Until next time...

The last thing we did in Fort Worth on the way out of town was hit Joe T. Garcia's for some excellent Tex Mex.  At this point, it may be easier to tally up the items we have eaten this week that didn't involve a tortilla or some barbecue sauce.  

They have an exceptional patio, and we really enjoyed our lunch.  Oh, and for the first time all week, we took the leftovers with us when we finished, because we were headed straight back to our house, our refrigerator and our fully loaded kitchen.  I'm washing clothes, now, and the leftover fajita meat is in the fridge, ready to become an omelet in the morning.  

Tomorrow is our day to recover from the vacation so we can get back to our respective schools Monday.  We've made it this far, and with our vaccines fully in effect, we're ready to finish the year strong.  After that, we have a whole lost summer of travel to make up for.  I know, we played a lot last summer and did pretty well while still being safe from Covid, but we really, really missed the traveling.  We haven't been to any city on this trip where we both haven't been before, but we went to new parts of the cities we visited.  Sure, there were some necessary repeats- who can forget the Alamo?  But we saw Carrie Nation's repaired hatchet work, a hidden speakeasy staircase, the extended part of the Riverwalk and a view of Austin zipping past us from an electric scooter.  

It was quite a triumphant return to travel, and we took real advantage that some typically expensive, very historic hotels were deeply discounted because the travel industry is having less business than they're accustomed to.  

My big takeaway (besides the fact that I must be the only woman left in the state who doesn't wear shredded jeans or leggings as pants) is that Texas is still a lot of fun to see.  We were both really happy to get out of our house for a week and see how other parts of the state are coming back from the past year.  The folks we ran across seemed pretty happy for the visitors, and we were glad to oblige.  

But, for now, we're back home and dreaming of our next adventure.  See you when we get back out on the road again.  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6 

Knock twice and say the password

So, we got up this morning, and we decided it was high time to try something new.  We’ve been to Fort Worth a bunch of times before, but we’ve never done a scavenger hunt.  Now, we’ve done a scavenger hunts using phone apps before- it was one of our Covid-friendly activities this past summer in McKinney- but we thought it would be a great way to wander Fort Worth and see things we haven’t seen before.  Turns out, it is a great way to do just that.  We saw parks, sculptures, churches- we saw things you don’t see when wandering Fort Worth on your own.  Our walk took us to the Bass Performance Hall, the county courthouse, a few historic churches and plenty of architecturally interesting buildings.  The activity was fun, though the interface really needs to be road-tested and repaired for smartphone screens.  It was a little unwieldy on a handheld device- but you’re welcome to try: https://www.urbanadventurequest.com/tours/things-to-do/fort_worth/default.aspx

All in all, our self paced tour was pretty great.  We were even able to pause the tour for a nap.  That’s a rarity when traveling with any regular, in person group.  In fact, the smartphone-based tour lets you pause twice along the twenty question path- in case you need some barbecue or something.  Oh, and we did.  We had to stop at Riscky’s and eat lunch.  It’s been a minute since I have had barbecue that good.  I get that it’s a little bit of a cliche, but you really have to have some proper barbecue in Fort Worth.  

From there, we meandered to a place called Thompson’s Bookstore.  I know it makes us sound fancy and smart to say we spent time in a bookstore today, but let me allay your fears- we were not all that intellectual.  We were, in fact, having cocktails in a place that is modeled after a speakeasy.  Their cocktail menu was full of prohibition era drinks, and when you close out your tab upstairs, you have a password printed on the bottom of your receipt.  That password gets you into the downstairs bar that you enter through a hinged bookshelf-door.  It’s all super fun, and the drinks are spectacular.  

When we went out the special hidden out-door up the back stairs to the street, we were ready to walk over to the Reata for a return engagement.  We had dinner reservations at 8:45.  Sure, that was plenty late, but it was also perfect, given our nap, our barbecue lunch, and our pre-dinner fancy cocktail stop.  Dinner started with a tamale appetizer that was far too large, then moved on to a shared enchilada entree with some carne asada steak that dared you not to take leftovers home.  A couple of things, here- I am glad we share so well- two entrees would have been ridiculous- and I am glad we are well past the early stages of dating where it would have been awkward to eat the delicious steak and leave the rest of the plate looking like a wasteland.  We’ve been together long enough to understand that delicious sometimes trumps polite.  

We’re in for the night, now, in the historic Ashton Hotel.  Tomorrow, we head to Joe T. Garcia’s on the way out of town, then shortly thereafter, we have to get back to our actual lives- but this has been great.  It has been a departure from a year of huddling in the house and staying safe.  Not everyone we’ve encountered has been fully vaccinated like us, but we’ve been good about wearing masks when others are present, and we’ve tried to model the correct behaviors.  It’s nearing that point where everyone can join us on the vaccinated side of the playground, but we sure have been grateful about our extremely well timed shots.  Hope everyone can rejoin the traveling world safely soon!  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6

Rinse, repeat

Somehow, Cas and I have a standard set of Fort Worth behaviors.  We almost always wander through the Stockyards, we always have a drink on the rooftop at the Reata, we frequently eat some barbecue, and for reasons surpassing logic, we always end up at Razzoo’s in Sundance Square.  Rather than fight it, we steered into that particular skid this time around.  We checked into our historic hotel and walked to the Reata.  Wow- I always love that rooftop, and I always forget just how much until I am back there.  

It was a little chilly and a little breezy, but still just about perfect.  From there, we wandered a while until we got to our old standby- the Razoo’s we always end up at.  We’ve been there on New Year’s Eve before.  We’ve been there on spring break before.  It’s just a spot we always see on our walk and think- Yeah, I like Razzoo’s- let’s stop there!  I can’t explain it any better than that.  

Of course, we were at a Razzoo’s in Richardson when we first exchanged phone numbers, but that’s a longer story for another time.  I suspect that may be why we have a soft spot for that particular restaurant chain.  From there, we headed back to The Ashton Hotel to rest up for a big day of... Actually, we have no idea just yet.  We’ll get there when we get there.  We’ve never run out of things to do in Fort Worth.  

Oh- and before I forget- on the way here, we stopped in Hillsboro at the Roadside America Museum.  What a weird place!  Every bit of nostalgia from a bygone time in America was there.  We listened to Elvis on a jukebox, walked past a row of Big Boy statuettes and saw more advertisements and memorabilia for Grapette soda than I think anyone has ever put in one place.  The guy who runs the place collects all of this memorabilia and puts it in the front of the building.  In the back, he restores vehicles.  It’s all quite spectacular.  The other kind of odd thing about the Roadside America Museum is that you have to call the number on the door if nobody’s there.  Whelp, nobody was home, so we called Vicky.  She drove over from her house four blocks away and walked us through a different time in America.  If you have any interest in a trip down memory lane (or maybe a pre-memory lane, depending on your age), stop by.  Here’s their website- http://roadsideamericatx.com/ I’m sure they’d love to see you!  They’ll even hop in the car and drive four blocks to open the place up!  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6

Just like home

On the way out of Austin, it is always a good idea to stop by the Oasis restaurant on Lake Travis.  Today was no exception.  The only drawback was the chilly temperature and the strong winds blowing on the lake.  It was about 64 degrees with a hefty wind blowing.  We tried to sit outside, as is our custom, but in the end, we wound up indoors.  It turns out that sitting inside with a view of the lake is also pretty great.  Additionally, if you are anywhere near a path where a waiter walks past with a steaming plate of fajitas, you don’t really need a menu.  The smell is pretty persuasive. 

No surprise, here- Cas and I had the fajitas.  We also had some drinks that came in fancy hurricane glasses.   

The waiter let us know that we could keep the souvenir glasses.  Of course, we knew that.  We actually had a pair of them at the house until my natural ability to break things left us with just one.  When he said we could take the glasses home, I mentioned that we could make fancy drinks and have them in the backyard.  I said, “Our backyard is just like this, except there’s no lake and it’s not as pretty.”  

Pretty much the same except for that.  

Anyhow, back on the road, Cas found an outdoor sculpture garden in Salado for us to enjoy while we walked around and stretched our legs.  We’re back on the road again, headed for Fort Worth, where we most assuredly have to stop at the Reata and have a cocktail on their upstairs patio- also one of our things.  I hope the winds are all keeping to the greater Austin area so we can have a leisurely time up there. See you back in the metroplex!  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6

Holy tourist attraction, Batman!

We had one full day in Austin from morning to night, and in true Heather and Cas fashion, we’re exhausted at the end.  We started out with a very nice breakfast sandwich at a place just around the corner from our hotel, then kept walking until we were at the capitol building.  When we got there, we walked around the outside for a bit, then went in what is effectively the back door for a self-guided tour.  There was a brochure with a map listing out the points of interest, and we walked around until we had seen a whole bunch of them.  Most people at the very least get a photo of some feature of the rotunda.  It’s a very pretty place, to be sure, and we certainly took advantage of the opportunity.  Love or hate the Texas state government, they sure do work in a very pretty building.  

From there, we walked to a spot Cas and I had been before- a spot he has fond memories of visiting with his brother.  It’s a place called Little Woodrow’s, and it has a pretty great patio.  We stayed there for a few drinks and some exceptional food truck tacos, but when the house music (Irish rock) went away and the DJ came in (bad remixes of every marginally talented pop princess and rap star from the past two decades), we meandered on to the next place.  That next place was an ice cream shop Cas likes very much named Amy’s.  I had a vegan strawberry offering- mostly to avoid dairy- and he had something that was supposed to be flavored like Jameson’s Irish Whiskey and Lucky Charms.  Not sure how you could pick a more appropriate flavor combo for Saint Patrick’s Day.  

After that, we wanted to get across town, and Cas had no interest in trying to move his car out of the spot where the hotel has it parked, so we relented and tried the goofy Lime scooters we had seen all along our journey.  They are rental electric razor scooters, and they are really goofy looking.  Here’s the thing, though- they are way more fun than they have any right to be.  We zipped across town, over to the spot where we later intended to watch the bats fly out from under a bridge, then to a Tex Mex place way too far to walk to.  As dumb as anyone ever looks on those things, I will not be so quick to judge in the future- they are super fun.  We scooted around until it was about time to stop for the nightly bat exodus from the Congress Street Bridge.  I have never witnessed this event before, though I had heard it was pretty interesting to watch the thousands of bats emerge from their daytime hiding place for what I can only assume is a night of hunting mosquitos and creeping out people who have a terrible fear of bats.  

We came back from there via electric razor scooter for a quick wardrobe change- when the sun goes down it gets a little chilly.  As anyone staying in a hotel on Sixth Street must, we wandered up and down the street for a bit.  If you’re on Sixth Street on Saint Patrick’s Day, you have to do it.  I now know that I am officially too old for that part of town.  All of the music was too loud, and I had no interest in most of it.  Even the places that had what sounded like really good live music were too noisy for me to say two words to Cas, and I suppose that’s where I draw the line these days.  If wanting to talk to Cas makes me too old, I guess that’s exactly where I want to be.  

As for today, it’s a wrap.  We’ll get up tomorrow and take our sweet time getting out of town.  I definitely want to stop at The Oasis on Lake Travis for lunch.  It’s a beautiful view and a pretty cool restaurant, even if you’re not there for the sunset.  After that, it’s on to Fort Worth, and another historic hotel.  Considering how out of practice we are, Cas and I are really enjoying vacation time again.  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6

The Driskill

I have stayed in some fancy hotels before, and I have stayed in some really questionable places that simply served as shelter while on a journey.  The Driskill Hotel is exceptionally fancy.  There is stained glass throughout the lobby and “historic” rooms that have clearly been updated with the times.  Our room has a very small but well appointed bathroom with a marble counter and floor.  The Menger was a bit more... rustic.  And for the first time in my life, I unwound a hotel bathrobe from its hanger and used it.  I have never bothered before, but wow- this is one soft and comfy bathrobe.  As I slid the microfiber over my shoulders, I thought of the place my mother and I stayed when we went to Honolulu- they had a sign warning us not to steal their towels- but their towels were stolen from other hotels.  A far cry from the Driskill, that’s for sure.  

Sometimes, just out of curiosity, I glance at the posted notice on the inside of the door in any given hotel room.  Someone once told me that hotels have to post the highest price that room can ever cost on the inside of the door.  The inside of the door on the room I am sitting in right now said $2,500.  I assume they’re talking about American dollars, and if anyone ever paid that to sleep on a queen bed in a small (but very historic) room in Austin, Texas, I hope they got to keep both of the robes for free.  And maybe a lamp or a chair.  That is not the rate we got.  

Anyhow, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day today, and we’re headed out to participate in some shenanigans.  We’ve contemplated options, arriving at no conclusions.  Maybe the capitol building and the Bullock Museum?  Maybe our day takes us to Lake Travis.  Last night, we were pretty tired, so our evening took us to a burger place, then up and down Sixth Street for a post-dinner walk.  But now, it’s time to leave these robes in the room and greet Sixth Street- Top O’ The Morning to you!  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6

A hole in the ground

When Cas and I got moving this morning, we drove to New Braunfels, where we discovered that the New Braunfels Smokehouse is permanently closed.  Thankfully, we figured this out before looking for it in earnest- the Internet told us so when we tried to plot a drive there with the phone.  So, we looked around and found a place called the Tortilleria.  It looked an awful lot like a few trailer homes were jammed together and turned into a restaurant, but the food was amazing.  We weren’t super-hungry, so we split a plate, then, we proceeded to eat every bite.  They didn’t worry about the decor or ambience- they let the food do the talking.  I felt like we landed at a place that locals visit, not a spot for tourists.  

From there, we made our way to the Natural Bridge Caverns.  The place had a zip lining course, some amusement park kind of exhibits and a country singer with an acoustic guitar right in the middle of it all- but none of that was what brought us to the Natrual Bridge Caverns today- we actually came to see the big hole in the ground.  We walked down with a tour group to the underground space where the natural formations were the stars of the show.  It was a precarious journey down on steep sidewalks that were damp with condensation.  About halfway down, I started to ponder how difficult the trip back up would be.  Turns out, it was a bit of a challenge.  I blame Covid for keeping me out of my gym for the past year. Hey, it can’t all be my fault, can it?  

Still, for a paid trip down a hole in the ground, it was a very cool journey.  We wore long pants and tennis shoes, because it was supposed to be cool down there.  We failed to account for the humidity.  When we got back to the car, we each drank a full bottle of water- having finished the one we took with on our trek.  We were pretty grateful for Cas’ car air conditioning when we got back to the parking lot.  

After that, we headed to Austin via San Marcos, where we decided to pause for a nature walk through a place called The Meadows Center.  It’s a nature preserve that most certainly must belong to Texas State University, and they offer glass bottom boat tours.  We didn’t book far enough in advance to get a spot on one of those boats, so we just went for a walk.  It was a nice, little walk- it didn’t take too long, and it put us back on the road at just about the right time to check into our Austin hotel at our intended time.  We’ve just arrived at The Driskill Hotel- in keeping with our historic hotel theme, we’ve found another classic.  The Driskill’s website claims they’ve been here for more than a century.  We’re once again on the fourth floor, and again, have scored a room in what the desk personnel described as “the historic part” of the hotel.  Two for two on that.  It’s a nice room- very fancy, and we will certainly enjoy these digs this evening, but for now, it’s nearly time to find a place to eat diner.  Maybe, since we were just at a hole in the ground, we can find a hole in the wall.  I’ll keep you posted.  

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qd4HG7MEc8auwHvF6