I have been living in San Antonio for two years, but I rarely go downtown, so I ended up not going at all.

So I decided to visit the downtown San Antonio River Walk. I had thought of the River Walk as a place only for tourists and had never really walked it, but once I went, I realized it was famous for a reason. It was surprising to see how well-maintained the river flowing through the city was, and that there could be such a beautiful walkway along the water. Did Cheonggyecheon in Seoul copy this?

I parked in a public parking lot near downtown (paid), and although the sun was hot, the River Walk had plenty of trees and shade, making it quite pleasant to walk even in the summer. It felt like a vacation even though I was in the city. I had lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Casa Rio, which is famous for its colorful terrace with umbrellas. I ordered a taco and enchilada combo, but honestly, the atmosphere was 80% of the experience. Sipping a cool margarita while watching the boats by the river made me think, 'Ah, this is what the weekend is all about.'

After lunch, I just strolled slowly along the river. There were plenty of benches and performers, so there was no shortage of things to see.

In some areas, there are murals on the walls and spots where water falls like a small waterfall, and resting there made me feel like I had temporarily escaped the city.

As I walked along the River Walk, I came across La Villita, an artsy street. It's a space filled with pretty handmade shops, pottery studios, and small galleries. Even without buying anything special, just window shopping made me feel good. I bought a soy candle that day because I thought it would smell like the River Walk at home.

As I walked, I often noticed boats passing by. Especially when I saw tourists with sparkling eyes listening to the river's explanations, I thought I might have forgotten the charm of San Antonio. As the sun began to set, sitting by the river, I could hear soft music and the sounds of people laughing and chatting around me, which felt like a pleasant background noise.

The River Walk is a great place even without doing anything extravagant. You can just walk, look, and sit, and before you know it, the day has flown by. It doesn't cost much, stress decreases significantly, and it gives you a feeling of 'enjoying life.'

If you live in San Antonio and feel like there's nowhere to go these days, try walking the River Walk again.

Like a first-time tourist. Familiar scenery feels different when you see it again.