San Antonio, Y'all: A Drummer's Dizzying Detour
okay, so. san antonio. i wasn’t supposed to be in san antonio. touring with the band fell through - something about a rogue ferret and a cancelled festival in Iceland, don’t ask - and i needed a place to crash for a few days while i figured things out. booked a cheap Airbnb near the *Riverwalk, figured i’d just… exist.
and exist i did. mostly in a haze of lukewarm coffee and frantic Craigslist searches for temporary gigs. but, you know, it wasn’t bad. it was… weird. in a good way, sometimes.
I just checked and the air feels like a damp hug right now, hovering around twenty-five degrees. not exactly ideal for laying out, but perfect for wandering around and getting delightfully lost. which, let’s be honest, is my specialty.
The Riverwalk itself? tourist trap, obviously. but a charming tourist trap. i spent a ridiculous amount of time just watching the boats go by, trying to decipher the conversations of the people on board. overheard a couple arguing about whether or not to get matching sombreros. peak san antonio, honestly.
Speaking of overheard things… someone told me that the best tacos al pastor in the whole city are at a tiny, unmarked stand near Hemisfair Park. apparently, you have to know someone who knows someone to find it. i spent a solid three hours wandering around, asking increasingly desperate questions. no luck. but i did find a decent breakfast burrito, so, progress?
I’m a drummer, right? so naturally, i was on the lookout for any kind of live music scene. found a little blues joint called The Esquire Tavern - apparently it’s been around forever. the vibe was… smoky. and loud. and exactly what i needed. the bartender gave me some drunk advice about “chasing the rhythm, not the money.” profound, i guess. or maybe i was just dehydrated.
If you get bored, Austin and Houston are just a short drive away. i considered a quick trip to Austin, but the thought of dealing with more crowds was… exhausting. i needed to recharge, not add to the chaos.
Here's a quick rundown of what I packed (because apparently, I'm still obsessed with lists, even when I'm trying to be spontaneous):
My trusty snare drum sticks (obviously)
Noise-canceling headphones - essential for dealing with questionable Airbnb neighbors
A ridiculously oversized scarf - because why not?
A notebook for jotting down random thoughts and potential song lyrics
A portable charger - because my phone is my lifeline
I also stumbled across this forum about local events - https://www.sasouth.com/. Might be useful if you're planning a longer stay.
And Yelp says https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants&find_loc=San+Antonio%2C+TX has a ton of restaurant reviews, if you're into that sort of thing. I'm more of a “wander and hope for the best” kind of eater, myself.
I heard that the missions are a must-see. Apparently, they’re stunning. I didn’t make it there, though. Too busy trying to find that elusive taco stand. Priorities, you know?
TripAdvisor has some interesting tours listed too: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60956-Activities-San_Antonio_Texas.html
San Antonio wasn’t on my list. it wasn’t even on my radar. but sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you don’t plan. it was a weird, messy, slightly chaotic few days. and i wouldn’t trade it for anything. except maybe a decent cup of coffee.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/kayseri-wanderings-a-chaotic-day-in-the-highlands
- https://votoris.com/post/abidjan-and-the-art-of-surviving-a-37degree-photo-session
- https://votoris.com/post/a-messy-adventure-in-san-paulo
- https://votoris.com/post/buenos-aires-lost-in-translation-and-a-whole-lot-of-mate
- https://votoris.com/post/port-marigold-sticky-walls-and-sketchy-alleyways