

We started the mini-vacation by driving to Austin for Dinner, eating at the Magnolia Cafe.
We continued on, and arrived in Corpus Christi about 10:30 pm, fighting rain a good deal of the way.

Saturday morning, we drove to Corpus Christi beach, via one of the highest bridges in the
state, and started with a visit to the USS Lexington; we toured the ship, rode a flight simulator,
and watched an IMAX movie, To Fly.



The girls at the ramp to the Lexington



Layout of the Lexington Tour



Diane and Gracie on the Flight Deck of the Lexington



An F-14 on the Lexington Flight Deck



Diane training for the Blue Angels



Gracie training for the Blue Angels

After walking a few blocks, we then ate, and visited the Texas State Aquarium,
which is between the Lexington, and the Harbor.
(The Cultural District is on the other shore of the harbor...)



Gracie and Diane in front of the Texas State Aquarium



Gracie and Diane watching the Otters



Gracie and Diane in front of the Steel Pier exhibit



The Lexington, as viewed from the deck of the aquarium



Diane petting a manta ray

After watching fish being fed by a scuba diver, looking at sea horses and jelly fish,
we drove down to the T head marinas. Aside from seafood restaurants and Paddle wheel
tour boat, a replica of the Niña built for the 500th anniversary of Columbus' journey
is moored there.



Gracie and Diane in front of the Niña



The Niña's Poop Deck, and beneath, the open crew's living area



The Niña's Forecastle (fo'c's'l)



One of many playgrounds along the seawall



Gracie sliding



Diane sliding



Looking toward Seashore Blvd.



the girls at the seawall

After eating at Landry's seafood restaurant, in a converted paddlewheeler,
we took the real thing for a tour of the harbor, at sunset.



The Flagship Harbor tour paddlewheeler



The girls on deck, as we pass Joe's at T heads.



The girls on deck, as we pass between T heads.



Looking from the T heads toward the bridge and Corpus Christi beach



Nearing the Lexington



Turning under the harbor bridge



A wonderful sunset



After touring the ship channel, we head away from the harbor
passing the Lexington lit up to honor the Blue Ghost color scheme of WW II



Our tour winds down as we approach the T heads

The next morning, we drove down ocean Blvd, past the 'It is I' statue,
and found a huge wooden Kidsplace park.



'It is I' Statue, Christ calming the seas



A 360' panorama of the kidsplace on Ocean Blvd.
Click to see larger image



The interior of the kidsplace



Gracie at the entrance of the kidsplace

From here, we went to the Cultural District, which includes the Musuem of Art, Playhouse,
Convention Center, Museum of Asian Cultures, Watergarden, and Musuem of History and Science,
and Heritage Park.



View of the Museum of Science and History, Watergarden, and Museum of art;
across the ship channel is the Lexington



Gracie and Diane at the Watergarden



Gracie and Diane at Heritage park, a collection of restored old homes

At the Museum of History and Science, there were exhibits on ship wrecks, energy,
minerals, and area wild life. Plus the Pinta, and Santa Maria replicas in dry dock.



Gracie as Queen Isabella in front of the Santa Maria



Diane as Queen isabella, and her Ferdinand



The Pinta, a Caraval, and sister ship of the Niña



The Santa Maria, a Nao (contains an enclosed cabin)



Gracie in front of the open officer's living area on the Pinta



The Girls in front of the Santa Maria and her plans



The back of the Santa Maria, showing the windowed cabin at the top



Gracie and her crow's nest partner

After leaving the Museum, we had lunch and then drove to Padre Island.



The girls at the walk way down to the beach



The girls in the wind



The girls collecting shells



The beach from the Ranger station

After a swim in the pool, and eating Joe's seafood at the
T heads again, we finished our second day. Monday, we returned
and stopped in San Antonio for lunch.



The girls at the Alamo

Diane had her first day as an acolyte September 9, 2001.

The Riverwalk

Diane had her first day as an acolyte September 9, 2001.



Diane, torchbearer



Gracie and Diane after the service