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America, Countries, Food & Wine

Margarita time

22nd February 202517th March 2025 funtime65

And for the day that’s in it it’s margarita time… and don’t you just wish you had that drinks-making bike to hand?

From your Tex-Mex brunch on your balmy San Antonio morning at the Witte Museum.

It’s how they keep the wheels rolling in the Lone Star State.

The spirit of Tex-Mex

Margaritas truly are the spirit of Tex-Mex, originating in Galveston.

With a little bit of showbiz to the story for adornment.

Twas Balinese Room bartender Santos Cruz who invented the drink for celebrity patron Peggy Lee in 1948.

Peggy whooo

After whom he named the tequila/triple sec/lime juice drink with salt around the rim.

Margarita being the Spanish name for Peggy/Margaret.

Fast forward to 2018 and Todd McCalla, a commercial real estate agent who founded National Margarita Day and National Tequila Day.

Well margarita drinkers are from all walks of life.

Now some tips we’ve picked up along the way to make your Margarita Day go with a zing.

Make a barbie day of it with Margarita Grilled Shrimp.

Marinate your fish in advance in a garlicky, limey, spicy, tequila-and-triple sec mixture.

And for dessert a twist on Key Lime Pie is a a Margarita Pie which is laced, you guessed it, with our fave TexMex cocktail.

Of course, in the spirit of the day there’s no limit to what you can do.

Dress yourself in lime and put on some mariachi music.

Basically just have a Margarita time of it.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Crockett man at Disney Paris

24th September 202324th September 2023 funtime65

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.’

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

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.

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

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, Sustainable Tourism, UK

America’s Wild at Hampton Court Flower Show

29th June 202329th June 2023 funtime65

If you can’t get out to the Great Outdoors then get into America’s Wild at Hampton Court Flower Show.

And that’s how my own little green-fingered one will be getting her fix of America’s heartland.

On her annual trip down to London to see The Son and Heir.

Which incidentally would be less stressful than going Stateside.

Particularly if she’d been planning to train it down Britain which can correspond to the cost of a flight to New York.

Rant over and military-style planning to negotiate a trip from Scotland to London over it’s time to zen out among the plants.

And transport ourselves in our minds and with our senses to America with expert gardeners and travel providers.

In our old friends Visit USA, and American specialists Trailfinders from July 4-9.

Land of the flora

The show-garden will take you from the dusty Californian desert…

To the fiery Aspens of the Colorado forest and the wildflower prairies of North Carolina’s sweeping plains.

While Oregon and Charleston will also be exhibiting show gardens alongside America’s Wild.

My little flower will also get the Texas vibe I’ve been telling her about since returning from San Antonio.

With Austin musicians Natalie Price and Jo James performing for gardening fans on the RHS Festival Stage.

Special relationship

Our old friend from the American Travel Fair, IPW, Chris Thompson, CEO, Brand USA said: ‘America’s Wild is a snapshot of the spectacular landscapes that shape the United States.

‘We hope that as visitors wander our garden, it will spark curiosity and inspire adventurers to discover more of the U.S. beyond the gateways and into our great outdoors.’

My own heavenly horticulturalist will be interested to discover that the America Wild Garden is designed by fab flora females like her.

Inspired Earth’s Jude Yeo, Emily Grayshaw and Imogen Perreau Callf, who won RHS Gold last year.

America on the move

A little corner: American Museum & Gardens

When they pack up the tools at Hampton Court Flower Show, fear not.

America’s Wild will relocate to the US Embassy in London and the American Museum & Gardens in Bath.

The trees of the ‘forest’ will be transplanted to create a new Aspen grove on the hillside at the American Museum & Gardens.

And the desert and prairie planting will be housed in both existing collections.

America, Countries

San Antonio is not my first rodeo

26th May 202316th June 2023 funtime65

San Antonio is not my first rodeo and God willing it won’t be my last American Travel Fair so gracias Texas, it’s been excelente.

And as I while away the time in San Antonio airport I’m relieved, as always, that I managed to stay on.

Buckin’ hell: The electronic one in Denver

It probably helps that my bull this time was plastic but I’m taking that as a victory anyway.

Particularly after the ignominy of my feeble efforts out West to stay on the electronic bull inside Denver Broncos’ Mile High Stadium.

With my fall being relayed to everyone in the stadium on the big screen.

More action

But then they do say in showbiz you should always leave the audience wanting more.

We could all do with more of the type of entertainment and experiences San Antonio has to offer.

And the lasso artist twirling his rope as we entered Alamo Plaza was certainly giving us that.

We’d been here before with lassoing albeit under very different circumstances.

Good ol’ Southern Boys

When we witnessed a Good Ol’ Southern Boy in the bar where we were eating, lassoing along with the action on the screen.

And while we’re talking about southern boys a shout-out to the musical acts which have been entertaining us all week.

And in particular the cowboys, Bryce Leatherwood at the Aztec Theatre and Dierks Bentley.

Both of whom brought the house down.

See y’all next year y’all

Now as I make my way back across three flights I’ll console myself with the knowledge that San Antonio is not my first rodeo.

And the beauty of the American Travel Fair is that you meet people who will tell you where you can get your next rodeo.

And that’ll be Let’s Rodeo San Antonio where the crackers (that’s Texan for cowboys) will be riding out from next February 8-25.

Here’s a glimpse of this year’s action… so see y’all next year y’all.