MY ADENTURES N SAN ANTONIO, BANDERA, STONEWALL TEXAS & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPORT; NOV '16

[knewton64]

AND LET THE FUN BEGIN....

I tell ya, it gets stranger and stranger...........
(Which is good news)


Am going to be checking in Ladybug this am into her "Hotel for spoiled Pooches" at 9am -


and
then turning around and picking up my Birthday present which is at.........
**RUSTY WALLACE HONDA**

(The Most perfect shade of blue for the car's color......)






** THE ADVENTURE BEGINS**





UP NEXT:
First reaction to the Gaylord Texan Hotel & their interior courtyard area


and my 4 hour spa retreat.
.......pics and video where I can I promise -



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

 

[knewton64]

In recent light with all the craziness happening out in Hollywood, I thought I would pass on a small funny from the heart -

My Mother would sing this song to me when I was a kid and well........
I hated it cuz whenver she would sing it cuz I was sleepy and didn't wanna get outta bed and go to school or what not.


Flash forward many years later, and when I approach Ladybug
in the morning.....
Guess which song I sing to her
and she flashes me that 'look' like I have just lost my mind.



.....and sometimes we vow as Humans "never" to turn out like our Moms or Dads.......




ANYWHO.....
now about that new car of mine -





To move from 2007 technology to 2017 technology is like........
driving a car to a driving experience.


From sitting in the drivers' seat to sitting in a cockpit like drivers' seat with all the instruments in front of you.

(yes, imo - I am still using the old school "club" on the steering wheel just in case....)


ANYWHO -
I mean the on dash board console is just a sight to behold.
Car handles like a charm -
very quiet on the inside

and
that stereo system is a sight to see and hear.


Overall, I love my new car.


Rusty Wallace Honda.






and with that,
About to head out for the Gaylord Hotel and should arrive there around 10am.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

 

[knewton64]

The car ride up to the Gaylord was a treat.....
jamming to Katy Perry's 'Happy Birthday' song among other songs worth jammin' to -



Gaylord Texan hotel is huge!
Here is just but a small glimpse of the interior courtyard area -

and -

Will post more pics & video as they come in I promise. Ok back to nibbling on my breakfast at their Riverwalk Cantina.

T.T.F.N.
&
CHHERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

Pinkie swear?

 

[knewton64]

Pinkie swear?

pinky it is.



Besides. Their chic chip pancakes are Fab!! Ppsstt1 just found out a college football team from Michigan is staying here for a bowl game. More details to come. I am now here for my spa.





UP NEXT:
So how was my Spa day & just where can I find some 'ritas??




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL
(hmmmmm.....I sense some strawberry 'ritas n my future)

 

[knewton64]

Having a blast here at the Gaylord Hotel -
no issues

and
now about to check out their 'night life' in the atrium area......

(just double right click w/your computer mouse over the above video & it will play 4 u)



....and my quest for a "few" 'ritas.



P.S.S.
Don't look now, but it's

Western Michigan Broncos football



.....they are currently in-house here at the Gaylord in time for their game on Jan 2nd.

PPSSTTT!!!!!! GO BRONCOS!!





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY ONE -
DECEMBER 29TH


Not only the little things from the atrium area




to the view from my 8th floor room balcony -



But it was Kristina's expertise in the Deep Tissue massage & Reflexology that



really made my day. Her strong hands just melted all my worries away from a rather busy work day and helped rejuvenate my Soul and brought/restored a smile back into me as I could tell I was dragging just a wee bit.


She , along with the Front Desk here at the Gaylord is the reason why I will be extending my Hotel stay from 3nths/4 days at Great Wolfe Lodge (May '17) to adding a post night here at the Gaylord and seeing if she is available
for my post day.


That and their 'ritas ROCK -






UP NEXT:
Kickin' it with a Behind the scenes tour of ICE.











T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

ABOUT 2 START MY DAY.....

The rooms here at the Gaylord are very nice & spacious. And IMHO, its the balcony view that makes it home.



and the bathroom section of it is nicely done up in a Texas theme.
Yes.....I can tell......



....just like someone told me at work a few weeks ago -
that I do plan on rebooking for one night in early May.




ANYWHO -
Q: So whats up for today??



Just for starter.....
need to catch , find and or locate some much need OJ and waffles to jump start me day -


then got a behind the scenes tour of ICE -


and -



then
enjoy all the additional add ons to it.
and can't forget cookies and milk w/Mrs Claus at 2pm....



Later, I am set to enjoy a
pass to head back to the Spa.





and cap my Birthday
off with dinner ressies at 7pm at their Italian restaurant.

possibly a few 'ritas somewhere.........




Hmmmmmm.......
cookies and milk in my room once I get back????






Ok......I will admit - this is a Fantabolous way to celebrate ones birthday -
Gaylord.






(JUST DOUBLE RIGHT CLICK W/YOUR COMPUTER MOUSE OVER THE ABOVE VIDEO & IT WILL PLAY 4 U)







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL.......


wondering if Jerry and Company will be making that short drive
to Houston next month.......

Keeping my fingers crossed that this answer is YES.
....and that we can update the above video as well.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Nothing like nibblin' on some breakfast munchies in the Riverwalk area with some WMU players.......

Umm...
Well........

I am wearing my UofM sweatshirt so I fit in.


Folks - those Offensive linemen are HUGE
and this is just at the College Level.



and
with that,

am about to head off and go behind the scenes of ICE.

FYI - IN SOME OF THE ICE SCENES, you will see some 'garden hose' like devices inter spliced into some of the blocks of ice ......I asked the Tour Guide and even the Artesian Guest as well as his translator what is was and NO ONE knew........

My best guess is that those are bleeder lines to help ensure to keep those ice figures cold.



ANYWHO -
Gonna b fun I can tell.





T.T.F.N
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

RE: My review of Gaylord Texan Hotel ICE and my overall hotel stay with them
December 2016. Knewton64

01-02-17
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Gaylord Texan Hotel LOST my reservations for all day of fun out at the ICE presentation for December 30th.
Furthermore, I was in the process of leaving the Hotel 1 day and 6 hours early due to their total ineptitude when Kelly (ICE Concierge) intercepted me and what what I can tell, was pressed into service to be my Guide for the behind the scenes tour.

She made things worse my choosing to invite her whole family along for the tour
and
wasn't at all engaging and never really bothered to draw me into each scene. Never bothered to off me any "fun facts" about just what it was that I was looking at either.

Moreover, the moment she & I got into the first scene of the exhibit, she disappeared to visit with her family.
I knew if I had said anything, she just would have been even more of a lackadaisical Guide.

Moreover, her
Co-workers kept on coming up to her to talk with her WHILE SHE WAS MY TOUR GUIDE.
????????? is my reacton to all this

and
W.T.W. or words to that effect is all I have to say.


There are other things that happened to me that day that also didn't sit well with me and supposedly, I have been promised by Reservations Mgr a one day room & tax adjustment and an ICE VIP tour adjustment as well back to my credit card as well. I am following up closely to make sure this is addressed.......


Due to all of this and more, I have decided to cancel my May 8th Gaylord reservation(S) with them and spend it instead on over at the Great Wolfe Lodge.


My Trip advisor.com review of this Hotel:
“HOW NOT TO SERVICE THE GUEST”
Reviewed 3 days agoNEW
Stayed December 29-31st. ICE totally had no record of my reservation/invoice....thank GOD I did but the fight was on to prove that///at 9:45am with a start time of 10am. I was all ready to cancel my second night and just go home. Finally an ICE Concierge Lady came out (Kelly) and evidently "volunteered" to be my Guide for the Behind...

FYI -
(JUST DOUBLE CLICK W/YOUR COMPUTER MOUSE OVER THE TITLE "HOW NOT TO SERVICE THE GUEST" AND UP WILL POP UP MY REVIEW OF THAT HOTEL)




ANYWHO -
and now on with the show!




and -






Q: So....how cold was cold while visiting the land of "Santa Claus is Coming to town?"



and how was their ICE bar??




and of course, ya can't forget to get n some ice skating -

**JUST DOUBLE LEFT CLOCK W/YOUR COMPUTER MOUSE OVER THE ABOVE VIDEO & IT WILL PLAY 4U)**





DETAILS COMING UP


Now I am out for cookies & milk w/Mrs Claus



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Definition of What the What.......

(the individual scenes at ICE are so wonderful to see as I was literally transformed into a 9 year old kid the moment I saw my first one)



OK.....
SO HOW COLD WAS IT INSIDE iCE??


Lets just say that I wore the following:

1) 3 pair socks
2) my "personals"
3) shorts
4) sweat pants
5) t-shirt
6) regular button down short sleeve shirt
7) sweat shirt
8) Bomber jacket
9) their Parka
10) fall gloves
11) wintr gloves over #10
12) scarf
13) stocking cap


and I had on soooooo much stuff I couldnt button their Parka But hey -
I was toasty warm for fair to say 90% of the time until the very end
and

WOWZERS!!

Did I ever began to feel the cold!


BABY IT'S COLD INSIDE!!


My jaw began to freeze up, snot began to drip from my nose, etc.....
To to those who feels its ok to not dress warmly = OUCH!!


BUT NOW EARLIER while talking with an Artesian (Artist) who helped work on making all these wonderful figure for all of us to enjoy remarked that



he was in charge of making a lot of the soldiers you see in the above picture and that he has been doing this for the last 2 years. My Chinese is very very limited so yes, I had to go thru an translator but still - it was so much fun to learn how all this is done during the Behind the Scenes tour of ICE. An tour that I will never forget as the moment you see the very first scene of the presentation, you IMO get immediately transformed back to your childhood and a smile will slowly creep upon your face and you will find yourself singing along to the music as you go from scene to individual scene.
I saw many a people doing that while I was there.



Here is some background on what they do behind the Scenes wise from a few years ago via Youtube -

My overall impression of ICE?
VERY IMPRESSIVE -


Especially the very last scene -



The attention to detail just left me in awe -


and -





ANYWHO -
....Scuttling back to my room for some much needed Gingerbread cookies and yup.....
strawberry 'ritas while making Hotel ressies for May for Gaylord Texan.

Er....
so say , I am deconstructing what I just built....

from this -



while at this place inside the Gaylord



to -



WHILE sippin' on some strawberry ritas.






So.....
be on the lookout for Yours Truly to be 3nghts/4days at the Great Wolfe lodge then 1 nght Post Night at the Gaylord...which is just right across the street.


and I just set up Spa ressies for the Gaylord that day as well....
Sports, Aromatherapy, hot stones and reflexology .


OH MY!!


THE REASON FOR THE CELEBRATION??


EASY -

I would have just gotten my Disneyland Paris trip officially booked and underway and yes, I just bought a new car.




SEE???
Even Gingy is in a great mood as well after hearing my news -





Later, I just had to check out
Cookes and milk w/Mrs Claus was fun....



Her assistant Wally and his outift??
Well, I will just it speak for itself -




Ok......boogying out now to work more on my Shelf on the Elf or whatever its called scavenger Hunt.........


followed by a misc trip back to the Spa facility


then dinner ressies at an Italian restaurant.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

About to go on a culinary adventure at



From a meat and cheese platter,



wine tasting, steak. You name it, etc. Wowzers!!! Glad I don't have that far to walk. Details comin up.













T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

And the craziest part is guess what's waiting for me when I get back to my room? Milk and chic chip cookies........




ANYWHO -
I'm Listening to Andrew Bocelli music while at this restaurant.....



I was perfectly snucked just right inside their place .....




while nibbling on their -

YUMM!!



Ok someone pinch me. This is IMHO how you celebrate your birthday.



IMO, the behind the scenes tour of ICE ROCKED
and
so did this dinner.


To me, these were the highlights of my day two that really made my day.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Make that After I get back from taste testing some "Rita's at their sports bar while taking n a bowl game. ......

FYI - Tell the restaurants that YES, it is indeed your birthday and be surprised what they bless u with.....Of course, be prepared to show them for ID for proof.....Lets just say I enjoyed many a shot of whiskey this night).






T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Ok. Univ of Mich down at halftime?



W.T.W.

T.B.C.......





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

With more trips planned, there best be more trip reports!!


Celebrate your birthday for a week

Eat cake and drink those 'ritas!

 

[knewton64]

With more trips planned, there best be more trip reports!!


Celebrate your birthday for a week

Eat cake and drink those 'ritas!

I have got one H of a ringing n my ear and the rooms is still spinning......
and laughing all the way to the shower as I am now about to meet all the characters from Rudolph at a Character Breakfast.....



That's right - thats oreo cookies, m&ms waffles.. = YUM!!




Will take plenty of pics and video....esp of Mr. Bumble



.....then alas!!

(The Burgermeister was beautifully done up......had the show's music themed just right at every ICE scene.....)



Time for me to go POOF!!

and leave this nice place
and go pick up my 4-legged Daughter....



still am in the process of filling in the prev 6-8 postings w/pics and video so please b on the lookout for more stuff to be posted....



BUT WAIT!!!

the fun hasn't stopped yet on this TR



Got one last thing up my sleeve
as didn't have time to visit Papasitos last week....

WILL NOW ON MONDAY then this TR will be officiually done



and I will be officially in my Cajun mode.



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL