John & Anne Wiley

2013/06/04

Galveston (2)

Revisiting [connoted by the (2) meaning this is my second post about it] our departure from Galveston I found more pix to share. Here’s the view northeast along the island past downtown Galveston in the distance, as we climbed out of the airport.

0091 Past Galveston

0091 Past Galveston

Looking at this pic, or even a map of the city, one of the first things that comes to mind for me is, “How?” How has this charming little city survived hurricanes, at an elevation of seven feet? Maybe two answers are heritage and determination, both demonstrated by the massive cemetery representing both a deep ancestry and the courage to continue living (and rebuilding) there.

0095 Galveston Graves

0095 Galveston Graves

After flying up the island, as we turn to cross near downtown I was struck by how close the defensively-raised houses are to the city center.

0112 Downtown Mix

0112 Downtown Mix

Across the street to the right from that white tower are block after block of homes. A few blocks further from it beyond the lower-left edge is this wide old boulevard that has surely seen a series of storms.

0115 Aston Villa

0115 Aston Villa

The stately square red-roofed 1859 Aston Villa probably survived due to sturdy brick construction, but presumably some of those adjoining empty lots had more recent buildings that have been swept away. Crossing the bay I wondered if this shipwreck were left over from a recent hurricane.

0125 S.S. Selma

0125 S.S. Selma

I was surprised to learn just today that this concrete ship has been there since she was deliberately scuttled at the tender age of three, in 1922! Continuing along the Bolivar Peninsula we got a glimpse of some relatively new homes and even a few mansions like these, that stand right on the beach as if defiance and determination are enough to stop a rising sea.

0131 Fort Defiance

0131 Fort Defiance

What looks like the remains of a swimming pool in the now-vacant lot next door seems to foretell the possibility of Change blowing in some day.

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