Texas

Tuesday 30th November

Allen's brother Tony was stationed in Galveston during his years in the Merchant Navy so we decided to take a trip down memory lane on his behalf.




 Quite honestly we wished we hadn't.  It was not the most inviting place.  Nowhere in town to park the RV, then there was a charge of $12 per person to walk on the Pier (what!), Moody Gardens ( Theme Park ) cost $47 per person, Schlitterbahn Waterpark cost $38 per person and so it went on.  I'm sure it was different 50 years ago and I can just picture the beach without all the commercialism.







Sadly Hurricane Ike flattened everything 2 years ago so maybe the town was trying to recoup some extra dollars.  We visited Galveston Island State Park with the intention of staying overnight but again it was way too expensive and nothing to write home about. ( No Facilities ).

Spent the night at Katy Mills Shopping Centre carpark.  Found a magic Bass Pro Store and took pics of the gorgeous Christmas Tree and Santa's Cove.



















The next day we arrived at the tiny historic town of Reagan.  Took photographs of the Methodist Church and their quaint Post Office.  Even somewhere to tie up your horse.

Arrived at Fort Worth but unfortunately there's no Fort.  Once Allen got over his disappointment we walked around the Stockyards Station and soon realised something was missing - our Stetsons?  Fort Worth is awesome, everyone rides into town on horseback and the smell of long horns, short horns and curly horns is pretty powerful.








   Had my photograph taken with Wild Bill who let me hold his double barrel. ( Bit of education needed here. It was a handgun!! ).

Went into a wild west shop called Maverick and we were blown away by the variety of hats, shirts, leather jackets, boots....actually everything for the fashion conscious cowboy/girl.   They even had a saloon bar in the store so you can drink and shop at the same time.  Heaven.  (I could live here. Al)

Friday 3 December

Walked to the Cultural Centre of Fort Worth and was quite disappointed there was very little to see, most things close up for winter.   Although we did enjoy the Amon Carter Museum, a huge collection of paintings and statues.  It was all free and the building was ultra modern, we spent a couple of hours browsing and enjoying the Western art scene.

That evening we treated ourselves to dinner at the Cattlemen's Steak House - it was a fantastic restaurant.  Our lovely cowgirl waitress sat us in a private booth and the meal had our taste buds jumping. ( That wasn't all that was jumping.)

Bought tickets for the Stockyards Championship Rodeo! 


  Every Friday and Saturday night the cow-cockies come together for a bit of raucous fun.  Those huge bucking bulls had attitude!!  The team roping competition was wonderful and the quarter horses doing their routine was fantastic.  Heaps of yahoo-ing and rowdy cheering from the audience.  During the intermission children aged under 10 were invited to the arena to try and catch a calf........absolute chaos!   

6 December - Amarillo
Here is a photograph of Randy our chauffeur for the night.  Ooops wrong photo!

He drove us in his Stretch Cadillac Limo complete with authentic steer horns on the hood (bonnet).   He took us to the famous "Big Texan Steak Ranch" on Route 66.

  The challenge goes something like this:- if you can eat a 72oz steak and all the side dishes in one hour, it's free - otherwise you pay $72.   Strangely enough we didn't attempt it.   The Steak Ranch was great, we were serenaded by 3 cowboy troubadours who asked for a request.  Allen asked for a chorus of Waltzing Matilda unfortunately (or fortunately) they didn't know the words and moved on.  YES!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park drove through 16 miles of magnificent rock formations and breathtaking scenery.   Very green Cypress pines give a bit of colour to the barren land.

While driving away from the Park we just had to stop at a stable.  The horses were absolutely gorgeous!!   They immediately came to the fence to get a cuddle - love at first sight.    

New Orleans

Thursday 25^th November – Happy Thanksgiving

New Orleans

I could write a book about New Orleans.  One of our friends told us it was filthy, smelly and vulgar.  Actually he was right but if you are prepared to get ‘down and dirty’ you will find an energy and passion that is quite unique.  

Caught a shuttle bus into town.  Being a Public Holiday it was fairly quiet in the morning but it gave us a chance to do the touristy bit in peace.  

French Market  even Allen liked this market.  Gorgeous multicultural stalls, colourful clothes, bags, food etc. and of course music coming from every direction.

French Quarter  approximately 4 miles of elegant, Caribbean-colonial architecture with lush gardens.  Ornate wrought iron balconies, French windows and hidden courtyards.   Saw some amazing first floor apartments with shrubs and pot plants hanging from every space.  When the flowers get watered, folk walking underneath get watered too!!    

Louisiana State Museum we experienced an overview of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.  It was a very disjointed exhibition.  Some of the audio visual interviews were too loud and overpowered other areas.    

Let me introduce Lt Michael Limeropoulos, US Army.   Our paths crossed outside the Hustler Strip Club(!) and we got chatting.  He was on his way home for good after serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Baghdad.  He was so happy to be home he gave us his lucky backpack as a souvenir.  (No bullet holes, Yes!!  Al.)

Tried the local Cajun and Creole cuisine.   After a  Shrimp Etouffee Creole and a bowl of  Gumbo,   I knew it was good when my nose started running and my lips doubled in size!!

Saturday 27^th  the sun was out and we went back to the heart of New Orleans.  Took a street car through town but there were so many people on the bus I couldn’t see out the window.  True.

Found a bench outside the Café du Monde and enjoyed some “people watching”.  Soaked up the atmosphere while listening to the street entertainers.   The balloon man, who was only 16 years old, was fantastic.  He was making balloon animals faster than I could blink.  He was also making a small fortune with all that blow.  (Reminds me of “The Hustler Club” Al.)

As the afternoon wore on more people came out of the woodwork.  Jackson Square  is always buzzing with a mass of fortune tellers, sketch artists and musicians. 

The Square’s masterpiece St Louis Cathedral is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the United States.  Breathtaking murals and exquisite statutes line the altar.   The flags represent all the countries that New Orleans has been governed by since it’s birth.    

We loved the sound of Jazz, Blues and Bluegrass playing on every street corner.  We found so many amazing little bands just doing their own thing.  5 years after the horror of Katrina and the people are back, singing and dancing in the street.  Their spirit is an  example to us all. 

Watched a man with an artificial leg dance with a broom.  Caught a magic moment when a lovely blond Policewoman gave her hat to a little girl to wear.  They talked for ages and it was really heart warming to see.

We were either very brave or utterly stupid to walk down Bourbon Street on a Saturday night


















 – not only that but the Bayou Classic was on and two rival university football teams had just played at the Superdome and the fans were pouring in.    With that combination the atmosphere was electric.

We got stuck in a sea of people, all drinking and ready to party but we couldn’t move in any direction.  It was suffocating and I felt like I was breathing 90 year old air.  Police on horseback kept the crowds under control   but at no time did we feel threatened in any way.

We discovered just off  Bourbon Street a famous Club playing real Jazz/Blues called  “Café Beignet”.

  For years it has attracted top musicians and for the price of a beer we were able to experience the magic of New Orleans.   We watched Steam Boat Willie Jazz Band give us their best rendition of classics like “When the Saints go Marching In” and “Georgia”.

PS. Beignets are warm doughnuts served with a generous topping of fine icing sugar.  Don’t wear black. 

(We loved New Orleans to bits. Al)