For me, the best thing about Galveston was the beach. We would all pile into the car to go on a ride along the seawall shortly after arriving. Seawall Blvd. was built along the top of the ten foot high wall to protect the city from storm waves. So all roads leading to the beach were at a steep upward angle. I would hold my breath and lean way forward in the car to try to get the first glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico. Then, there it was! We would all cheer and watch for all our favorite sights. I loved the old wooden steps down to the sand all painted in different bright colored paint. Or the souvenir stands built over the water with beach balls and beach floats and tubes tied to the pilings. We would all beg to run down to the water to stick our feet in. We would also wish the drive would never end!
Galveston had many beautiful churches and cathedrals. My parents were married at St. Patrick's Church. My grandmother was a member of a little Spanish church named Our Lady of Guadalupe. We would go there to Mass with her on Sundays. And bingo! She also took me to several society weddings at the beautiful Sacred Heart Church. Beautiful brides trailing pastel attired bridesmaids in a big white marble church. The stuff of little girl's dreams!
My memories are also about the food! Grandmother was a good cook and our main meal was at noon. Big hot lunches of at least three courses laid out on her dark cherry dining room table. Homemade roasts of meat, big bowls of homemade potato salad, deviled eggs, jello salad, fresh veggies, and then, homemade cake or pie. She loved ice cream and many sweet memories are of sitting in local ice cream shops enjoying banana splits or rainbow sherbet.
Grandmother and Paw John are gone now. But Galveston will always be a very special part of my life. Much has changed, due to time or hurricanes. But the thrill of first spotting the Gulf, or seeing all the new and old sights will always be special. It has been too long! I think I need to book another visit!
