When he gets to San Antonio he will find himself in = the=20 epicenter of Texas history. The Alamo is right downtown... does = that=20 surprise anybody?......and there are several other old Missions around = the=20 area. Goliad, where Fannin and his men were murdered by Santa=20 Anna, is not far away nor is LaGrange where there is a = monument to the=20 Mier Expedition. San Jacinto is just east of Houston. In = short I=20 think your son will do well to learn a little about Texas and its = history, and=20 he should explore some of the historical (and otherwise = interesting) sites=20 that he will find within a day's drive of San Antonio. He should = get out=20 and meet folks. He shouldn't hide the fact that he is a = newcomer.....he will find practically all Texans to be friendly, = generous people=20 who will fall all over themselves to assist him in any way. Ask = any=20 question and he will get a good answer (maybe accompanied with a little=20 smile..but it won't be a condescending smile). It will be good for = him to=20 learn the pronunciations of some of the oddly spelled places he might = come=20 across: Burnet is Burn-it, not Burn-nette, Buda is Bew-da, not = Boo-da,=20 Iraan is Ira-ann not Eye-ran, Mexia is Mah-hay-uh, not Mex-e-uh (Mexia = is=20 sometimes pronounced my Muh-Hair by some old timers...like my = grandmother).=20 Waxahachie is Woks-ah-hachie, not Wax-ah-hachie. Tehuacana = is=20 pronounced Tah-wok-ah-nee, as is Towakani....both are small towns. = Confused=20 yet? In=20 short get to know the place. The state publishes a great(free) = guide book=20 that he will find useful.

Most of all he should indulge the cuisine. He = should go=20 first to Lockhart.....a short drive northeast of San Antonio...and visit = Kreutz's Market, the home of the planet's best bar-be-que. It is = in a new=20 barn of a building but the same owner has run it forever. It is a = totally=20 no frills bbq place. When he makes his way to the front of the = line...and=20 there will be a line, he will be asked what he would like. His = choices are=20 limited: "fat", which is beef brisket and "lean" which is beef = shoulder. =20 (Also available are thick smoked porkchops and a German style sausage = ring,=20 which are both good but are clearly the jurnior varsity in this = place.) He=20 should decide quickly and tell the person how much he wants.....in = pounds (or=20 fractions if he feels dainty). The meat will be carved before his = eyes and=20 piled on butcher paper. If he is taking it home it will be put in = a=20 sack...not a bag (more idiom)....and he can go on his merry way. = If he=20 wants to eat on the premises the meat will be served up on the butcher = paper=20 which will be twisted around to make a little serving "dish"....looks = like a=20 paper canoe, actually. There are dozens of picnic style tables all = over=20 the building and a centrally located counter where he can purchase = pickles,=20 onions & peppers...no beans, no slaw, no potato salad, nothing like = that=20 all..... and of course a wide assortment of drinks. A dark Shiner = Bock=20 beer is pretty popular. Also, he shouldn't look for any bbq=20 sauce...there ain't any. The meat doesn't need it, but if you want = it you=20 must bring it with you. This place is deadly serious about their = bbq and=20 rightly so. It is the very best I have ever tasted....including my = own,=20 which is also world class.