Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Stop 3, Austin Texas. What an amazing and unique place. When we first arrived our initial challenge was to find our apartment from the airport via 2 buses. This was when we got our first taste of the true Texan spirit. Every step of the way there was another willing candidate ready to point us in the right direction! And when we arrived, our apartment owners had left a bottle of fizz on ice, as I had said in my emails that we were on our honeymoon!
This stop has to be my favourite so far. Austin claims to be the live music capital of the world and it certainly lives up to its name! The entire place has a festival atmosphere and everywhere you go there's somebody strumming a guitar. Plus the best food here seems to be served from the back of trailers. The streets are full of artsy little gift shops and vintage clothes stores.
We had some amazing food in Austin including the most massive breakfast from the magnolia cafe.
The only problem with Austin was the unbearable heat, absolutely roasting hot. So warm we just didn't feel like doing much at all during the day apart from laying. But luckily there are tons of lovely outdoor free swimming pools to cool down in. On day 1 we went to the local park pool. Everywhere we went there were people interested in where we were from and wanting to recommend there own live music personal favourite spot. We wanted to see some country music so headed out to a place called 'The Broken Spoke'. A genuine Austin honkytonk! With the catchline 'we ain't fancy but we're darn sure country!' Love it. Well they certainly weren't fancy, the curtains instead of toilet doors in the ladies were a demo of that. An amazing evening of enthusiastic attempts at country and western dancing followed. Initially I claimed to Jess that it just looked like a bit of 'shuffling around' and we could give that a go! But once we got on the dance floor it became apparent that it wasn't as easy as everybody was making it look. Luckily a couple of very genuine cowboys were willing to give us some impromptu dance lessons. Now I realise as I am explaining this that it sounds as we were, umm, how shall I say it? ... Popular with the local men folk :) But not the case at all, there was something so respectful and traditional about being asked to dance by a cowboy.
Second day, another place to cool down, with a little cycle down to Barton Springs. This is a natural pool in the middle of Austin, it was so cold! But lovely in the baking sunshine. I did a lot of sitting on the edge convincing myself to get in :). I have to say getting lost in the searing heat on the way home wasn't such a highlight.
On the last night we decided to stay closer to our apartment as we had an early 5 am start to look forward to. The Continental Club, was another lovely friendly small venue. The first act was more country, very fun. Next on Wanda Jackson, to us she just looked like a cute nana with a lovely voice but everyone there was going absolutely crazy for her! Standing on chairs to get the best shot of her and whooping and cheering. Wikipedia reveals that she used to be massive back in the day and even dated Elvis for a short while. Well now, there's a claim to fame. We finished the evening eating cinnamon ice cream from a street vendor still getting a roaring trade at midnight ..... Only in Austin.
Austin has given Jess a taste for live music in small venues and she thinks maybe we should seek out more in Sheffield. Certainly no complaints from me :) .... Next stop, Los Angeles!
- comments