San Antonio Trip

After a shaky start to the trip due to weather, missed flights and delays I finally made it to San Antonio at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday afer leaving at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Snow closed the runaways at KCI Sunday closing the airport and my flight that was scheduled to leave at 7:30 a.m. The reschedule was the next day at 1:20 p.m. but the reroute sent me to Chicago Ohare then to San Antonio with a scheduled arival in San Antonio at 4:50 p.m.

I boarded the plane on time, but the plane just set at the gate. High winds across the runaways at Ohare delayed our take off until after my connector at O'hare left. We set on the runway at KCI for 90 minutes.

At Chicago and I was able to get on a flight to San Antonio that left at 6:30 p.m. getting me to San Antonio around 9:30 p.m.

6:30 came and passed, Winds were up again. The plane finally got to Ohare at 9:30 p.m. It was only 3 hours late! Boarded and quess what,freezing percip coated the plane so it had to be deiced. On the taxi to take off it started to snow, I mean snow. WE TOOK OFF IN A DRIVING SNOW STORM!!!!

We landed at 12:30 a.m. I collected my bags, which was a relief. Cabs were waiting for the plane. I finally got to my hotel at ALAMO PLAZA at 1:30 p.m. I have now missed two full days of the SFA READING CONVENTION!!

I missed the first half of the morning session which began at 8:00 a.m. I was beat and I wanted to eat breakfast. American Airlines doesn't even provide peanuts to its passengers any more. Luckily the Residence Inn provides a free full service buffet breakfast to its quests.

After eating I walked over to the Marriott River Center, which is on the RIVER WALK, for the meetings. The convention provided a great lunch, it was great, really great.

After eating I wanted to walk off the food before the afternoon sessions. I found myself at the Alamo. What a powerful experience for any American. The Alamo is in the middle of the town in the business district, just two blocks from the RIVERWALK and convention site.

The RIVERWALK is an experience in itself.

Not wanting to eat at the hotel, several of us went to a Mexican restaurant recommended by a local teacher, Mi Tierra, in the New Market area. It was a short cab ride away. Unbelievable food at reasonable prices, Great margaritas that were not made from a mix. Strolling musicians, colorful interior. Drinks, appetizer and a maincourse only set me back about $28.00

I caught a cab and was back at the hotel by 9:30 p.m..

Up early on Wednesday, packed, went to the buffet and then the short walk to the convention site. I attened the first morning session, then back to my hotel to check out. I caught a cab for the ride to the airport. Cabs are very reasonable in San Antonio. Twenty dollars plus tip to the airport. In all, I spent about $66.00 for cabs while in San Antonio.

I upgraded my seats from the middle to aisle seats. I had lunch at the airport at the Macaroni Grill. The plane was ON TIME for the short 44 minute flight to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. We landed at 2:40 p.m. My connecting flight was at 3:40 p.m. to KCI.

DFW airport is huge. Even thought we landed at gate C4 and the connecting flight was at C29 I had to use the SKYTRAN to get o the gate. The SKYTRAN is a high speed commuter train that runs to every terminal at DFW.

The plane arrived and we boarded on time for the 90 minute flight to KCI. I couldn't really tell if we were in the air, the flight that smooth. After leaving the 75 degrees of San Antonio the 11 degrees at KCI was a wake-up call that reminded me that we are still having winter in the northern and mid-west states .

I met several interesting individuals - A Blackfoot Indian from her reservation near Glacier National Park, who uses the SFA Reading with her students on the reservation. Several wonderful gals from northern and eastern Arkansas near Perigould. Several ladies from Mississippi and Georgia were a riot and how can I forget the two ladies from American Samoa.

There were teachers, administrators, and parents attending this convention from all over the globe that use the SFA Reading Program. To the conventions credit, the sessions were informaive and useful.