Mi Tierra - Dinner in San Antonio

Mi Tierra is a famous Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Famed for being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, I was wondering if it was a cross between a tourist trap and a Jersey diner. While there is some truth to the previous statement, as it is gaudy on the inside with Mexican guitarist roaming the restaurant singing ballads to visitors, the food and attitude of the staff quickly makes you stop wondering.

The Alamo

Look up the history yourself.

The Alamo is Sacred to Texas

Riverwalk, Downtown San Antonio

San Antonio Skyline

Texas Hill Country - Austin to San Antonio

Barbacoa Taco for Breakfast, Mi Madres, Austin, TX

Barbacoa is a specialty of slow cooked cow head. You do not get a whole cow head wrapped in a taco; the meat from the head is stripped and shredded, and it is very good. Sampling barbacoa was one of my goals for this trip. Mission complete and very successful.

Mark's Pork Adobada Taco

This taco is the best taco I have ever eaten. When I begin repeating monosyllabic words, in this case "yes," I know I am having an experience that I sought. I will have another pork adobada taco in San Antonio later today. Oh, yes, I will.

Steve's Bacon & Egg Breakfast Taco

Chips and Salsa and Coffee to Start Breakfast

Mi Madres Breakfast Tacos - Sunday Breakfast in Austin

Texas Cologne

Texas Colonge is not unique to just the this state. You can adorn your person with this succulent scent simply by spending some time in a smokehouse. On Saturday, Steve and I spent time in four smokehouses. If you shared an elevator with us when we returned to our hotel, you knew what we had just eaten, and you probably silently suffered some BBQ envy.

Taylor Cafe, Taylor, TX

The Taylor Cafe, run by Vencil Mares, has been in operation since 1948. Imagine that! 62 years of continually service by this legend of the BBQ world! This being our fourth BBQ stop on Saturday, we ordered lightly, only getting a little bit of brisket and one turkey sausage. They were both outstanding. The brisket was just as excellent as Louis Mueller, but in a different way. Mares' brisket, at least our cut, was leaner and chewier (in the best sense), but the flavor was spot on. I was also able to meet Vencil Mares. He graciously signed my "Peace, Love, Barbecue" book, which is something of a BBQ Bible, and I am turning my copy into a collector's item with all of the autographs I have obtained over the years.

Meet the Muellers!

Thanks to Steve, who told the pit master I was a "barbecue freak," I was able to meet Trish Mueller, owner of Louis Mueller's. She was a wonderful woman to speak with, completely gracious to spend many minutes speaking with Steve and me, telling us about the history of the joint and the family. Not only did she sign my copy of "Peace, Love, and Barbecue," she also posed for a photo with me. Our trip just keeps getting more and more incredible. Thank you, Trish!

Glory, Glory For Smoked Brisket!

I always hope for an "Oh, my G-d!" moment on one of our roadtrips. Hopefully this was just the first one. I am not a fan of beef, but this brisket was sublime, delicious, and unmatched.

Louis Muellker's BBQ in Taylor, TX

Our third BBQ stop on Saturday is the BBQ shrine Louis Mueller's BBQ in Taylor, TX. With over a half-century of excellence we knew we had to stop here to experience their legendary briskey. Unfortunately, we arrived after 4pm, long after the lunch-time crowds had depleted the stores of sausage, ribs, and other delights. But that was okay. They still had brisket and even a lone remaining beef rib. So we ordered. So we dined. So we exulted.

It Is Only a Matter of Physics

What happens to a one ounce butterfly when a two ton vehicle strikes it with a velocity of 70 MPH?

Moo Cows Along the Highway

Dung Beetle in Action - Lake Somerville State Park

While Steve and I were hiking the Nails Creek Trail in the Lake Somerville State Park, we came across a dung beetle in action. Part of our hiking trail was also an equestrian trail so horse manure was sprinkled throughout. I needed to be quick with the camera because this industrious little bug was moving.

Merdine's House - Language Arts Class Joke