BANDERA, TEXAS....."COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD"

Methinks this sign speaks for itself!!

In a rugged Texas county filled with hills, rivers (albeit many of them dry in this epic drought), and a sprawling lake, the small town of Bandera holds a "really big place" in the hearts of Texans. Located in the beloved Texas Hill Country less than an hour from San Antonio, Bandera reminds us of a different, more authentic, era when a handshake was all the contract you needed, self reliance was the norm, and chivalry was a given.   There is a spirit of independence and individualism in Bandera that speaks of the cowboy tradition of hard work and equally hard play.

In just a few days and a couple of visits we have come to love "the idea" of Bandera as well as the place itself.   A great place to shop and enjoy good food and meet very friendly local folk, Bandera does not disappoint.  

Here Pam samples some of the western rugs for sale outside one of the many shops in Bandera.

Busbee's is a good bet if you want to sample "pit barbecue".

Bandera's County Building is an historic and gorgeous reminder of olden days....it is the first thing  you see as you approach the town from any direction.

Along with Ali, where the owners and employees made her feel right at home, we spent quite a lot of time shopping in Bandera's Cowboy Store.   A great place with great folks working there.  Be sure to stop in.

Can you guess which pair Pam bought??  Actually, we both walked out with a new pair of Texas Cowboy boots....after all, we are Winter Texans!!

In this map of the Hill Country you can see Bandera in the lower left corner.   Fredericksburg, where we are staying at the Lady Bird Johnson Park and Campground is more in the center.  

We close this blog edition with Bandera's littlest cowboy.  Stay tuned for more of the Texas Hill Country.

A note to readers:   You can click on any photo to bring up all the photos in that blog, making them larger too.