Austin - the CIty

The Haggerty family wedding brought us to Austin; while there, we were introduced to this most interesting capital city. It is a city of terrific music, great art, good food, mixed cultures, an awareness of the environment, and a great pride in being Texan. In its politics, it is known as a blue dot in a red state. We took the opportunity to explore each of these aspects of Austin and more. You can't help being drawn into this city with so much to offer.

Our hotel was situated right on the edge of Lady Bird Lake which provided a great trail to walk or bike and view the kayakers and skullers sailing by. During our walk we noticed the strings of small flags that hung all around the park emblazoned with a bare tree and the word "Thirst". We learned that this was the call for conservation as a result of the drought suffered throughout the region; the slogan appears everywhere. Another phenomenon that we missed seeing was the emergence at dusk of the bats from the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridges. Crowds gather in the evening to witness this event. Not quite the same as the March of the Ducks at the Peabody in Memphis, but a more natural phenomenon. Next time.   

In recent years Austin has made a concerted effort to display more completely its State's history and its devotion to art and culture. So, despite the intense heat and humidity, we managed to visit some of the best examples of this effort. The Blanton Museum of Art and  The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (both connected to the University of Texas) were two. In addition to the challenge of the high temperatures, navigating through the campus filled with college students coming and going to "wherever" proved to be a formidable task. I assume it was because they were focused on their studies and not on the traffic invading their territory. The art in the Blanton is phenomenal. The walk through the history of Texas at the Bullock is absolutely gripping. It explains so much of this fiercely independent state. I had to recall the fact that this land once belonged to Mexico, fought for its independence and became a Republic in its own right. Nine years later, it joined the American Union and became part of the United States. That Texan singularity still exists today.

Another stop was the Texas State Cemetery. Now you may not think of it as a destination on vacation, but this spot is a beautiful, peaceful and contemplative place holding the remains or memorials of notable Texans - everyone from Confederate veterans, to General Albert Sydney Johnston, to.Governor Ann Richards, to Coach Tom Landry. It is absolutely pristine. The visitor center at the cemetery also contains a succinct history of the state from its beginnings. The pride with which Debbie, the docent, spoke of Austin and the Cemetery shone through her gracious conversation with us. As with so many people we encountered, she took the time to speak to us, to not only share her knowledge, but to ask our stories as well. 

This piece certainly does not explain all we discovered in Austin. And it is now way past midnight. So - to be continued...