To the sun I go!!!

24.1.2009

 

Lovely sleep in again this morning. Nice to sleep comfortably and well. Roast lamb and pavlova for breakfast! Packed bags and it was soon enough time to head off to the airport. Harrisburg airport tiny, but big enough. Selected for "random" security screening again. It's so rude! Short flight to Washington DC - i.e. less than half an hour!, Few hour wait at the airport before the 5 hour onward flight to Phoenix. Hostess thoughtful and nice - told us that it's cold down the jetway and suggested we wear our coat or jacket downwards. Trip across the continent actually quite nice. A 5 hour flight is long enough to get settled and enjoy the flight but short enough to not be sick of it. What was most amazing was that there were no patches of ark at any point across the continent. Always so much light in sight. And I don't mean light from the sky, but light from the cities and towns. So built up, so much everywhere. Nothing at all like flying from Perth to Melbourne. Flight left at 5.30pm so for a few hours, as we were flying west, had sunset. Beautiful sunset indeed. (Was blessed to not be on a full flight, so a window seat with nobody in the aisle seat.) Amazed by the sight of Phoenix from the sky, so expansive. Was collected and brought back to the lovely home in which I've been accepted for a few days.

Australia Day came early in Pennsylvania!

23.1.09

 

Wonderful sleep last night, and sleep in this morning. Turkey bacon and omlette for breakfast, Michael home from school at 10.30. Made a pavlova and popped that in the oven, and when it was turned off and cooling, Geneva and I went to the supermarket so that I could source stuff for lamingtons and roast lamb. Highly successful trip. They had legs of lamb, but they were massive, and the butcher overheard me trying to understand why there was nothing smaller, so he offered to cut a piece off. So nice of him. Everything I needed to dress the pav, make the lamingtons and roast the lamb, it was all there. I was stoked! A fantastic early Australia Day!!

 

Returned home, made everything and then relaxed further in front of Seinfeld. Was waiting for another lady and her little girl to come for afternoon tea, but they called a bit later and had spent the day running around after their car which had been hit by another, so it wasn't to be. Did a load of washing as well. All excitement! Seriously, peaceful - relaxing - calm - warm. PERFECT few days rest!!!

 

Cooked the roast and my oh my, the best I've cooked lamb roast in quite a while. Absolutely delicious dinner. I just LOVE lamb roast, that's for sure!!! A few bowlfuls of dessert - yummo! Full as a goog in no time, and well worth the feeling. The best all round meal in a long long time!!!

Carlisle, PA

22.1.09

 

Bright and early, up and at 'em! I'm beginning to find getting up before day time to not be so difficult. Everything went according to time schedule and I was at the Greyhound station in very good time. Discovered why the queues are typically so far out the door - at the start of the day they have no staff working - so the few customers become money, too quickly. Love the service of some "customer service agents" - snapping and snarling at customers struggling to comprehend basic concepts.

 

Boarded bus and was off for my drive through the countryside. 3.25 hours later was pulling in to the Harrisburg bus station, collecting my bags and meeting Geneva. A few false starts heading off from the bus station and we were on the road to Carlisle. Short drive and we were there.

 

A restful and relaxing day was to come - not much movement or activity! Lovely. A turkey breast had been cooked for lunch/dinner (delicious!), Michael came home from school early afernoon, we watched Seinfeld. That was about it for excitement! Very relaxing and just what my poor, tired legs needed - a recliner chair and a tv!!! hehe.

Post Inauguration Sightseeing

21.1.09

 

What a terrible day to sightsee. So many school groups had obviously come to DC for the Inauguration and had stayed late to also sightsee. So many people everywhere, so much for travelling in winter and avoiding crowds!!! Was a pleasant day weatherwise, not TOO bitter, and the sun shone.

 

Started over at Arlington to complete the little JFK circle I'd started. Boston/MA area as his home, Texas where he'd toured and Dallas where he'd died, then Washington where he'd grown to fame and been buried. I find it sad that he was buried in Arlington, and then she when she died in 94. Along with two of their infant children - but not John John when he died. The baby they'd lost in 56 was buried there, so had obviously been exhumed and put in, as well as the baby from August 63. I don't know, it seems weird and sad to me.

 

From there I walked over to The Mall. Started at the Lincoln Memorial - ha, queue far too long for me to bother with that! Then the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Well, I don't get that. Plus it has been "tackified". Don't let me get started. FDR Memorial - long queues again, of course, not bothering with that. WW2 Memorial - I simply don't like it. Helped a little old lady jump up on a pillar to take a photo - her friends wouldn't help her - she was fit and healthy, it was harmless, grumpy bums they were. Reflecting Pool frozen over and covered in that much rubbish from the filthy pigs attending yesterday. Toilets and scaffolding still covering the place from the events of the past few days. Gee I sound like such fun don't I? I was having a nice day, I really was. It was sunny, cold but sunny. I had my lunch and had my thermos, I was right.

 

Went to the American History Museum, saw the first American flag, that was cool. The Natural History Museum - that was very cool - only went in there to see the dinosaurs and was rewarded with a t-rex and a triceratops, also an allosaurus and a diplodocus and a stegosaurus. Awesome! I was a big kid!! The Air and Space Museum for freeze dried icecream.

 

Up to The Capitol from there. Reflecting Pond up there covered in rubbish also. Building still set up from yesterday, so a few photos. Around to the Supreme Court. Down to The White House. Couldn't see much of that - still had the Reviewing Stand and scaffolding from the parade yesterday. Saw enough of it to be truly underwhelmed. Nowhere near as big as I'd felt it was from all the pictures and film.

 

By now though, legs and feet starting to hurt, and it was getting cold, so stopped for some dinner, then back to the hostel. Turns out I'd walked about 8 miles today. Packed and watched some tv, then skidaddled once 3 hours of Lost started. A few others were hiding out from Lost upstairs, so a bit of chat, then bed. Early morning tomorrow, again!

 

DC all in all - I'm glad I came back for it, it was once in a lifetime, but even looking beyond the rubbish and the people and the scaffolding and toilets, I'm not sure that I'll race to return. I'd not discount it for research or another cool event, but I don't know that I'd include it on a future itinerary. Something about it just didn't grab me. Not cross with myself for coming though, it was awesome, truly awesome! A holiday of some totally amazing stuff, that's for sure!!!

A crowd of over 2 million people

20.1.2009

 

Nice and early morning this morning. A group of us were going together, but with the few bathrooms available, some of us knew to get up even earlier so that we did get a shower - and a hot shower. So time we were up?? 4.15am! Ouch! Headed off into the night air at 5.30am, down towards the train station, just to check how busy it might be. It was pretty packed, but there was room for us, so in we hopped. That was just the start of the "packed".

 

Took hours to get into The Mall, so many people, and such poor crowd control and help from the officials and volunteers. Eventually we were in, sort of. Couldn't see the roof of the Capitol even, but wow, we were in a crowd of over 2 million people and so much closer than so many others could only dream to be.. Such an extraordinary experience. I really can't describe it. Photos do their best. The happiness of the people, amazing. I was just so lucky to take a photo that I did - the hug of a couple at the point the oath was completed. Sheer elation. It was a long day, not too cold, but tiring and ever so exciting. Rewarding.

 

Returned to the hostel and boy did we all crash and burn on the couch in front of the tv to watch the parade and talk about our amazing experience. Those that had stayed in just laughed at us!! Sascha the hostel owner bought us all pizza for dinner, what a champ! Not a late night for anyone, again. Absolutely knackered!

Recovery!

19.1.09

 

Recovery! 13 hours after falling asleep I woke. A day in the airport surely can and does take it out of you! Needed desperately to wash clothes, as that was going to happen in Richmond originally, so couldn't go far as everything was icky from being in a dirty washing bag. Eventually all was clean and dry. Met a heap of others living in the hostel and all were enjoying a quiet and restful day in anticipation for tomorrow, and advised that I didn't worry about doing anything, just relax. Took myself for a walk around the neighbourhood though as it was fresh air I really needed. Cooked dinner, ham steak and salad, plans were plotted for the big mission tomorrow and everyone prepared for an early night and early morning. Recovery. Oh to feel so human!

Gate A19

17.1.09 and 18.1.09

 

Gate A19. No paragraphs in this story because it was a non stop drama with no obvious breaks. It was horrid!!

 

Yick! Up at 4.15am to get taxi at 5.00am. Arrived at bus station at 5.10am, bought ticket for airport shuttle and waited for the 5.30am departure, inside in comfort luckily. Arrived to airport at 5.55am and then hell on earth began!!! Delivered to terminal C, and directed to the inter terminal train to get me across to terminal A. Well, waited and waited, then told after 10 minutes that the train that comes every 3 minutes wouldn't be coming this morning. Broken down. Must walk, were all walking as fast as we could, but I was struggling. My leg was caning, I had my stocking on and that tends to cause a few cramps when walking too far too fast with my backpack on. Not normally a problem. Made it to the terminal, joined the queue, kept checking the watch, along with a lot of other people. Made it to within a few of the front, saw a few other people checking in and their screens saying "too close to flight time to check in by yourself, see a customer service agent" so they called one over, she informed them their flight was full. My stomach turned - that was my flight I knew it. Sure enough, my turn, screen just said "no seats available". BASTARD! Put on standby, but told by the customer service agent that it wasn't likely I'd escape today because "it's messy today". I had hope though. The others around me getting the same story were all complaining about the queues, the train break down etc, and were told by the bitches of agents, "you should've been here 2 hours before the flight"... ummm, heard of domestic?! So everyone else did the whingeing for me and I knew there was no point. It was officially our fault, too bad there was nothing any of us could've done. Went to the gate, arrived at the damned gate in time for boarding of OUR flight, and to see STANDBY's getting called up for those seats. What the?! Well, what's happened you see is people have checked in online at home, and then not shown up for whatever reason. The airline sees that it is full so puts us on standby which puts us below those waiting from yesterday or earlier in the day. The airline boards the plane, those that are checked in don't show up. They have space so they go to the standby list. Anyway, 9am flight rolls around. No standby's called up for it at all. A few depart. A few say they'll wait til the 10.15am flight. 10.15 comes and goes and the next flight is 3.30pm. Most make alternative plans, except for a few of us with not much choice, or some with a bit of time to be able to wait. Some make backup plans in case 3.30pm fails. All depart the gate area anyway, 5 hours to kill, they can go home and kill it. A lady waits with her 16 year old son, it was lucky she had a sense something would go wrong and had stuck around instead of just dropping him off and going home. So he sleeps and she and I talked. Lovely Irma. At midday we go for lunch. Nice lunch. I had a gin and tonic, needed something to help me sleep, as I knew I'd be needing sleep. 3.30pm flight comes and everyone returns to the gate and a lucky few get on it but that's it, no more room. Terrific. One girl has been waiting since the 3.30pm flight yesterday and is trying to get to see her boyfriend who is in the marines and due to return to wherever it is he is from. Poor girl. We all reassess the standby list and get told where we are on it, roughly though. The girl asks why she's not at the front. Turns out she wasn't on the bloody list. Poor thing. She takes off in tears. Irma and Salim decide to put him on the 6pm flight he has as a backup with another airline, so I wander over to that terminal with them. It's not like I have anything else to do or anywhere else to go. We get there, she panics he's not going to get home on Monday because he'll have missed his first segment with US Airways... They go to check that out, I sit at the gate making sure the plane doesn't go without him! They return, then time to board his flight comes and goes, nobody boards. He starts to worry, it isn't going to happen. Then an announcement - the hostess was lost in the airport! heheheehehehe. She turns up, everyone cheers, they board the plane. He has the biggest smile, I have the biggest sense of needing to cry! Noooooooooo, I'm set to sleep in the airport. So grateful I have emergency knickers and toothbrush/paste in my bag. Not happy that my makeup was packed, contrary to my usual action. Anyway, buy a pillow and rug, farewell Irma who gives me some wet ones, then settle in to watch a movie and sleep. Bugger all sleep - 4hours broken. Eww. Up at 4, try to reset my body to normal. Have some breakfast with another guy who'd been sleeping in the airport as well and was waiting for the same flight. Anyway, 7am and everyone else arrived. Flight came, a few were called up. Name after name, then MY NAME! BERMINGHAM, BERMINGHAM?? I lept up, threw my computer at one of the guys and said please reply to that mum email to say I'm flying, as I'd been emailing her and she had just decided to become concerned that I may not escape. Grabbed my boarding pass, ran to the plane, NO SEATS! They'd miscounted. I was sent back. My heart shattered. The 7am was our best chance of escape they'd said. Anyway, the lady was so apologetic about it that she put me to number one for sure and confirmed me on a flight out of Charlotte once I got there, ad put me on standby for an earlier one. She was confident I'd escape at least by 10.15, but definitely by the end of the day. Anyway, 9am came, and went. Plane went without any standbys on it. Heartbreaking stuff. Not having standby at home, it's hard to fathom. It is ok to begin with but when you stink like that and have had no sleep, and no end in sight. It's hard. Anyway, after that, she checked 10.15 and confirmed me on it. OMG, I had a boarding pass! I had a seat on a plane!!!!!!! I was leaving Houston! WOW WOW WOW!!!! My plans for Richmond were not going to happen, I'd resigned myself to this by now, but I was going to make it to DC. Was going to miss the concert, but I'd be there for Tuesday. 10.15 boarding and in the queue I hopped. The others insisted on not waiting and were rewarded with boarding passes. We were stoked! All hopped on that plane and we were out of there! Got to Charlotte and all reunited for a final farewell! Our journeys were coming to an end!!! Arrived Richmond soon enough, taxi straight to the train station. Things were working! Yay! Had dozed on both 2 hour flights, and also dozed on the train. Pulled into Union Station in DC in good time and what a beautiful sight for such sore eyes. The Washington Monument and Capitol Building lit up and visible. Nutted out the transport system, made it to hostel, had tour, shower, oh my god, clean! It's possible to be clean and into bed!! Oh wow!!!! It ended!!! 30 hours in Gate A19 - I'll never again repeat if I can help it - I certainly won't be flying US Airways again.

January 16th

16.1.09

 

Was waiting for Kim to call this morning, she was going to think of something to do that was typically Houston, so while waiting, was gasbagging downstairs. She called, not well and couldn't come. Oh no! I didn't want to think of anything to do! Decided to take the easy option and take my book to the rose garden down the road at the big park and read in the sun and enjoy the last day of warmth before returning to the north-east cold! So that was my highly eventful day!!!! More of the same come evening time, but an earlyish turn in because I needed to be up so damned early for my 7am flight and couldn't be tired at the other end. That was it!

 

Museum District

15.1.09

 

Waited AGES to get into the shower this morning, then was collected by the KT lady, Kim, and the two young kids she was babysitting. Off we ventured to the Natural Science Museum to see the butterfly display. Not exactly something I'd have done if I was by myself, but it was a really nice morning out. To do something "normal" not so much touristy, very nice. Gorgeous young kids as well.

 

After the museum she had to get them lunch and home for their naps, so we went through "Burger King" and I had the first whopper in the USA. Well, pretty bloody shameful. Take a good whopper and destroy it. I couldn't finish it. It was horrid. Can't wait to get home and have a real one! After I was home I checked out the map and itinerary of free museums as Thursday is free entry for a heap of museums. which in Houston are all situated within a few blocks of each other. 

 

Started with the Medical/Health Museum. Hmm. Interesting. Rather like Scitech, but probably ot as good. Still killed a bit of time. Wandered up to the Weather Museum from there as it was due to close to free entry at 4.00. It was TINY! It had a fair bit in there, and as the only customer the man was so nice, turning the videos on for me as I asked and getting me brochurs and further information about stuff. When I departed, "Can I ask please, are you AUSTRALIAN?" he quizzed, nervously! He was so excited to meet one!

 

Following that, I went to the Holocaust Museum. Something about the write up and it's exterior drew me in against my better judgement - that it would be tacky. Well, wasn't I pleasantly surprised. They'd done a really good job. It wasn't a small effort, it was very educational and insightful, and respectful. Done so amazingly well. Had a library attached to it with old books for sale for 50cents! Bargain! Ok, yes, I bought a few!! They also had two "extra" displays - one on Dr Suess as political commetary during the war, a lot of cartoons from PM Magazine. A good display. Another one of artwork, also very good. A good sample of the museums around.

 

A few drinks (INSIDE) thanks to my bottle of kahlua and the decanting of that into coke bottles, and lots of discussion with the guys about anything and everything. Lots of laughs at the weird people who were 'permanent' residents and constantly on our case to "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, people are upstairs sleeping".... "ummmm, it's 9.30pm, certainly not quiet time!"

Houston, We have a problem!

14.1.09

 

This was the most amazing and wonderful days! Had been told how to get to and from the space centre using public transport, but had forgotten pretty promptly how long to allow to get TO the bus stop I needed, so I erred on the side of caution and rose fairly early. Took off, waited at the bus stop for about 30 minutes, then was the first person on the coach that never quite numbered about 6 passengers! Sat at the front so that I could watch the weird freeways. Something very odd about the off ramps and the way the network works. Makes sense that it's developed the way it has, but it didn't give a nice vibe about the city. After an hour on the bus was at the space centre and checked that the stop we were at is where I'd find the return bus at 5.30. Last bus at 3.00 she said. WHAT!?? Tough, I'd paid for my tour and would work out how to get to the bus stop which was nearby but not quite walking distance where I could get a 6.00pm bus later. So in I went, so excited!

 

Once inside and in possession of my special VIP tag and ticket, I checked out the displays and set ups until it was time to join the tour. A really nice group - only 9 of us, and everyone very friendly but not overbearing. Started talking to one couple, then another. We went straight to the cafeteria for lunch. Were given a ticket and told we had no upper value limit, but could only pay once, so had to get everything we wanted, including dessert, and if we wanted could bring a drink back on the bus, as long as it had a lid. Well, as Mum later said to me - "I can well imagine a backpacker Bermingham in a cafeterria that's FREE!" I went mad! The food all looked pretty decent, and hell, I can eat big, and explain it as being a starving backpacker who has to eat when she can! As I walked back out, another couple invited me to sit with them, then their eyes just bulged when they saw how loaded up I was! I explained why (ok ok, it was just an excuse, I've not been starving at any point!) They were in shock because they were SHARING dessert! hehe. I ate it all, of course, and enjoyed every morsel! We returned to the bus and were joined by the guy who had been late to arrive. Well, word had passed around that the colt from old regret, no no, word had passed around that I was a starving Aussie backpacker travelling the world for 3 months... all in the time I'd gone to the toilet! So the new arrival thought that sounded fascinating because he was young and couldn't conceive of doing such a thing! I couldn't believe how fast word had got around! So we were all off for a good start as we laughed and laughed - mostly them at my accent, and me at them because I can't HEAR my accent. Why we weren't laughing at the Scots I really don't know!

 

First stop was the neutral boyancy lab. A pool umm, about double the length and width of an olympic sized pool, but 12 metres deep. Pretty damned deep! Anyway, it was chock full of equipment and a few astronauts and a heap of divers. The astronauts in there were those that are due to go up on Feb 12th.  They were too deep to see through the windows, but at one point we could, the rest of the time there was a tv with their radios playing through the sound. Awesome. Their suits weighed 300 pounds - can you believe that? They stay under for about 6 hours at a time, a few days a week, prior to going up.

 

After the neutral boyancy lab it was back onto the Johnson Space Centre property. The Johnson Space Centre employs (directly and mostly indirectly) 17000 people. Fully self contained satellite city, except they did lose their power, although they have their own supply/system, when Ike hit. So into the first mission control centre of the day - this one was doing a simulation of docking the shuttle to the space station. We were there to see it "dock". One of the INCA's came in and answered some questions for us - Instrument Control something something. He was great.

 

After that centre into another - the one for the space station. It was an hour before the astronauts were due for sleep, so there wasn't much activity, but it was the most beautiful part of the day, and almost homesick inducing. One of the screens showed us what the space station was looking at. Well, it was seeing a sunrise. 6 a day I think they said they see. It was situated over the Northern Territory/North of WA. I saw the sunrise over Australia. How incredibly beautiful. We'd have moved on earlier, but they were all so excited to see me see the sunrise over home. It's a sight I'll definitely not ever forget.

 

The third mission control centre was good to see, but not as exciting as seeing the sunrise. It was the 1965 control centre that was decomissioned in the early 2000s. As the 1965 control centre it was the one to have seen Apollo 11 and 13, along with a heap of others, but those most notably. The entire room is a museum, containing the mirror brought back from Apollo 13, which was presented to the guys in there with a beautiful thankyou message (for without them, we wouldn't be alive) and a request it was hung above the water fountain so that they could see their reflection often. Once those guys retired it was moved up. The flag that Neil Armstrong put on the moon is also on the wall in there. It's not just a museum but a national heritage site. Was able to sit in the Flight Director's position/not the real seat I'm sure, but it works for me!!

 

From there it was to the Astronaut's Training Lab, where the shuttle mockups etc are. There were a few astronauts training, floating around doing stuff. Saw the prototype of the moon buggy they're building for the return to the moon, and also the spider they're building to be able to do repairs to the space station to limit the need for too many space walks. The shuttle mockups are a replication of the real size, and was shocked to discover they're not actually THAT big! Rocket Park which contains the last Saturn V that was built - and then not sent to space, although planned, and then that was the end of the tour. A bit more of a look around inside the centre until closing time, then one of the lovely couples was happy to take me to the bus.

 

Bus back to the city took so much longer than the grumpy driver said it would. Was happy to get back to the hostel, then sat outside in the cold with some of the guys who were drinking in secrecy because the hostel wouldn't allow it thanks to a few alco's who have taken up residence there... Eventually a lady I was meeting up with from the KT group I belong to arrived and we headed to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Nice dinner, back, more talk for a few hours. A bit of arguing, as one guy was in Houston to give a presentation on public transport but also started talking about solar power and another guy had a bit of argument about THAT, made for a lot of laughs. Great bunch of guys. NASA though, absolutely friggin awesome. Worth every cent and worth the trip to Houston. So damned amazing.

San Antonio to Houston

13.1.09

 

Had further indulged and ordered room service breakfast, absolute rip off, but to eat breakfast in bed, and BEFORE I'm dressed and teeth brushed - what a treat!!!!! Nearly missed it though, as was deep asleep when the noise interrupted my sleep. That's ok. Needed to be up to head towards check out anyway! Checked out on the dot at 11, then returned to the post office to be rid of the post box. I thought morning time there would be a queue, but not so. Straight through again. Weighed 10 pounds 2 ounces, so that's a decent load off!

 

A few beautiful theatres in San Antonio the visitor centre had suggested checking out, no photos allowed inside, but nice to look. Came across the Old St Mary's Catholic Church. Was built after Texas became the independent Republic and there was an influx of Irish and German and other immigrants. A separate church to those operating for the missions etc was built. Went inside and again, just gorgeous. Was in time for Mass, so stayed. Luckily there was no singing, just an enthusiastic and committed priest who had a lot to say. After it was over, he made a beeline for me, with a heap of women in toe, wanting to know who I was. They were all so excited to hear that I:was an Australian but seemed rather disappointed that I was just a visitor. They were lovely and wanted to know all about my trip, what I thought of San Antonio, and to wish me all the best for the rest of my trip. They sent me on my way with a hug and the order that I was to return to San Antonio again sometime.

 

Walked down towards San Fernando Cathedral and the main plaza, the official centre. The remains of The Alamo heroes are interred in the Cathedral. The City Hall, then the Spanish Governor's Palace. That was an out of place architectural structure. So different to everything else around, but fairly well preserved, with a lot of pieces from the time or similar reconstructions. Very small for a palace though. Market Square had been recommended by Lonely Planet, but I realised it was a shopping complex, so asked around, and was told that it's the biggest Mexican Market Place outside of Mexico, so definitely check it out. It was nice, not amazing, but I think that had a lot to do with it being the off season. Stopped to make a purchase in a shop and talking to the lady there, she suggested that seeing as I love San Antonio and willl come back, that April is the best time - it's fiesta time, and she said the time they stop being individuals and embrace as a city. Glad it falls in April, fingers crossed it coincides with school holidays at some point.

 

Walked back via La Villita and the Riverwalk again. La Villita contains a theatre (name I've forgotten but it's on my photos) - an open air theatre, and it's featured in Miss Congeniality. I'm going to have to rewatch it because I can't picture it. Collected my bags and on to the Greyhound station. Bailed up by a toothless person from the deep south, who was everything the stereotype is, and then some. He asked about kangaroos and crocodiles, so he definitely was talking about Australia not Austria (as Dad just suggested he may have been) when he asked me where Australia is - "is it near Russia??" What does one say to that!! ?? LOL!!!!

 

Now sitting on the bus in the pitch black with nothing to see, nearing Houston, slowly slowly. Off to the Space Centre tomorrow. Am doing the 5 hour tour, having lunch in the Astronaut's cafeteria. Oooh! So excited!!!!!

Remember the Alamo

12.1.09

 

Had booked the 10.30 bus to San Antonio so not an early start but definitely no sleep in for me this morning. Trip to San Antonio only an hour and a half so before I knew it I was looking at street signs trying to work out where I was on the map. Discovered the station was pretty well in downtown, so jumped on a bus for the three stops to be just one block away from my treat hotel. Had booked a 4 star place last night, figuring for only one night I deserved a comfortable bed without a plastic sheet on it (in Dallas the plastic sheets on the bed were the plastic covers mattresses come in from the shop when they're new) and a bath tub to soak 7 weeks of dirt off, and the ability to sleep without ear plugs or an eye mask. Wow! It was beautiful! Bell boys to open the doors, bag brought to the room, a room that was a suite, not a room - a lounge room and a bathroom and a separate bedroom. Gorgeous decor, and a well located hotel indeed, right on the riverwalk.

 

I took off to find a post office to get a box to put all my stuff in, and visit The Alamo. The Alamo was a good tour, and freaky - to be standing in the room in which the canons obliterated the men, and to go into the room in which the women and children were huddling while the men were torn apart by canons. Beautiful buildings as well, the church which is now the shrine, and the long barrack, are all that really survive of the original mission. Built out of limestone, and just lovely. A significant battle in all of Mexico, USA and of course Texas' history, yet interesting that it was less than 200 men that died. Only 200 had to die there, and some more at Goliad, for General Sam Houston to eventually "Remember The Alamo" and in return obliterate the Mexicans.

 

Checked out a bit more of the downtown area and a few patches of the riverwalk, before returning to unnload stuff, then had some dinner and enjoyed my first and last luxury until I get to Mary's in Geelong! lol. So 4 weeks to go, and 7 weeks since. Packed my post box, and was so proud of myself, managed to squeeze in my "shocking" red jacket that is rather large and bulky, and that I thought I would not fit in! Such a relief to be able to send that onwards and not lug any further. Nice as it is, I don't need the choice of jackets while on holidays!!!!

 

Which also reminds me - the post office was beautiful, old, and weird. Had to go through security before gaining entry - I suspect that there were court offices in there, or perhaps not, perhaps they're just cautious, and there was no queues!! Straight to the counter. The man also let me take the postal box and not pay for it - it's a fixed price one but I still thought there'd be a cost for the box and then I'd just have to pay the difference for the postage. The security guards pointed out parts of the office of interest for me to take photos of. Very friendly and weird post office experience!!!!

Austin

11.1.09

 

Shock horror, I slept in this morning! No rush to be evacuated from the dorm, and a dorm full of other people sleeping in as well. Headed into town to go to the LBJ Museum and the Capitol building, also have a drink along 6th Street and yeah. The LBJ Museum was quite good, a few floors with some interesting stuff, interesting perspectives. Lots of the perspective being Lady Bird's perspective. The UT grounds, although undergoing redevelopment were fairly nice and calming, somewhat reminiscent of Murdoch.  The Capitol building was large! I think it said it was 15ft higher than the Capitol in DC. Now I'm questioning that as I type this from my notes, so don't quote me on it, I'll have to check for sure. It was still large. Became alarmed when I walked into one room to find trials for someone to sing the national anthem at some event, oh my, that loud pitched squeal, painful upon painful!!! Quite liked downtown Austin area, very different to Dallas, but it was definitely possible to feel the vibe about the place that they like to say they have. Their town motto is "Keep Austin Weird"...

 

Returned to the hostel and what do you know, there was Nadia and Cecile from Dallas! Ok, I knew they were coming down today, but it sounds good to sound surprised! hehe. A few guys from England were up for a good board game, so we all had a lot of laughs through a few different games. All the games were missing parts so required a lot of improvisation of rules. Given my sleep in and very delayed start, it was a busy afternoon and evening. It doesn't sound like much, but I need to give you a reprieve from reading the novels I seem to be typing. I should run a word count on some of these entries I think!!

Austin, Texas

10.1.09

 

Rise and shine after just 4 hours sleep, and out into the COLD - oh my, it was so cold!!! I'd become used to this slightly warmer weather so quickly!!!! Bus, another bus, walk, greyhound station. On the bus for the 4 hour trip to Austin. It's at this point that I commence typing this entry. I've dozed for a bit, and watched a lot of the highway pass by out the window.

 

Now entering Austin's outskirts, and it just looks like a city in Australia - no tall buildings in sight yet, just big shopping and commercial centres, car yards etc. Houses and apartment blocks, hotels. Much bigger cars down here than in Dallas, or more of them, I guess is the better way to clarify that. It's funny looking into cars and seeing, it's just the same over the world. Dad drives, mum dozing in passenger seat, or dealing with the kids in the back. Take away packaging, coke bottles etc litteriing the console area. Young girls in snazzy young cars only holding the steering wheel by the bottom, with just one hand. Young guys switching lanes without indicating. Old people driving slowly and seriously.

 

Anyway, arrived Austin, out to the bus and dared ask someone at the bus stop how much the fare would be and would I be able to use a note to pay for it. Well, he talked my ear off the entire bloody trip. No peace, just his running commentary about god only knows what - I had to tune out so i could enjoy looking out the window and matching everythig up to my map.

 

Hostel a cut lunch and water bag away from the main road that the stop was at, so I was surely glad to get my bag off. Hostel quite nice and a glorious view out over the Colorado River which was dammed to be the Town Lake which more recently is known as the Lady Bird Lake - after Lady "Bird" Johnson, LBJ's wife who was responsible for all the parkland along the river bank becoming useable.

 

Enjoyed a nice afternoon resting my weary head looking out the window at the cold - watching some guys from somewhere launch a homemade raft then nick off with the hostel's bbq and take themselves downstream to camp for the night. They weren't from the hostel, but obviously local and knew they could - however we were all watching in shock, that they just blatantly and openly came along and took the bbq! Someone called the hostel worker to see what he was going to do and he said, "Oh well, i presume they'll bring it back." pmsl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cowboy Day in Fort Worth

9.1.09

 

Whoot!! Cowboy day today!!! We'd been told by Ivan the hostel owner that we could go to a rodeo at 8.00pm in Fort Worth, so we'd left the day to be our cowboy day. We arrived in Fort Worth and were shocked to find the city centre just like a smaller Dallas really. Clean, neat, perfect, and nothing to indicate where in the world we were, well, except for the men in hats and walking like they'd just ridden their horse into town instead of driving in!

 

We pretty much aimed straight for the Stockyards because we were sure these would be fun! They sure were!! It was like a step back in time. It was completely obvious that it was a tourist construct, but we were ok with that because it was what we'd come to see. We'd have been highly disappointed if it hadn't been so! Bought our tickets to the rodeo, met a longhorn and it's owner. It was 16 years old - the cow that is! Walked through the horse stables and met a horse called Katrina... Yes, she was rescued from New Orleans after Katrina hit. Walked up to what looked like a homestead or something, sat and surveyed the area from there before walking back down to watch the cattle drive at 4pm. Yep, the day had passed quickly. Cattle drive laughable! A few cows just marching down the street, you could almost see them wondering why the hell they have to do this walk twice a day!! lol. Spent a few hours enjoying a few drinks and appetisers OUTSIDE at a restaurant, before a MASSIVE dinner and then we gorged and had dessert! After a few hours there watching people come and go, and laughing at so much - some cowboy wen't past in red shorts lol, we went to the rodeo.

 

The girls were under 21 so they were rapt when I returned from the drink stand with a can of beer for them each, how easy to please some! hehe. The rodeo was interesting to say the least. It started with the bull riding and ended with the bull riding. It was actually rather horrific, not the bulls, they were pretty good at getting their revenge, but at the poor little baby cows when they were getting trapped by the rope around their necks. Before that, I forgot, they had some display of flags and songs, all very patriotic, but seriously out of place given the lack of high level of sport that this was! Certainly didn't bring a lump to my throat or tear to my eye, or inspire anything within me but laughter. The guys from Bunbury appeared after the carry on and I asked what they thought about it, they said they were like me, struggling to hold the laughter in. Sorry American friends reading this, but sometimes such displays are so out of place! It smacked of the carry on on the Friday night in Hanoi outside Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. The other events during the rodeo that were very entertaining were the kids getting pulled out to chase lambs and old sheep and baby cows, all in different age groups. Typical bloody parents though - sending their little kids out for the age range above them, because they were sure they could win  a prize - they were proved wrong! To then send them out later with their appropriate age range, such competitive parents! Some kids were smart, sussing the scene out before participating, standing back from the crowd and waiting for the sheep to be cornered! There was I guess barrel-racing?? I'm not sure what it's called, but cowgirls racing the clock and taking their horses around barrels? Harmless and not gut turning. The baby cows however was very gut turning. The bulls though, I just about wet myself when one of the bulls ran straight for the joker man and tried to gore him! Hilarious!!!

 

We caught the last train back to Irving - Friday night, Fort Worth is promoted in the area as a place to go, and the last train leaves at 10.30, where's the point to that?! Got talking to a couple on the train, she'd never been on the train before, ever ever in her life. Any train! So he'd taken her out to Fort Worth for the night. She was in shock, as she'd decided we must all be travellingfor a short while, and when she discovered that it was 3 months for me, 4 months for the girls from Holland, 3 months for one Bunbury guy and 1 year for the other - she couldn't believe it. We had to explain hostels to her as well, and him. Such different views of travel. Actually , no wonder Mr Japan reckons we're lazy!! We are!! Pardon us! Anyway, they were on the train and we passed West Irviing, then got to South Irving - well, he realised he should've got off at West Irving. oops! Fortunately he could go all the way in to Dallas, wait 10 minutes then get the last traiin back - but the poor woman! First train experience and her last! Out too late she reckoned, and now lost on a  train with a moment of panic that they'd have to get a taxi home or wait til 5am as I suggested to her! That went down pretty terribly!

 

Returned to hostel and as we did, the Czech contingent who'd arrived last night returned and monopolised the one working bathroom of the three that had been in service that morning. Good that they did monopolise it as they all absolutely stunk - we don't think they'd showered in a very long time, but it made for a very late night to bed for me who needed to shower and get organised for my early get up in the morning. Eventually made it to bed. Yay.

 

Oh, quite funny, asked one of the guys from Bunbury about his job more specifically and he sort of skirted around, you know, maybe you've heard of, type of thing. I was like yep, yep, I know someone who worked there yadda yadda... Turns out he'd worked under this person a few years back!!

 

Also, weather wise, today was the most perfect day. Warm, and the ability to eat outside in just pants and a top with a jacket a bit later - such a treat. It felt like a spring day, absolutely superb.

Lazy Australians!

8.1.09

 

Today was a most casual day! A lovely sleep in, and a day of nothingness! Some new guys had checked in and they were from Bunbury and one studies at Murdoch, so we talked for ages. Eventually I took myself for a walk around Irving. Discovered the beautiful local park and waterway. Neat and tidy it was, and so nice in the sun. Bought a book from the supermarket and read that in the sun for a while. Was bailed up by a few locals around the place who wanted to talk, not at all a problem, I sure do love to talk back!!

 

Bought some food to make dinner and some chocolate for dessert. It was Thursday night and Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice were on. I'd found a bottle of kahlua yesterday when we were on our excursion through downtown Dallas, so that was also on the menu for tv time! Nadia and Cecile were Grey's fans also, and hadn't seen it this season, so once I gave them a run down on the plot so far, we were set to monopolise the tv!

 

Once it had finished, started talking to "Mr Japan" - a new roommate who was very weird. He's from Japan and studying architecture in Montana, and had come to Dallas to see the architecture in Fort Worth. Now we're not architecture experts, but really can't comprehend that Montana could be the best architecture school in the world - which he not just suggested, but actually said!!!! He also informed me that Australian people are lazy like the Europeans because we don't live to work. That went down REALLY well, as I'm sure you can imagine!! I tried to explain that that's a broad generalisation, but he didn't get it. Apparently the Japanese and Americans value money making far more than we possibly could. I had to bite my tongue a lot in conversation with him.

Dallas, Texas

7.1.09

 

Nadia and Cecile, two young girls from Holland, and myself spent the day in downtown Dallas.

 

First stop was the 6th Floor Museum and the pertinent sites down below. The museum we spent HOURS in. It was absolutely fantastic. It had been done so well, tastefully and extensively. The window was blocked from public access but not from public view. It had boxes set up in the way it was found by one of the many to run up there - how the boxes and room was arranged is questionable, as things were moved pretty soon after and never quite put back. We were just all so impressed with how well it had been put together and done, it really was awesome. I'd go as far as to say it was the best museum I've ever been to.

 

After we'd spent our hours in there, we went down to examine the grassy knoll and the X on the road for ourselves. This whole section of Dallas has been pretty well preserved the way it was back in 1963, as it was listed as a site to be preserved. Trees have grown and some roadsigns have been added, but essentially it has the same flavour as it did have. The lamp posts there are even different to the lamp posts in other parts of the city!

 

After we'd done all that we thought we'd venture to the West Village. After a few false starts, and then following the suggestion of locals that we could check out some shops without going to the West Village, we started trying to find these underground plazas and malls we'd been told by many a person Dallas had. Not to be found! Eventually decided the West Village was to be it, so we found the tram that runs straight down there. Lots of people were just sitting, including the driver. Turned out the tram's power had been cut and it could be a few hours until it was back! A lovely couple who lived about halfway to the West Village started walking home and suggested we walk with them, and they'd point us in the right directiion. It wasn't too far they said. They were pretty well right, but man, were we disappointed when we found the West Village. It was nothing like it had been described. I'd already taught the girls the word "yuppie" and once they saw it, they knew it was definitely a yuppie area! Once we'd circled it, we were given directions to a mall, easily accessed by train, with a 9pm closing time, so we made our way there. The girls wanted to do some shopping, shoes and clothes, I should explain that. The mall was huge, but so uncluttered and not at all hectic. We were incredibly surprised by that.

 

After our mall trip was over, we've all now been to an American mall, we made our way home. It was fairly late by the time we made it back, and all was good. Must say, Dallas definitely a clean and bright and flashy city. The richness could be seen everyway you turned. Everything gleamed - both inside and outside. Not at all an ugly city if you appreciate buildings!