Visit​ ​to​ ​USA​ ​2013. During​ ​our​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​USA​ ​in​ ​1n​ ​2013​ ​we​ ​made​ ​a​ ​short​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​Texas​ ​State​ ​with​ ​our​ ​son​ ​Sunil and​ ​his​ ​family.​ ​We​ ​flew​ ​into​ ​a​ ​small​ ​city​ ​of​ ​St​ ​Antonio​ ​in​ ​Texas.​ ​This​ ​place​ ​has​ ​many historical​ ​monuments​ ​of​ ​early​ ​war​ ​with​ ​Mexico,​ ​when​ ​Texas​ ​was​ ​a​ ​spanish​ ​dominated area.The​ ​Alamo​ ​was​ ​was​ ​the​ ​first​ ​mission​ ​established​ ​in​ ​1718.​ ​189​ ​brave​ ​Texians​ ​and Tejanos​ ​​ ​unsuccessfully​ ​resisted​ ​for​ ​13,​ ​the​ ​Mexican​ ​invasion​ ​of​ ​1836​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small fortress.​ ​Alamo​ ​is​ ​maintained​ ​as​ ​a​ ​museum​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​the​ ​martyrs. The​ ​city​ ​has​ ​a​ ​perennial​ ​San​ ​Antonio​ ​river,​ ​flowing​ ​through​ ​it​ ​and​ ​the​ ​surrounding​ ​fertile land​ ​were​ ​cultivated​ ​by​ ​the​ ​local​ ​population​ ​under​ ​guidance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​many​ ​Spanish Christian​ ​Missions.established​ ​1690​ ​to​ ​1731. We​ ​hired​ ​a​ ​vehicle​ ​from​ ​the​ ​airport​ ​which​ ​could​ ​accommodate​ ​all​ ​​ ​6​ ​of​ ​us​ ​and​ ​our luggage.At​ ​the​ ​car​ ​rental,​ ​the​ ​pre​ ​booked​ ​car​ ​was​ ​ready​ ​with​ ​name​ ​tag,​ ​full​ ​tank​ ​fuel​ ​and the​ ​key​ ​and​ ​we​ ​could​ ​just​ ​drive​ ​away​ ​without​ ​any​ ​formality.​ ​The​ ​car​ ​could​ ​be​ ​returned​ ​in any​ ​airport​ ​to​ ​the​ ​same​ ​car​ ​company​ ​outlet​ ​with​ ​full​ ​tank​ ​fuel.​ ​They​ ​check​ ​the​ ​vehicle​ ​for any​ ​damage​ ​and​ ​give​ ​you​ ​the​ ​bill​ ​for​ ​the​ ​days​ ​used​ ​and​ ​it​ ​is​ ​settled​ ​within​ ​a​ ​few​ ​minutes with​ ​a​ ​credit​ ​card. After​ ​checking​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Hotel,​ ​we​ ​went​ ​out​ ​for​ ​a​ ​River​ ​Walk​ ​for​ ​dinner.​ ​The​ ​River​ ​Walk​ ​is​ ​a beautiful​ ​landscaped​ ​many​ ​kilometers​ ​long​ ​walk​ ​way,​ ​with​ ​lighted​ ​​ ​fountains​ ​and waterfalls​ ​on​ ​either​ ​side​ ​of​ ​a​ ​narrow​ ​river​ ​snaking​ ​through​ ​the​ ​city,​ ​with​ ​many​ ​branches. There​ ​were​ ​hundreds​ ​of​ ​fine​ ​Bars​ ​and​ ​Restaurants​ ​serving​ ​many​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​food​ ​and beverages,on​ ​either​ ​sides,​ ​all​ ​crowded​ ​with​ ​customers.​ ​One​ ​has​ ​to​ ​wait​ ​for​ ​some​ ​time​ ​to get​ ​seated.​ ​The​ ​river​ ​has​ ​motor​ ​boat​ ​rides​ ​with​ ​tourists​ ​up​ ​and​ ​down,​ ​playing​ ​loud music.​ ​This​ ​goes​ ​on​ ​till​ ​well​ ​after​ ​midnight.​ ​The​ ​whole​ ​area​ ​is​ ​beautifully​ ​maintained, with​ ​no​ ​littering​ ​or​ ​dirt.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​a​ ​few​ ​drinks​ ​and​ ​dinner​ ​in​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Restaurant​ ​at reasonable​ ​cost​ ​and​ ​walked​ ​back​ ​to​ ​our​ ​Hotel​ ​before​ ​midnight.​ ​We​ ​went​ ​for​ ​a​ ​walk through​ ​the​ ​same​ ​area​ ​(River​ ​Walk)​ ​which​ ​was​ ​deserted​ ​except​ ​for​ ​few​ ​walkers​ ​going around​ ​the​ ​beautiful​ ​pathways. Next​ ​day​ ​we​ ​visited​ ​the​ ​famous​ ​Alamo​ ​museum​ ​of​ ​war​ ​with​ ​Mexico.​ ​There​ ​was​ ​a​ ​long que.​ ​They​ ​have​ ​preserved​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​historical​ ​data​ ​and​ ​materials​ ​from​ ​1736​ ​war. We​ ​moved​ ​north​ ​and​ ​stayed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hotel​ ​close​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Cascade​ ​​ ​Natural​ ​Bridge​ ​Caverns. An​ ​hour​ ​of​ ​guided​ ​tour​ ​takes​ ​you​ ​beneath​ ​the​ ​Texas​ ​Hill​ ​County,​ ​through​ ​corridor​ ​after corridor​ ​of​ ​timeless​ ​beauty​ ​in​ ​cool​ ​natural​ ​environment.​ ​Crystal​ ​formation​ ​of​ ​all​ ​shapes from​ ​leaked​ ​mineral​ ​sediments​ ​are​ ​beautiful​ ​to​ ​see.The​ ​walking​ ​floor​ ​is​ ​paved​ ​and​ ​goes deeper​ ​and​ ​higher​ ​and​ ​is​ ​illuminated. We​ ​drove​ ​further​ ​north​ ​to​ ​a​ ​4​ ​mile​ ​drive​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Texas​ ​Wildlife​ ​Ranch,​ ​with​ ​500 animals​ ​​ ​from​ ​Africa,​ ​Asia,​ ​Australia​ ​Europe,South​ ​America​ ​and​ ​North​ ​America.roaming freely​ ​very​ ​close​ ​to​ ​your​ ​vehicle.You​ ​are​ ​allowed​ ​to​ ​feed​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​which​ ​come​ ​close to​ ​you​ ​from​ ​your​ ​vehicle,​ ​with​ ​food​ ​you​ ​buy​ ​from​ ​their​ ​counters,​ ​but​ ​should​ ​drop​ ​them​ ​to
the​ ​ground​ ​and​ ​not​ ​feed​ ​them​ ​directly​ ​for​ ​safety.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​see​ ​animals​ ​and​ ​birds​ ​at​ ​close range​ ​and​ ​some​ ​of​ ​them​ ​come​ ​to​ ​your​ ​vehicle​ ​expecting​ ​to​ ​be​ ​fed. We​ ​then​ ​drove​ ​to​ ​the​ ​LYNDON​ ​B​ ​JOHNSON​ ​NATIONAL​ ​PARK,,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​working Ranch,​ ​donated​ ​to​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Park​ ​Services​ ​in​ ​1972.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​a​ ​Texas​ ​White​ ​House​ ​from which​ ​he​ ​operated​ ​short​ ​periods​ ​as​ ​President.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​a​ ​Runway​ ​for​ ​Jet​ ​Planes,​ ​separate office​ ​with​ ​communication​ ​centre.The​ ​Cars​ ​he​ ​used​ ​are​ ​also​ ​displayed.​ ​The​ ​large​ ​family property​ ​with​ ​Cemetery​ ​etc​ ​are​ ​not​ ​part​ ​of​ ​it.It​ ​is​ ​14​ ​miles​ ​away​ ​from​ ​Johnson​ ​City.
We​ ​left​ ​for​ ​Austin​ ​a​ ​​ ​small​ ​city​ ​with​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​University​ ​Campus(University​ ​of​ ​Texas​ ​at Austin)​ ​where​ ​our​ ​eldest​ ​son​ ​Sunil​ ​did​ ​his​ ​postgraduate​ ​studies.His​ ​first​ ​child​ ​was​ ​born there​ ​in​ ​1993​ ​when​ ​my​ ​wife​ ​Jessie​ ​spent​ ​six​ ​months​ ​with​ ​them​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Campus.We stayed​ ​in​ ​Austin​ ​for​ ​3​ ​days​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​the​ ​city​ ​,​ ​university​ ​campus,​ ​a​ ​few​ ​friends​ ​of​ ​our​ ​son, visit​ ​Nasa`s​ ​Johnson​ ​Space​ ​Centre​ ​and​ ​other​ ​attractions​ ​​ ​in​ ​Houston.​ ​The​ ​space​ ​center occupies​ ​1600​ ​acres​ ​and​ ​employs​ ​more​ ​than​ ​14,000​ ​people.​ ​Actual​ ​Rockets​ ​and Spaceships​ ​are​ ​displayed​ ​and​ ​you​ ​can​ ​see​ ​them​ ​from​ ​close​ ​range​ ​from​ ​elevated platforms.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​shows​ ​of​ ​actual​ ​space​ ​flights​ ​and​ ​rocket​ ​launching.​ ​We​ ​took a​ ​conducted​ ​tour,​ ​which​ ​took​ ​about​ ​6​ ​hours.
ANTIETAM​ ​NATIONAL​ ​BATTLEFIELD.​ ​We​ ​visited​ ​the​ ​battlefield​ ​of​ ​war​ ​between​ ​the Union​ ​Leadership​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Confederate​ ​Leadership​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Civil​ ​War.​ ​In​ ​!862​ ​September 17th,.​ ​in​ ​just​ ​12​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​fighting,​ ​out​ ​of​ ​100000​ ​soldiers​ ​who​ ​took​ ​part,​ ​23000​ ​were killed,​ ​wounded​ ​or​ ​missing.The​ ​area​ ​of​ ​fighting​ ​is​ ​preserved​ ​as​ ​a​ ​National​ ​Park​ ​with​ ​a visitors​ ​centre,​ ​video​ ​shows,​ ​markings​ ​indicating​ ​details​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fight​ ​and​ ​the​ ​leaders involved.​ ​The​ ​place​ ​is​ ​north​ ​east​ ​of​ ​Sharpsburg,​ ​close​ ​to​ ​Potomac​ ​River.​ ​This​ ​reminds me​ ​of​ ​our​ ​earlier​ ​visit​ ​to​ ​another​ ​well​ ​preserved​ ​battlefield​ ​near​ ​Philadelphia​ ​of​ ​an​ ​earlier period,​ ​when​ ​the​ ​American​ ​settlers​ ​fought​ ​the​ ​British​ ​and​ ​later​ ​French​ ​army,​ ​for independence.The​ ​log​ ​cabins​ ​made​ ​from​ ​pine​ ​wood,​ ​in​ ​which​ ​the​ ​poorly​ ​equipped​ ​and fed​ ​army,​ ​had​ ​spent​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​winter,​ ​on​ ​rolling​ ​hills​ ​among​ ​pine​ ​forest​ ​​ ​are​ ​now​ ​a historical​ ​national​ ​monument.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​fine​ ​small​ ​church​ ​which​ ​is​ ​still​ ​in​ ​limited use. On​ ​our​ ​way​ ​we​ ​had​ ​lunch​ ​at​ ​a​ ​famous​ ​Steakhouse,​ ​which​ ​makes​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​firewood grilled​ ​fresh​ ​steaks.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​stand​ ​alone​ ​eatery,​ ​with​ ​no​ ​other​ ​building​ ​or​ ​shop​ ​around. They​ ​are​ ​well​ ​known​ ​and​ ​people​ ​drive​ ​there​ ​to​ ​eat​ ​their​ ​steaks..​ ​We​ ​also​ ​stopped​ ​to​ ​visit Blue​ ​Bell​ ​Creameries​ ​Plant​ ​established​ ​in​ ​1911.​ ​They​ ​collect​ ​fresh​ ​milk​ ​from​ ​many​ ​Dairy Farms​ ​of​ ​this​ ​area​ ​and​ ​make​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​ice​ ​creams,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​famous.​ ​They​ ​have displayed​ ​their​ ​​ ​1920​ ​model​ ​delivery​ ​van,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​vintage​ ​show​ ​piece.​ ​We​ ​watched​ ​the production​ ​process​ ​from​ ​an​ ​elevated​ ​glass​ ​walled​ ​balcony​ ​and​ ​​ ​tasted​ ​many​ ​varieties​ ​of Ice​ ​creams​ ​on​ ​display,​ ​free​ ​of​ ​cost.
We​ ​also​ ​spent​ ​some​ ​time​ ​in​ ​Washington​ ​DC​ ​visiting​ ​Lincoln​ ​Memorial,​ ​Franklin​ ​Delano Roosevelt​ ​Memorial,​ ​World​ ​War​ ​II​ ​Memorial,​ ​Korean​ ​War​ ​Veterans​ ​Memorial,​ ​and Vietnam​ ​Veterans​ ​Memorial,​ ​and​ ​see​ ​from​ ​outside​ ​both​ ​the​ ​​ ​White​ ​House​ ​and​ ​U.S Capitol​ ​building,​ ​We​ ​spent​ ​a​ ​full​ ​day​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Natural​ ​History​ ​Museum,​ ​but​ ​could​ ​partly cover​ ​only​ ​4​ ​sections​ ​out​ ​of​ ​8.. We​ ​returned​ ​the​ ​hired​ ​car​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Airport​ ​Rental​ ​and​ ​flew​ ​back​ ​to​ ​Las​ ​Vegas​ ​with​ ​Sunil`s family.
K.George​ ​John,​ ​Maruthikunnu,​ ​Tiruvalla.Kerala​ ​State.
