San Antonio: Humidity, History, and Honestly, a Bit of a Vibe
okay, so i just landed back from san antonio and my brain feels like a scrambled egg. it’s…a city. a really old city. like, seriously, everything feels like it’s got a story, and most of them probably involve someone sweating. i’m a freelance photographer, and i was chasing light (and trying not to melt) for a week.
first off, the weather. i just glanced at my phone and it’s… clinging to everything right now, like a determined toddler. the air itself feels like a warm hug you didn’t ask for. the official numbers were around ten degrees celsius, but the ‘feels like’ was closer to eight, and honestly, the humidity made it feel like i was breathing soup. i’m not even kidding.
spent most of my time wandering around the *riverwalk, which is…touristy, obviously. but also kinda magical? it’s like someone decided to build venice inside of texas. i overheard someone complaining that it’s “a total trap for out-of-towners,” but then they were happily eating a giant pretzel, so i took their opinion with a grain of salt. you can find some decent reviews on TripAdvisor, but honestly, just go and see for yourself.
someone told me that the best tamales in the city are sold out of a guy’s trunk near the market square on wednesdays. i didn’t manage to find him, but i’m still slightly obsessed with the idea.
my camera gear held up pretty well, thankfully. i’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to travel, so i didn’t bring the kitchen sink. here’s what i packed:
sony a7iii (obvs)
35mm 1.8 lens (my go-to)
50mm 1.8 (for portraits)
extra batteries (essential)
a tiny *tripod (for low light)
a waterproof bag (because soup-air)
the *alamo was…smaller than i expected. it’s a really important historical site, and it’s cool to see, but it’s also just a small mission in the middle of a city. i heard a local grumbling that it’s “overhyped for the tourists,” which, fair enough. if you’re into history, definitely check it out, but don’t expect it to be some massive fortress. you can read more about it on the Alamo's official website.
the neighbors? well, they’re…loud. in a good way, mostly. lots of music, lots of chatter, lots of people just generally living their lives. if you get bored, austin and houston are just a short drive away, but honestly, san antonio has enough to keep you occupied for days. i found a really cool little record store near southtown - check out their Yelp page if you’re into that sort of thing.
i overheard two guys arguing about the best margarita in town. one swore by a place on the riverwalk, the other insisted it was a dive bar on the west side. it was a very serious debate.
i also spent a day exploring the pearl district, which is a renovated brewery turned into a fancy shopping and dining area. it’s a bit…polished, but it’s a nice place to wander around and people-watch. someone warned me that the parking is a nightmare, so i took an uber*.
overall, san antonio is a bit of a chaotic mess, but it’s a charming mess. it’s hot, it’s humid, it’s full of history, and it’s got a vibe. i’d go back, but i’d definitely pack more sunscreen. and maybe a dehumidifier. you can find more info on San Antonio's official tourism site.