Tag: Comfort TX

Hotel Giles

Timothy Price51 Comments

Hotel Giles at night

At this time last week, we were staying at the Hotel Giles in Comfort, TX (https://www.hotelgiles.com/). We had driven 687 miles to Comfort to experience the total eclipse of the sun. Comfort, TX, was in the direct path of the eclipse, so we got around 4 minutes and 20 seconds of totality. Hotel Giles is a wonderful hotel that was perfect for viewing the eclipse with its large open space behind the hotel. The owners and staff were friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant and memorable. They kept us informed on what was happening in Comfort, arranged for lunch, and made the guests dinner for a reasonable price on Monday since most restaurants were closed on Monday. A delicious home-cooked breakfast was included in the price of the room, and the coffee was excellent. If you are in the area, I highly recommend staying at the Hotel Giles.

The Hotel Giles was originally Hotal Faust, designed and built by architect Alfred Giles for Paul Ingenhuett in 1880. Alfred Giles was an English architect who moved to San Antonio, TX, in 1875 for health reasons and became a well-known and influential architect in San Antonio, southwestern Texas, and northern Mexico. He was also involved in ranching near Comfort. You can read more about Alfred Giles at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Giles_(architect).

The room we stayed in.

Interior stairway and the Parlor where guests gather. They have jam sessions on Friday nights.

This guy had been waiting for years for the eclipse.

The courtyard and gazebo at night.

The Cottage, a covered deck, and the Cabin.

The barn and a Tesla charging station out front.

Cardinal Sin

Timothy Price57 Comments

Meet Mr. Cardinal Sin, one of many Northern Cardinals who were very vocal in Comfort, TX.

I’m hard of hearing, and I don’t hear a lot of the birds we have around our house. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I could hear almost all the birds in Comfort, TX. Including many of the same species of birds we have in NM. I don’t know if the humidity carries sound better or if the birds are just louder in Texas, but I heard them loud and clear. Especially the Northern Cardinals, who chattered and sang continuously during daylight hours. The problem was they were hard to see clearly up high in the foliage of the trees. I finally got several good shots of Mr. Cardinal Sin, who, in a fit of sinfulness, exposed himself to me.

Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Have A Corona!

Timothy Price75 Comments

We had cloudy conditions for the total eclipse of the sun in Comfort, TX, today. But the clouds made for much more interesting and dramatic eclipse photos than what one gets under clear skies.

The Buildings on either side of me at totality.

The diamond ring captured on my iPhone