Galveston Getaway: The Galvez

Celebrating 100 years, The Galvez opened its gracious doors to Steve and me

for a mid-week Galveston, TX getaway in April.

Just 90 minutes from our door to the Gulf of Mexico,

across Galveston Bay on the Causeway,

and there we were.

 

I grabbed my camera to explore.

Want to come along?



Tuesday Afternoon

Welcome

Front Desk

Brass and Classic

Bathing Beauties



The Back Door

Bernardo de Galvez
watches over the entrance to The Spa

Butterfly Iris



Bird of Paradise

Palm in Bloom

Island Icons



Oleanders Are So Galveston



Pink Oleander



Oleander in White

Murdoch's Souveniers
Across Seawall Blvd. from The Galvez, Murdoch's was built on a long pier extending out into the Gulf.
As a barefoot child in the '50's, I walked Murdoch's old wood floors--
worn smooth from sandy tourists' feet and insistent Gulf breezes.
Rebuilt after a devastaing direct hit from Hurricane Ike in 2008,
Murdoch's welcomes yet another generation of wide-eyed beach lovers,
eager to explore giant shells and other magical gifts from the sea. 

The Galvez
Plans for this hotel were in the works in the late 1890's.
The Great Storm of 1900 decimated Galveston Island.
(fascinating read: A Weekend in September, Weems)
Within 4 years, the SeaWall was completed;
by 1910, the grade of the Gulf side of part of the island
was raised 17 feet--remarkable!
The $1million Hotel Galvez opened shortly thereafter.

April Grey Gulf and Sky

The Galvez
on Galveston Island, TX

Restaurant at The Galvez

Honeysuckle Pillar



Peace

Respite from Gulf Breezes





The Galvez
April, 2013



Poolside



Grey Flight

Just Add Sun, Please!



Bird of Paradise

Show-Off!

Overhead

Carpet with Border

Emerge



Breathtaking



Hibiscus



Gentle Filters



Palm I

Palm II



Lobby Echoes

Sculpted Sails

Did you enjoy our walk around The Galvez?  It's definitely a place filled with histories.  I can almost hear the conversations of flappers, celebrities, and families whose summer residence was this hotel.  Was that fleeting scent the smooth cigar smoke and mellow whiskey of gamblers and presidents?  How many have experienced this intoxicating honeysuckle and the hot-crisp scent of freshly starched white linen tablecloths?

One hundred years, and still a gracious, quiet, elegant hostess. 

32 + One to Grow On

Happy Birthday, Will.

 

Jo and John Monday, Cecilia, and Uncle Doug
with the Birthday Boy.

Brunch--our favorite meal.

A Skype call from Switzerland--
cousins call Willy B.

Chris and Marisa hold Zoe and Mia
for a long-distance visit, complete with birthday serenade.

Daniel impresses his little cousins with "monkey lips."

More giggles--more monkey lips.

Papi, Josie, HeyYea, and Dodo enjoy the show too.

Mamae and D

Josie always brings presents!
This time it's bath squirters.

Little Man shares with Dodo.

"Josie, who is this one for?"

Gigi gets a special delivery hippo.

Daniel saves the best one for Mamae.

Will reads the explanation of his gift.

Cecilia's delighted too:
2 tickets to a matinee performance of Peter Pan
by The Houston Ballet
plus babysitting.

Papi and Daniel becoming fast friends.

Josie and friend

Dodo gets a big smile . . .

. . . and an octopus.

Time to move some furniture.

"What's all that fire, Papai?"

32 candles plus 1 to grow on

 

May all your wishes come true, son.