Tayksus – Dallas to San Antonio
I am tapping the keyboard tonight at a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas… there are three sets of snores coming from the darkness in front of me as I sit on the chair in the alcove in front of our (quite nice) bathroom. I am trying to whip this out before I knuckle down and fold two loads of laundry – how come a woman’s work follows here on holidays, while a bloke gets to leave his behind?
To be fair, Mr I has been doing his fair share – I sent him down to get the clean clothes from the dryer actually. The couple having the loud domestic in the room across from the laundry made me throw all my women’s lib stuff out the window and send my bloke out instead. Heh.
As I have mentioned ad nauseum, I am struggling to keep on top of my trip blogging. To catch y’all up – we landed in Dallas on the 23rd, picked up a car and checked out the School Book Depository (any Aussies know the significance of this building?) …
(hint: it was a REAL nightmare on Elm Street)
Andthen did what any right-minded tourist does in Texas, and took part in a little retail therapy…
Wild Bill’s Western Store did well..
(Yes, Violet did have trouble watching where she was walking in those flashing pink cowgirl boots!)
And that chair – there was no way Dash was NOT going to sit in that and ponder things a while.
We braced ourselves for the drive to San Antonio on the 24th. This was a hard decision, as I knew we had to head north past Dallas again this week, before travelling to Houston. And if you check a map out, that is a lot of Texas travellin’ going on.
But it was SOOOOO worth it…
After driving down a freeway which blew me away with it’s sheer number of lanes, weight of traffic and levels of roadway overpasses (OMG)
… I am taking on driving duties as (1) I love it and (2) I get hideously carsick if I try to read anything in a moving vehicle. ( Small aside to any would-be travellers in the USA – when the rental car company offer you a GPS: TAKE IT! It’s the ONLY way to find your way through the maze.)
Where were we? Oh yes, driving on the wrong side of the road (and the car) and being stuck ON the freeway as it skirted Austin, so I was a little nervous about dealing with a large Texas city up close.
But San Antonio (as many of you had already told me) is a special kinda place- a delight.
It’s heavily Mexican/Spanish influence lends it a real character…
The kind of place where it is almost obligatory to partake of Coronas and Margaritas. We stayed not too far from The Alimo (again, my Aussies? Any John Wayne afficianados out there?) and were entraced by the architecture, the relaxed pace and the divine River Walk. (More pics of that part soon – they are on the other card and I am too shagged to find them before I tackle that folding!).
To top it all off, a friend of my sister’s works at Seaworld and wrangled us some special passes to the very first day of the season there…
I am making that visit a blog post all of it’s own.
It was THAT good…
Okay then, a SMALL taste.
Hope your head ain’t spinning yet, and you are enjoying Texas as much as we are!
🙂
BB
PS A little something for my Dad…
23 Comments
debby
I love this. I love that you are everywhere, doing everything. I love the kids cowboy boots (Violet will surely trip over a squirrel as she is admiring those pink boots!) I am so glad that you were able to take in so much of our country. It makes me very happy!
debby´s last blog post ..Trying Something New
Colin (HB)
Dallas eh!
If people can’t remember Elm Street and what happened, be they then alive or now a student, then they are oblivious of history or are “numb-skulls” – take your pick.
Great boots for the two kids – they will be a hit at the local shows when you return! Hope the horse doesn’t freak out when the PINK boots appear??? ha ha. Good for the young daughter to be so brave.
Looking at the photo of “the other better half” – (well we do have to stick together), will you be coming back in your own executive jet, so as to get the “loot” back here??? San Antonia (South) – then east to Houston???? A bit of milage there????
Have fun – awaiting eagerly next report.
Continue the fun – great reading it all.
As you missed Washington/Arlington – I hope Disneyland in LAX will be on the agenda. You and the “better half” will probably have more fun than the two kids.
I know I did – a three day pass and I did every ride and loved every minute. You can always become a kid again, and there is no better place than Disneyland!!!
Cheers
Colin (HB)
Bush Babe
Pretty sure no numbskulls read this blog Colin…
😉
BB
Catch the Kids
What a great place to holiday with kids! And you’re doing so much. Can’t wait to read more.
PS Violet’s cowboy boots are awesome!
Catch the Kids´s last blog post ..Project 365- Day 57 – A Passel ODreams
Buttons
BusheBabe: Sounds like you are having fun. Love the pink cowboy boots and the strange chair.Funny about the wrong side of the road driving I would probably think that in Aussie Land.
I love reading about your trip It is like going away from the farm for a little while. GPS yeah that would be helpful. B
Buttons´s last blog post ..Cow Humour! Photo Friday
gramps
Sigh—-wish you were coming to California. Right now, all the fruit and nut trees are in blossom in the Central Valley. A sight to behold
Jenni in KS
Now you’re talking! I was born in Corpus Christi, and though we moved all over the place (including NYC) when I was growing up, I spent a lot of my childhood in different parts of Texas.
When you say that’s a lot of driving, you aren’t kidding! I’ve made that drive up and down Texas a few times (and ridden in the passenger seat more), and it’s quite a haul. Did I miss where you explained why you’re visiting the places you are and in this order?
You’ve mentioned some of my very favorite places to visit. (San Antonio is at the top of that list!) Are you still in Fort Worth? If you have time, you should check out the Dallas World Aquarium. We visited a few years ago and loved it. I didn’t think I would enjoy an aquarium (and I know you’ve just been to Sea World) and went for the rain forest exhibit, but I could have spent days taking pics in the aquarium.
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Leenie
Wow! Texas! BIG! BIG! All I’ve seen of it is the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and how it takes a jet going twice the speed of sound all day to fly over it. Cool to think my Blog Buddy Bush Babe is in the same hemisphere and almost in the same time zone. Welcome to U.S.A! Love the boots and can imagine the retail overload there.
As for that laundry. Just wad it up and stuff it. It will look the same after an hour or two in a suitcase anyway.
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Kelly
Hey! You made it a wee bit closer to MY part of the country!! Yay!
Love those pink boots and looks like Dash got a nice-looking pair, too.
Oh…and you have my mouth watering with that margarita!!
Sounds like you’re having a fantastic vacation!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Shadow Shot Sunday 17
Mikey
YAY!!! I love that you’re wandering the States right now. Got to say, Mercy has those same boots as Violet (good taste, kids)and she loves them, lol.
Can’t wait to see more!
Mikey´s last blog post ..Deep Conversation
jeanie
I am looking forward to many retrospectives when you are at home and have nothing to do (those last three words have my tongue firmly in my cheek, woman) – but you still do far better than me!!!
Tell Dash ‘Salina wants one of those chairs (and to be frank, I am sure a pair of those boots too, Violet).
Me – I’ll have a margarita also.
jeanie´s last blog post ..Nearly Teenagers and nearly toddlers
TJ
Bruceville! Several years ago, I was a substitute teacher for the Bruceville-Eddy school district. Do you remember that the next town you passed on I-35 was Troy? That’s where I’m from (now in CO). Thank you for sharing your travels!
Nancy in Iowa
I think you’re only about 1000 miles or so from me now!!! I really hope I get a chance to travel your country one day. As my mother always said when we went out on a date, “Have fun and be careful!”
Margaret Pengelly
Love those pink cowgirl boots and touring Texas with you. What a wonderful break. Thanks for taking the time to share- not easy while you travel I know. Those road systems are amazing aren’t they? Would be a solution to the three weeks of flooding in Rockhampton.
Theresa in Alberta
you kids will be the “coolest” dudes in the outback!
Leonie
I just lurrrrvvvve Violet’s boots – no wonder she was distracted when walking!! and as for Bruceville – again – love it!! I haven’t had a chance to read all of February’s posts yet, so I’m starting from today and reading backwards!!
PS Keith tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow. Can’t wait to be rockin’ and jumpin’s in seats to his brilliant show with you my friend!!!! xoxo
Helen G.
Dallas… how I love to hate that town. Fort Worth, I love it. If you are going to be in Ft. Worth for a bit you need to go to the Ft. Worth Stockyards for a walk around. I also love San Antonio. The Riverwalk area is beautiful and, of course, the Alamo is a must see. The Spanish influence on the architecture is beautiful and the margaritas are wonderful. If you’ve time you may want to go to the big Mexican marketplace there in San Antonio, too. Incredible colors surround you and all sorts of things to encourage you to part with your $$$. Enjoying your trip… wanting more.
Helen
Helen G.´s last blog post ..Spring’s Promise…
Pencil Writer
Dang, woman! Now you’re in VERY FAMILIAR territory! Dallas is NOT that far from where I sit at this moment. Love San Antonio/Austin. The Alamo was SO MUCH smaller than I expected it to be. The Mexican and Tex-Mex food out in Texas is WONDERFUL. And I know what you mean about all the lanes of traffic and how far it is to here and there. Believe me, when you’re driving anywhere that takes you through Texas to get where you want to go, plan on a full day just to get from east to west Texas or back again!(There is a reason they say “everything’s bigger in Texas”!)
So are you dropping in on Pioneer Woman while you’re so close, too? I’ll be in Texas–half-way between home in Louisiana and Ft. Worth, actually–this coming Friday for a short while. It would be crazy to see ya’ll pass us by on the road!
Take care, enjoy every moment (like you haven’t been doing so already) and keep us posted.
dorothy
Welcome to Tejas. I live in Northwest Texas, near the New Mexico border. I was born in deep south Texas at the tip of Texas. Believe me when I say it is a good 12-15 hour drive, depending on potty stops. But I wouldn’t live anywhere else. When my daughter moved back home from NYC she yelled at her dad to stop the car when we crossed the state line. She wanted to kiss the the ground. We were still 6 hours from home, but we were in TEXAS.
Colin (HB)
Wow – BB, hubby and “Pink” boots, Violet, and Dash – looks like Texas is welcoming ya-all (?) with open arms!
Watch out for the “margaritas” – they make them pretty strong in good ole Texas.
What next on the shopping list, a Texan Longhorn bull for your stud!!! ( Just joking – I hope?)
Have plenty of fun.
Cheers
Colin (HB)
Amanda
No idea on the Elm St reference, but American history is not my thing.
BUT
I need to go to that boot store. I need a pair just like Violet’s. Those babies are awesome!
…and you maaaay need to pack that chair for Dash … he seems ever so slightly taken with it 😉
Amanda´s last blog post ..Dear Darl- it’s February 28- 2011
Lydia
How fantastic that you are getting to so many parts of the country! I can’t believe that you are driving through cities here. You are a BRAVE WOMAN! 🙂 I don’t think I would have the #&$^(*&$^ to drive in your country.
Enjoy your travels — soak it all in!
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