DAY 66
Week 10
SAN ANTONIO (Texas, USA) to CORPUS CHRISTI (Texas, USA)
Friday August 25th, 2006
TODAYS MILEAGE – 206 miles or 332 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 8184 miles or 13171 kilometres
Show me a wave.....and I'll wave back!!! 
One of the best things about not having any schedule is the fact that you don't have to watch the clock. I got going around 10 o'clock but only as far as Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery in the Market Square area of downtown San Antonio (Texas).
I was a bit peckish and went for the Chilaquiles Famosos Carne de Res which consists of crisp corn tortilla strips scrambled with eggs, topped with Ranchero sauce and melted aged cheddar cheese with a side of beef tips sauteed in tomatoes and peppers. It looked kind of weird while reading it on the menu, bit it was a great feed.
Across the street is the Market Square which includes El Mercardo which is billed as the "largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico". It kind of reminds me of the open air markets and bazaars in Asia and Egypt except for it is indoors, air conditioned and somewhat sterile as there is no haggling as I'm used to in similar markets.
From there it was an easy 2½ drive down Interstate 37 to the Gulf of Mexico and the seaside town of Corpus Christi. The first thing you notice as you get into town is the huge petro-chemical plants that dot the landscape. I had every intention of taking a look around during the afternoon, but as with the best laid plans of mice and men, it wasn't to be.
I checked in the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Marina & Tower and while checking my email in the lobby I got talking to Donny the barmen over what to see and do. One beer turns into another and before you know it, I'm in for the afternoon. Oh well - who cares???
Donny suggested Mac's Pit Barbecue for dinner, so a quick freshen up was in order. Unfortunately it required a climb of 18 flights of stairs to the room due to the fact that some people were stuck in an elevator because they had too many people in it. Fireies, Ambo's and the local Choppers all attended by the time I got down to grab a cab.
Luckily all the commotion had died down by the time I was ready for bed, as I was as full a goog on great Texas barbecue.
I promise to check out the town tomorrow .... unless Donny is giving away samples again.
• SAN ANTONIO (Texas, USA)