Confetti rains down when a friend cracks a painted cascarón over your head at Fiesta, and the proper reply is to crack one back. The same warmth fills Market Square, where folklórico dancers spin between craft stalls, and the River Walk, where friends meet for supper below the traffic.
Beyond downtown, a trail follows the river south to the Espada Aqueduct, which still carries water. Up north, the Pearl fills an old brewery with weekend farmers market crowds. Summers run long and hot, winters stay mild, and spring and fall bring warm days with bursts of rain. A Local Friend strolls next to you, matching your steps and pointing out the stories behind each bridge and plaza.
