This was in the city park at Fredericksburg. I guess it is some kind of German Christmas decoration. Fredericksburg is a German town with lots of restaurants and shops.
It is also home of the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Admiral Nimitz Museum.
One of the most respected leaders of the Pacific campaign of World War II was Chester Nimitz who was born in Fredericksburg, Texas.
The Admiral Nimitz Museum includes highlights from the Nimitz family and Chester Nimitz from childhood to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, his role during World War II, and the years until his death in 1966. There is also a fifteen foot model of the carrier Nimitz.
The Nimitz super carriers are a line of nuclear-powered U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
Many of the buildings downtown look similar to this one. It struck me how much it looked like buildings I used to see in the western movies.
There are all kinds of gift shops, antique stores, and restaurants with everything from great German food to BBQ and hamburgers.
We opted for lunch at Waverly's and had a reuben sandwich on rye with German potato salad and red cabbage. (much like red cabbage sauerkraut) It was a very good lunch accompanied by cold glass of Shiner Bock beer. Shiner Bock is a product of Shiner, Texas. Fredericksburg is a nice, clean town of about 10,000 population.
This is another picture of the landscape you will see in Texas hill country. Often times there will be short, scrubby trees with twisted limbs. Many don't seem to get very big. I guess from growing in the rocks and dry conditions or maybe it is just the variety.
The next field may look similar to the picture on the left, with lots of cactus and rocks.
This was a picture of Junction, Texas from a scenic overlook east of town.
You drive down the hill, cross the bridge and you are in Junction. We did not go there to see a specific attraction. It was one of the towns to the west of us and was within an hours drive. Again, just checking out what is in the area of where we are staying.
Below:
Deer Antler Tree
Maybe the neatest thing we saw in Junction was the deer antler tree in front of the deer processing building. At least it was enough to get me to stop and take a picture.
If any of you have been to Jackson, Wyoming this might remind you, as it did me, of the Elk antler arches on each corner of the square. Somewhere in our collection we also have pictures of those.
We enjoyed the tour around hill country just seeing the sights. Another time we need to take a trip to Austin and to San Antonio. Undoubtedly, there will be much more to take in.
