Tag: https://www.thealamo.org/

Countries, Deals, Europe

Crockett man at Disney Paris

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Who knew… you don’t have to go to the Alamo to see the king of the wild frontier, he’s here in Europe, Crockett man at Disney Paris.

Inspired by the famed Senator of Tennessee I ignored the critics and exclaimed: ‘You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.’

Hat’s my pal: With Davy in San Antonio

And happen you’ll get out to San Antonio and the Lone Star State too but like the Alamo heroes it’s a winding road out there.

King of the wild Paree

Fort worth it: Davy Crockett Ranch

But in the meantime you can channel your own Davy Crockett at Disney Paris.

With an army of film fans, and their families, who grew up watching Davy Crockett’s feats of derring-do.

Among them rocker Phil Collins who has curated Alamo artefacts and has his own wing in the San Antonio attraction.

All the fun of the family: In Paris

Now as we wait for Hollywood to revisit our Wild West hero it’s reassuring that Disney, along with San Antonio, keeps his flame aglow.

Disney are offering a family break for £91pp per night.

For a total price of £722.04, enjoy an unforgettable stay.

Deal us in

Make a splash: At Disneyland Paris

And here’s what’s on offer.

• Two nights at Disney Davy Crockett Ranch, where you can relax in the heart of nature in your very own cabin.

•3-day tickets for the whole family allowing you to explore both Disney Parks.

•Extra Magic Time allowing you even more time in the parks, exclusively available to Disney Hotel guests.

•Plus a FREE P&O Ferries Crossing if you book by book by 2nd October 2023.

This package is available on selected dates, based on two adults and two children travelling.

So we can all channel our Wild West hero.

And be a Crockett Man (or woman) at Disney Paris.

 

America, Countries

The Alamo is one to remember

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It doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well, the Mission San Antonio de Valero, but the Alamo is one to remember.

The heroic last stand by William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett et al is now a shrine in the city that has built up around it in Texas.

Flying the flag: The foreign nationals who fought at the Alamo

And a hobby horse of Phil Collins (yes, that one) who has curated the biggest collection of artefacts.

From the 1836 battle between the Mexicans and Texans.

And donated it to the city of San Antonio.

We are in hallowed company the night we visit, the closing party for the American Travel Fair, the IPW.

Getting your Phil

To baldly go: Phil Collins

Alas not Cowboy Collins but someone from the other side, the great, great something or other son of General Sant Anna.

Who just happens to be in our party being guided around the old church and the spanking new museum.

Sant Anna looms large over the Alamo, as does Travis, Crockett and Bowie, the latter who spent the battle in bed.

Not because he was lazy or cowardly, anything but because he had been struck down ill.

And went down maybe not with his boots on but shooting from his bed.

Plaza dazzler

Heroes: The Alamo Cenotaph

The Alamo Plaza Historic District houses all things Mission San Antonio de Valero.

And all pilgrims which means tonight the couple of thousand delegates from our fair.

Paying homage to those Alamo heroes you’d hope around the beautifully-carved Cenotaph.

And also eating meaty barbecue Texan treats, craft beers and Margaritas from the stalls that have been erected for us.

From all around Texas, Corpus Christie, Houston, Dallas and all points in between.

And listening to the best Country and Southern Rock.

Lone star of the show

In Texas where everything is bigger they fill the night sky with symbols of the Lone Star State.

A rodeo rider, map outline of the nation’s second biggest state, guitar, barbecue sausage and Margarita among other delights.

While down on ground level we channel our own Bucking Broncos on a life-size model.

I smile when asked to fill out an indemnity form before climbing on Bully.

Before being stopped as I approach the Alamo by a dapper Texas ranger who alerts me that my calf is leaking blood.

War wounds

Bucking ‘eck: Channeling my inner Texan

I am donning my Davy Crockett raccoon hat I bought earlier on the River Walk.

I feel heroic with my battle wounds and can share with y’all…

The Alamo is one to remember.

Countries

Remember the Alamo

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If you want to get ahead get a hat went the advert and my headdress of choice was always a Davy Crockett one… remember the Alamo.

The gung-ho soldier’s notoriety followed him around the world.

While for a time, and 150 years later, a Scottish counterpart’s fame was building just from wearing the racoon skin.

The furry hat with its instantly recognisable tail was a feature.

On the head of the editor of the Aberdeen University newspaper around town.

A tail of Aberdeen and Canada

Fur he’s a jolly good fella: Back in the day

 

It had been my parents’ idea after returning from Canada for my brother’s wedding…

For those cold north-east of Scotland winters.

But it soon became a fashion statement (at least for me) and one of my staff had a laugh at my expense when they took over my mantle.

And modelled me up, and remember this was the Eighties, in racoon hat.

Which they called ‘Lola’ and long johns next to a piano.

All of which was meant to tickle the funny bones and ivories for that week’s edition.

But it grew legs when the diarist for the Glasgow Herald fell upon the story and carried it in that journal, which my parents read.

Hat’s the boy

Hat again: In my Davy Crockett hat in Colorado

Modelling’s loss was journalism’s gain,

And almost 40 years later I am still scribbling although in different head gear.

Any one of my bandanas I have picked up on my travels.

I still keep an eye out for Davy Crockett hats and found one a mile high in of all places Denver in Colorado.

But I dare say there will Davy hats aplenty in the town where he is most closely associated, San Antonio in Texas.

Recreating the Alamo

Crockett of gold: Davy Crockett

For San Antonians today, February 23, is always special because that was when back in 1836, during the Texas war for independence.

When Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna began a siege of the Alamo.

It was captured after 13 days and it, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and the gang, all became a symbol of heroic resistance to Texans.

This year and in a grand tradition the delegates from San Antonio will be flying the flag for their town.

Wall, this is what it’s good for: The Alamo

 

Usually it’s as a stand among hundreds of others at the American Travel Fair. 

But this year they will be hosting the event.

And we will go through the usual badinage, or bandananage.

Where I ask them again and again what happened there in 1836 and they play along saying Remember the Alamo.