NATIONAL Tank Truck Carrier spouses will be enjoying the Alamo City with a tour of the Mission Trail, as well as lunch and a cooking demonstration at Aldaco's restaurant, all planned by Destinations by Marriott.
The tour will gather in the lobby of the Marriott River Center Hotel (Commerce Street exit) at 10:15 am and board a coach at 10:30 am. The schedule calls for the group to return to the hotel by 2:30 pm.
The tour begins at Mission Concepcion, which was moved to San Antonio in 1731 from East Texas. The flagstone floor of the chapel has borne thousands of worshipers, from the barefooted-native Americans centuries ago to tennis-shoed tourists of today.
Mission Concepcion is especially noted for its wall paintings, and is also known as one of the oldest un-restored stone churches as well as the oldest un-restored Catholic church in the nation.
Then it's on to the grandest mission in terms of size and architectural detail, Mission San Jose. Termed the Queen of the Missions, this elegant structure echoes with reminders of an earlier time, when Texas was a frontier and the mission was a haven in an unsettled land.
One of the country's finest examples of Spanish mission architecture, San Jose is blessed with a lovely-sculpted entrance and the famous Rosa's Window.
Continuing along the Mission Trail, the group will pass Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. With the distinctive silhouette of the bell tower, San Juan Capistrano makes a striking photo. Between it and Espada lies the Espada Aqueduct, the irrigation system constructed by the missionaries in the 1730s still in use today.
The group will then go to Aldaco's for a relaxing hour of margaritas and the cooking demonstration with lunch.
NTTC's spouses will learn the techniques of how to make the perfect margarita, enchiladas, and green chilies verde salsa.