Above: Miramare, a palace erected by Princess Charlotte of Belgium and Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria
At age 22, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian (1832-1867) was named Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Navy. Sailing in 1855 in the Gulf of Trieste, then ruled by the Kingdom of Austria, the young archduke spotted a promontory jutting out into the water. Barren, rocky, yet a gorgeous waterfront view on three sides. He decided to acquire the land for his home.
Construction of the house, which he named Miramare, was already underway at the time of his 1857 marriage to Princess Charlotte of Belgium (1840-1927). Also in 1857, his older brother, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (1830-1916), appointed Maximilian Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia.
The couple moved into the Royal Palace of Milan while continuing work on Miramare. Charlotte’s royal dowry contributed to the money-pit project, including bringing in tons of dirt and topsoil for extensive gardens. Surrounded by all the requisite family portraits, the couple moved into their completed dream home in 1860.
The preliminary schedule is so packed I assembled links to resolve (or attempt to resolve) conflicting pulls among the readings in advance. Definitely check the official website for updates before heading downtown:
All Day
Book Sales
Coloring Station, Painting Bookmarks; H-E-B Children’s Area
Latino Leadership for the Library En Nuestras Palabras: My Story Van, Stories on the Porch, Create A Story, Meet the Story Tellers, Stories are Milagros for the Future; Central Library Plaza Walk
You Can’t Go Home Again: Fiction about Family Secrets with Nan Cuba and Andrew Porter; Moderator, David Martin Davies; Southwest School of Art, Ursuline Campus
The Dallas Cowboys: The Outrageous History of the Biggest, Loudest, Most Hated, Best Loved Football Team in America with Joe Nick Patoski; Moderator, Joe Holley; Southwest School of Art, Navarro Campus
A Sense of Birthplace: Investigating the Past: Beatriz de la Garza and Sarah Cortez; Moderator, Yvette Benavides; Southwest School of Art, Navarro Campus
The Children of the Revolución with Lionel Sosa, panelists Dr. Maria Ferrier, Dr. Nef Garcia and Jesus Ramirez; Moderator, Gilberto M. Hinojosa; Central Library
Diane Gonzales Bertrand (Sofía and the Purple Dress/Sofía y el vestido morado); Children’s Area, Central Library
Finding Friday; Music in Frost Garden, Southwest School of Art
2:45 p.m.
At War Over the Environment: Two Experts on the Politics of Parks and the Natural World with George Bristol and Char Miller; Moderator, Weir Labatt; Southwest School of Art, Navarro Campus
3 p.m.
Esmeralda Santiago on Conquistadora; Moderator, José Rubén De León, Central Library
For readers of Young Adult fiction: Summer of the Mariposaswith Guadalupe Garcia McCall; Moderator, Yvette Benavides; Southwest School of Art, Navarro Campus
Thinking caps and creativity crowns; H-E-B Children’s Area
3:15 p.m.
H.W. Brands on his new biography of Ulysses S. Grant; Moderator, Gregory Curtis; Central Library
Xavier Garza (Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel); Children’s Area, Central Library
The Rise of Reagan (and the Aftermath of His Administration) with Robert Flynn and Gilbert Garcia; Moderator, Rick Casey; Southwest School of Art, Navarro Campus
Storytelling with Javier Garza; H-E-B Children’s Area
An incredible agenda for a first-time event (May there be many more).
Of course you will need breaks, so there will be children’s activities and music throughout the day.
And nourishing your mind makes you hungry, so some of San Antonio’s favorite food trucks will be parked nearby for refueling.
Hmm, this is San Antonio. Wonder where the beer stand is….
Note to Austinites: Your turn to hit I-35.
Note to Self: Never get so excited about something you decide to post the whole schedule – with custom links – again.
And thanks to the Mister Barista for that caffe corretto blast.
April 12, 2013, Update:
Just received the schedule for the Latino Leadership for the Library area just outside the Central Library, and it adds another slew of author appearances.
But in whatever language, why should Cinco de Mayo matter to Texans?
That is the question posed to numerous children by reporter Vianna Davila in the San Antonio Express-News.
Here is my answer. If the neighboring Mexican Army under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza had not defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, undermining the power of the French-installed emperor, Maximilian (read C.M. Mayo‘s The Last Prince), who knows what flag might have ended up flying over Texas? Perhaps, the ambitious Emperor Napoleon III might have used Mexico as a stepping stone to seize major portions of the United States, vulnerable and weak following years of civil war.
In Texas, the collective historical memory is selective. Six (or more according to some historians) flags should mean more than a theme park. And the American flag has only flown over this state half as long as those of Spain and Mexico.
And at least this is not Arizona, whose “free to be” “brand essence” tourism campaign now rings hollow. Below is cartoonist Steve Benson’s Cinco de Mayo greeting from The Arizona Republic.
The rich cultural mix in San Antonio makes this a great place to live. As the Six Flags website says: “More flags. More fun.”
Note added on July 13: C.M. Mayo now has a second blog for those seriously researching the “French Intervention” in Mexico and also provides podcasts online of some of her presentations on both her writing and writing in general.
Postcards from Barton Springs 