San Antonio!

We're back from our trip to San Antonio, and we had a fun time. We were able to take our time and didn't rush around like we have on previous trips. Since I'm including more than one picture from each day (i.e., picture overload!), I'm putting the description of what we did first.

Friday, February 27

We originally planned on going to the San Antonio Zoo today, but that was before we saw that today's high in San Antonio was forecasted to be as high as 95 degrees. Instead, we drove around San Antonio for a bit and then ate dinner at Mamacita's, a nice Mexican restaurant that we ate at when we were down there last March.





Notice the time and temperature on the billboard. And it's only February!


Saturday, February 28

Today was our first day at SeaWorld, and we went to all the different shows – sea lion, killer whale, and dolphin and beluga.

Here we are with Shamu and Dolly the Dolphin. I think Mara regretted not getting her picture with Shamu Claus back in December because she really wanted to do it this time.



Of course Mara got to feed the dolphins as well.






A famous Budweiser Clydesdale.


They weren't feeding the alligators today because they don't eat in the cooler months, but Mara did get to touch one that they brought out.



On a ship in Shamu's Happy Harbor.



Getting ready to watch a 4-D movie about pirates.







Swimming in the hotel swimming pool.


Sunday, March 1

We spent another day at SeaWorld today. We started off the day like we usually do with Mara feeding the dolphins. We went on to feed the seals and sea lions and then the lorikeets. Later that day we even fed the ducks. The killer whales were a little exuberant since it was opening weekend and they hadn't performed much in about 8 weeks, and we got pretty wet at the first show we went to even though we sat in the last row of the "splash zone" like we usually do. (The splash went about three rows above the splash zone.) Mara did get another picture with a whale trainer and rode the whale roller coaster a couple of times. And you're not seeing things – Mara wore her whale trainer shirt both days at SeaWorld (she was wearing another shirt underneath).

We took another picture with just Shamu this time. I wanted to get Mara by herself so I could maybe incorporate it into her birthday invite, but she wouldn't go for it.



A bad angle, but you can see that Mara is actually touching the dolphin.




This is one of the Budweiser dalmatian dogs (from the commercials). Even though Anheuser-Busch doesn't own (or is still looking to sell – not sure which) the Busch Entertainment Corporation (the division that operates the Worlds of Discovery parks, including SeaWorld), the Clydesdales and dalmatians will stay at SeaWorld San Antonio.


While we were able to get a picture of Mara with Shamu and Dolly the Dolphin, she wouldn't have anything to do with any of the other characters. This is her reaction when she saw Clyde (or Seamore, don't remember which) the Sea Lion.








Feeding time for the penguins!






Here we are after getting "splashed." :)


Mara with one of the whale trainers.


Mara was taking good care of the whale statue and giving it a rubdown like the trainers do during the show.






Monday, March 2

We decided to go to the zoo today on our way out of town since we didn't make it there Friday. We didn't feed any animals, but we got to see a lot of them. Mara did go into the petting zoo for a little bit and brushed the goats in there.

An ocelot




A river otter swimming around