Don't Mess With Texas

I stood over my suitcase with two shirts in hand, trying to decide which one to take with me on my trip to Austin, Texas.  It was my first visit to the state and I was unsure what to expect, both from the weather and from the state itself.  I was well-versed in the stereotypes that came with Texas's reputation:  guns and pick-up trucks, intense state pride, outspoken--even radical--conservatives everywhere you looked, and vast quantities of meat at every meal.  How would a pacifist liberal like me be received?  At least I like meat.

Thankfully I didn't encounter any guns, radical conservatives (that I know of), or over-the-top displays of state pride while I was in Texas.  In fact, I found Austin to be a beautiful, green, eclectic city with a vibrant home-grown music scene and very affordable housing to boot!

View from the top of Mt. Bonnell

My friends Jess and Lucie were excellent hosts.  Although my visit was short, we hit many of the Austin "must-sees," had authentic barbecue (the rumors about the meat were true) and delicious Tex Mex, and heard some live music.

Mmm, barbecue ribs (very smoky flavor!)

One morning Lucie and I went for a walk around the lovely Lady Bird Lake--actually one of several reservoirs of sorts in the city caused by the damming of the Colorado river.  We pushed her baby in a stroller along the wide dirt path, bordered by plentiful foliage.  Runners and fellow walkers bounded around us on all sides.  Boats glided up and down the lake and the elegant Austin skyline was close at hand.

Lady Bird Lake.  The words "Never Give Up" are written next to the Pac Man cartoon on the side of the railroad bridge in the top photo.  A random tree sculpture representing "drought" was also in the lake.

Another morning we went for a bike ride.  Before Lucie and Jess moved to Austin, Lucie and I were biking buddies here in DC.  We got to know each other as we pedaled past the Potomac River together over the course of many months.  It was a real treat to ride with her again, even more so because we rode part of the LiveStrong Challenge route.  Our ride took us through the charming hamlet of Buda, past country cemeteries, and through scrubby countryside.

Lucie's bike; Buda facades; Halloween "cheekiness"

We also rode over a river that had clearly been gorged in a recent bout of flooding.  The most obvious signs of the magnitude of the flood's fury were all the debris that had been washed up into the trees. Check out the lawn chair that's hanging high in the tree on the left!

As a random side note, I also saw a real pomegranate tree with real pomegranates.  Yes, that round red fruit with the tart seeds that are so hard to get out, growing there in front of me on a big, bushy tree.  What an unexpected delight!  Do you think I could grow one of those in my apartment?

After such a nice weekend in Texas, I'm a fan.  While I'm sure there are guns and pick-up trucks enough to go around, I also found warm hospitality, good food, a lively cultural scene, and abundant natural beauty.  I can see why Lucie and Jess have decided to settle there.  

Next time I go visit, I'd like to see San Antonio and the Alamo, and I think I need to eat more of that fine Texas meat.