Mendy Smith – Camino Sunrise

April 22, 2024January 28, 2025

Day Two: Mission Concepción

“Named in honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and Juan de Acuña, the beautiful stone church known as Mission Concepción was originally founded in 1716, and transferred to the San Antonio River area in 1731.

The church is considered by many historians as the oldest unrestored church in the United States. It is a National Historic Landmark, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to an active Catholic community in San Antonio.” https://www.missionconcepcion.org/our-church

I didn’t get photos inside because there was a guide and a bunch of tourists in the pews. And because I was so tired that I forgot!

Walls and walls of unrestored mission sections.

The Pilgrimage Center is attached to Mission Concepción by a patio. I was so excited to arrive – and so tired! That I forgot to take pictures. But here it is: https://caminosanantonio.org/pilgrimage-center/

Mendy carried my pack in her Nomad trailer both days, but at this point, we had to transfer the pack to Marie’s e-tricycle and Mendy rode back to the hotel, packed up her car, and headed to a park campsite to finish a couple of days of camping and hiking.

April 21, 2024February 1, 2025

Day One: Mission Espada – Exploring

Mission Espada

We easily walked another mile just exploring the mission.

The facade reminds me of many of the small churches along the Camino Frances. Maybe the Spanish floor plan was passed on to Texas.

Priests visiting from Croatia. No. I don’t know what they were doing in San Antonio. The fellow in front was the only one who spoke English – and he spoke with a decidedly Irish accent. I’m looking a tad bedraggled. We’d walked in heavy mist and light rain all morning.

Marie reading the historical info plaque while exploring the mission grounds.

April 21, 2024January 28, 2025

Day One: Mission Espada – On the Way

This was the first mission in Texas, founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Weches, Texas. On March 5, 1731, the mission was transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. A friary was built in 1745, and the church was completed in 1756. https://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/espada.htm

On the way to Mission Espada

The walk from the hotel to Mission Espada was about five miles. These two missions are very close together, so if you start at Mission Espada, you’ll certainly visit more than two missions in a day. I think we added about eight miles by walking to/from the hotel.

We walked in heavy mist / light rain the first part of the day. and were grateful for the overcast skies and mild temperatures.

April 21, 2024January 28, 2025

Tres Peregrinas

El Camino de San Antonio Missions

Mendy Smith (L) Me and Marie Scott Marks

Marie and I spent our childhoods together. I was ten and she was eight when I moved to the neighborhood. Mendy’s dad & his family lived two doors down from Marie. I am 76.

The walk is through “four eighteenth century Spanish Missions and the oldest functioning Cathedral in Texas. San Antonio is the only place outside Europe that you can officially begin walking the El Camino de Santiago.” El Camino de San Antonio Missions

The Path

Pay attention to the path options. Google likes to take you along high-traffic roadways and not-so-scenic byways. We paused frequently and assessed our options. Opting for neighborhoods and the Riverwalk path added a few miles, but was absolutely worth it.

Lodging

There ain’t none.
If you want to walk from the hotel to the path (and back to a hotel), count on adding another 8-10 miles to the day. Our first day was about 12 miles and the second day, about 15 miles because we walked back/forth to hotels.

Breaks and food

Benches are along the riverwalk. There are no cafes or places to eat, so bring your snacks/lunch/water with you. One detour we took through a neighborhood brought us by a service station and convenience store, but that was a chance happening.