Boerne, TX
We have a lot in common with Stephanie and Christopher. They lived near us in Tampa, and our kids went to school together. They even lived in the Philippines for a few years!
Our friends now live in a historic town called Boerne (burr-nee), in the Texas Hill Country about 30 miles from San Antonio. They invited us to stay at their beautiful home on Saturday night and spend Sunday exploring Boerne.
Sunday morning was Easter. We observed the special day by enjoying the beauty of nature, and took a hike on a wooded trail alongside a winding creek. There were trees with tangled roots growing right in the water, and an impressively large beaver dam. And at the trailhead was a series of dinosaur tracks! Our walk was picturesque, and peaceful, and spiritual.
Back at the house, we enjoyed a leisurely, delicious Easter brunch on their back deck, which overlooks a nature preserve. Birds were singing, and we could see a small herd of white-tail deer sitting calmly at the edge of the clearing. The deer came right up to the backyard fence when Christopher tossed them tortillas, frisbee-style. Following her family’s Easter tradition, Stephanie served us baked ham with plenty of delicious side dishes and (her own spring touch) Aperol spritzes. It was lovely to be sitting outdoors, enjoying good food and woodland creatures with our friends!
After brunch, we took a walk in historic downtown Boerne. Boerne was settled by German immigrants in the 1860’s. It offered a cooler climate than San Antonio, plentiful water, and beautiful scenery. The German culture has endured, and tourists enjoy visiting downtown Boerne for its shops, restaurants, breweries, and festivals. It was not a typical Sunday; most of the establishments were closed for Easter, and the street and sidewalks were quiet. It was hard to believe that in just one week, this charming little town with a population of just 20,000 expects to host 50,000 visitors for the solar eclipse! Crazy and exciting!
We drove home on backroads through the Hill Country. Steve enjoyed driving the curves and gentle hills, and Maria enjoyed the bluebonnets and other wildflowers. We are so grateful to Stephanie and Christopher for their warm hospitality and for a relaxing and memorable Easter Sunday.
