February 2022: Encontrar, Festejar, Mirar

Encontrar (to find/discover)

We visited the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. The beautiful 24-room Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion-turned-museum is one of the city’s cultural gems. Marion Koogler McNay, an American painter and art teacher, bequeathed her home and art collection in order to found the first modern art museum in Texas. The museum houses an impressive art collection displaying works from Georgia O’Keefe to Diego Rivera. Successful in her intent to create “a place of beauty with the comforts and warmth of a home,” the estate and art collection effortlessly commingle and serve as a small escape from San Antonio’s tourist traps.

Festejar (to celebrate)

We celebrated my son’s first birthday in San Antonio with our family. As he is our second child, I will probably spend the rest of my life worrying he’s not getting adequate individualized attention. Throwing him a party with our parents, siblings, cousins, and friends eased a bit of this mom guilt. It meant a lot to spend time with everyone and explore a new place together. It was the first of what I hope to be many group trips during our time here in Mexico and at future posts.

Mirar (to look at/watch)