Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History

After our rough night in the hotel with the air-conditioner fan making such a racket, we got started for the day in Corpus Christi. Three replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, which were built in Spain and floated to the United States as part of a commemorative voyage a number of years ago and have been part of numerous celebrations, are located in Corpus Christi. The smallest of the ships, the Nina, is at a dock in the water. You can go to a previous post to see it. In fact, when my parents were visiting in Dec 2006 we went to Corpus Christi and we saw the Nina, but not the other ships. This trip the museum where the other ships are kept was open and so we took the time to go to the Science and History Museum to see the Pinta and Santa Maria.

Here is a picture of me with the boys on the Pinta. It is nice because we are allowed to board these ships. What is amazing to me is how small these ships are. Being on the ships made me realize that it took some real bravery to get on one of these ships, depend on the wind to move and not know exactly where they were going. In addition, the navigation methods were very rudimentary. I would not want to leave the sight of land on one of these little ships.

All of us in front of the Pinta.

Ryan on the Santa Maria, the largest of the 3 ships.

Jared on the Santa Maria.

Brett on the Santa Maria.

Family picture on the Santa Maria. Ryan is doing his best grumpy face since we wanted him to smile.

Ryan, Jared, Lori and Brett in more traditional clothing of the period. Lori has such a lovely dress!

The Pinta.

The Santa Maria.

Riding on the range,
I've got my hat - on,
I've got my boots - dusty.
I've got my saddle On my horse.
He's called....T-t-t-t-t-trigger Of course.

I wanna be a cowboy and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy and you can be my cowgirl
I wanna be a cowboy

(For those that grew-up in the ‘80s you will recognize that as the one hit wonder by Boy’s Don’t Cry.)

Jared, Ryan and Brett on the sugar plantation.

Lori in the castle.

Jared and Ryan fishing.

The kids have grown antlers/horn!
Brett, Jared and Ryan in a dinosaur nest.

Jared by a huge alligator head.

After visiting the museum, we drove south to Brownsville near the Mexican border.