Tex, the Longhorn, spent the weekend of November 11, 2016 soaking in Texas History in San Antonio, Texas.  Tex answered the following questions:

1.    Where is Tex?  On Friday, November 11 Tex left Houston, Texas USA by truck and traveled to San Antonio, Texas.  He visited the San Jose Mission on Sunday, November 13, 2016.

2. What is the geography like there? San Antonio, the seventh most populous city in the United States of America and the second most populous city in the state of Texas, is located in the Hill Country.  It is situated in south central Texas between the Edwards Plateau to the northwest and the Gulf Coastal Plains to the southeast.  The terrain has oak trees, mesquite trees and cacti.

3. What are typical foods that are eaten there?   What type of foods do you and family and friends like to eat?  Residents and visitors of San Antonio enjoy eating many different types of food.  When Mr. and Mrs. Normann-Petersen visit San Antonio they like to eat at The Alamo Café, Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery, Bohanans Steakhouse, and Landry’s Seafood on the river walk.

4. What types of jobs are there? The most common jobs in San Antonio are nurses, teachers, ranchers, farmers, and tourism.

5. What are the popular sports or games played there?  What popular sports or games interest you, your family, and your friends? Many people enjoy watching the San Antonio Spurs, the basketball team, as well as University of Texas at San Antonio’s Football team, the Roadrunners!

6. Where are you going next Tex? Give us a hint and see if we can figure it before you get there! Tex’s clue is at the end of this post.

7. Tex, can you include any pictures of yourself and surrounding area and/or landmarks?  Please see the pictures below of Tex’s trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit the Alamo.

Here are a Tex and Mrs. Normann-Petersen in front of the San Jose Mission and a picture of the inside of the mission.  The San Jose was founded in 1720 by Father Antonio Margil de Jesus, an important Franciscan missionary in early Texas.  The San Jose Mission is known as the “Queen of Missions” because of it is the biggest of the missions in San Antonio and the elaborate sculptures that adorns it. 

Here is Tex reading about the Church and the Mission.

The San Jose Mission housed and taught the Indians, the Coahuiltecans (kwa-weel-tay-kans) about Catholic religion and eventually converted them to the Catholic religion.  During the Alamo Battle the San Jose Mission also housed Spanish Soldiers.  The San Jose Mission’s grounds are beautiful to take a walk in or sit and prayer in the beautiful garden.  Here are a few pictures of the grounds, the gardens, the water well, and Mrs. Normann-Petersen’s favorite the Rose Window located. 

Here is Tex getting his picture taken in front of the San Jose Sign. 

For more information on San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo, University of Texas at San Antonio, Mi Tierra Café, Alamo Café, Landry’s, and Bohanans please visit the websites below.

http://www.sanantonio.gov/

http://visitsanantonio.com/

http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm

http://www.goutsa.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=34919

http://www.mitierracafe.com/

http://www.bohanans.com/

http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/directory/landrys-seafood

http://www.alamocafe.com/

Interactive Map of the Alamo

 http://www.thealamo.org/plan-a-visit/interactive-map/index.html

Tex's clue for his next stop:  Tex visits January's community helper. If you think you know the answer to Tex’s clue please email Mrs. Normann-Petersen at:    cnormannpetersen@stmorenews.com

Tex’s Christmas Adventures with Ms. McDonald

During Christmas vacation Ms. McDonald agreed to take Tex, the Longhorn to her home to celebrate Christmas with her and her family.  Ms. McDonald is the third grade teacher at St. Thomas More Parish School and answered the following questions for Tex:

1.  Where is Tex?  (name of city, state, country)

Celebrating Christmas with  Ms. McDonald in  Mobile, AL; Wichita, Kansas; and then home to Houston, TX.

2.  What is the geography like there? (mountains, plains, coastal, lakes, etc.)

Mobile is overall flat however in certain areas there are a few hills. There is water surrounding much of the Mobile area due to it’s proximity to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Wichita, Kansas – Very flat land with a lot of open space. It is quite snowy this time of year (as you can see from the picture in the plane).

3.  What are typical foods that are eaten there?   What type of foods do you and family and friends like to eat?

Mobile contains a variety of food however primarily what it known for is its seafood and what some people call “Soul food” or “Country cooking” these are foods such as turnip greens, friend chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, etc. Although that is what Mobile is known for we didn’t have too much while I was there. For Christmas, we had green bean casserole, turkey, mac-n-cheese, and apple pie for dessert. All homemade! The McDonald family really enjoys a restaurant named Bangkok Thai, Ms. McDonald always tries to make a pit-stop there while she is home.

 Kansas – In Kansas they eat pretty much what Texas serves …just not as tasty…while I was there we had some delicious Italian food and Ms. McDonald enjoyed their chicken tortilla soup. 

4. What types of jobs are there? (agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, etc)

Mobile – Mobile contains jobs in all areas however what is unique about this area are the ports. Mobile is a hub for shipping. They have had ships from all over the world. Places like China, Egypt, Columbia, England, and the Dominican Republic have shipped items to Mobile for export. They are also known for their building of ships. Ms. McDonald’s friend is actually helping build a ship that the US Navy will use! It’s in the final stages of completion. He actually took it out a few weeks ago with some navy personnel to make sure everything worked correctly.

Wichita, Kansas  is proud to be known as the “Flight Capitol of the World” it earned this name because it is the location which produces the most airplanes. Pretty cool!

5.  What are the popular sports or games played there?  What popular sports or games interest you, your family, and your friends.

Mobile – all sports are a big deal but college football takes the cake. Throughout the entire year people are seen sporting their favorite teams’ flags and attire. The two biggest teams in the area are Auburn and Alabama. Ms. McDonald personally loves going to baseball games with her family, the local minor league team are the Mobile Baybears. They have had players who are now playing for the New York Yankees and the 2013 World Series (and Ms. McDonald’s favorite) Boston Red Sox! The Baybears play at the Hank Aaron Stadium, named after the famous baseball player, Hank Aaron. He is known for his breaking of Babe Ruth’s homerun record of 714 homeruns. Ms. McDonald also worked three summers at this stadium while in college.

Kansas- Ms. McDonald isn’t really sure what is the most popular sport/game officially in Kansas but what is for sure is her friend is all about college basketball. She knows everything there is to know about her KU (Kansas University) team. 

6. Where are you going next Tex? Give us a hint and see if we can figure it before you get there! Tex's clue for the next stop: Tex helps Mrs. Normann-Petersen’s class make sure they look nice for a special event with a photographer.  Can you guess where Tex went on this next visit?  Please email Mrs. Normann-Petersen if you think you have a guess! cnormannpetersen@stmorenews.com

7.        Tex, can you include any pictures of yourself and surrounding area and/or landmarks? Please ask Mrs. Normann-Petersen to send the file to you, so you can see Tex’s adventures with Ms. McDonald.  

For more information on Mobile, Al please click on the links below:

http://www.cityofmobile.org/

http://www.mobile.org/

For more information on Wichita, KS please click on the links below:

http://www.wichita.gov/Pages/default.aspx

http://wichitachamber.org/

The Penguins visit Rome and the Vatican

Penelope and Peter visit Rome and the Vatican

Mrs. Chica, a friend of Mrs. Normann-Petersen’s, agreed to take Penelope and Peter, the penguins, with her and her family to Rome, Italy for their Christmas vacation.  With the help of the Martinez-Chica Family, Penelope and Peter answered the following questions:

1. Where are Penelope and Peter?  Celebrating Christmas in the Vatican and in Rome, Italy.

2. What is the geography like there? Rome is located on the eastern banks of the Tiber River.  The Apennine Mountains are to the west of Rome and forms the backbone of peninsular Italy.  Rome is close to the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The Vatican is located on top of Vatican Hill near the Tiber River in Rome; located within a walled area of Rome; it is the smallest country in Italy; the Vatican’s boundaries were originally constructed to protect the Pope.  Pope Francis is the chief of the state and the first Argentine Pope.  When Pope Francis was elected to be the Pope he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

3. What are typical foods that are eaten there?   What type of foods do you and family and friends like to eat?  Different types of pasta with different sauces and a lot of seafood are the most popular food eaten in Italy.  On Christmas Day the Martinez-Chica Family ate lunch with their family.  They had 10 people for the meal.  The lunch had six courses which included the following traditional food:   To start the meal they ate  different types of cheese with toasted bread; along with prunes, prosciutto bites, and chicken pâté;  the 2nd course was capellini in a broth; the 3rd course was lasagna al pesto;  the next course was roast beef in a veal broth with onions jam; the 4th course included a green salad and fresh fruit; last but not least was dessert,  panforte and coffee.  Panforte is similar to a fruit cake.  

4. What types of jobs are there? The jobs within Vatican City include mainly Catholic priests, nuns, guards, and other dignitaries.  Banking and development of tourism are the primary jobs in Rome.

5. What are the popular sports or games played there?  What popular sports or games interest you, your family, and your friends?   Soccer, rugby, and tennis are the most popular sports in Europe!

6. Where are you going next Penelope and Peter? Give us a hint and see if we can figure it before you get there! Their clue is at the end of this post.

7. Tex, can you include any pictures of yourself and surrounding area and/or landmarks?  Please see the pictures below of Penelope’s and Peter’s adventure in Rome!

The Martinez-Chica Family left from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.  The first flight was from Houston to Amsterdam, Holland and took 10 hours long.  The second leg of the journey was 2 and half hours longs from Amsterdam, Holland to Rome.  Dr. Martinez, Gabby, and Felipe enjoying breakfast at the airport before their flight departs Houston.

The Penguins in the plane with Gabby and Felipe.


             





The pictures below are of the penguins in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.  In the Basilica is a relic of Baby Jesus’ crib.



  



Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. Inscribed in Italian is the following:

The Lord is great and great is His love.







December 22, 2016 Saint Peter's Square with Gabby and Felipe.  They were getting ready to pray the Angelus.  St.  Peter’s Square is the center of Vatican Center and where St. Peter’s Basilica is located.  








Peter and Penelope helped set the table for Christmas Lunch.




The family that Peter and Penelope stayed with during Christmas vacation had a pet, cat, Groppios.  Groppios was very interested in the penguins.





The penguins went with the Martinez-Chica family to the catacombs, where early Christians were buried.

The Copede Piazza an Arquitectonic.

Colosseum



The Forum Romanum was the center of life of Rome until 509 B.C.




New Year’s Eve at the Martinez-Chica’s cousin’s home.  Peter, Penelope, and the rest of the family enjoyed ringing in the New Year with fireworks on the roof top terrace.

       

For more information on Rome and the Vatican please visit websites below.

For Rome facts:

http://www.rome.info/facts/

The official website for Vatican City:

http://www.vatican.va/

For Vatican City facts:

http://www.rome.info/vatican/

St. Peter’s Square

http://www.rome.info/squares/st-peters-square/

Penelope and Peter’s clue for Tex’s next stop: Tex visited three states during Christmas vacation with Ms. McDonald, the third grade teacher at St. Thomas More School.  The first state is lies on the Gulf of Mexico, the second state is home to the Kansas City Chiefs football team, and the third state celebrates its independence from Mexico on March 2.    

Can you guess where Tex went on his next visit?  Please email Mrs. Normann-Petersen if you think you have a guess!

cnormannpetersen@stmorenews.com