Month: June 2025

A quick flight from Austin, and we are in our final destination, Houston. It is about a half hour drive from the airport to our downtown hotel. As in Austin, it is extremely hot, with 35 degrees the expected high.

We go for a wander to find some lunch, and the downtown streets are quiet. With limited activities in the local area, we catch a tram to the Natural Science Museum. Quite an eye opener, as lots of homeless people in the downtown area, with quite a few getting on and off the tram.

The museum itself is interesting, with a live butterfly area, and some interesting jewellery and mineral displays. Then the tram back to the Main Station, and some more“interesting” local sights. We are pleased we are not spending too much time in Houston. First impressions are underwhelming.

There are not a lot of dining options within walking distance, so we wander down to a food court on Main Street called “The Finn.” Final night in the USA, so we had to have burger and fries, washed down with a cold beer.

Our final day in Houston and the States, so we do a two hour sight seeing tour in an air conditioned mini van. Saw a lot more of Houston, and appreciate it is a huge city. Within the downtown area is an extensive underground area linking buildings, with shops, cafes etc. Unfortunately, most of these are closed in the weekend. The downtown business area is like a ghost town in the weekends. A combination of the extreme heat, and workers living in the suburbs.

And with that, it’s time for our final Uber ride to the Airport, and the fourteen hour flight home.

It’s been a terrific trip. Quite ambitious, and we are ready for home. Have enjoyed the diversity of the different cities we have visited, each with their own charms and personalities. The USA is a massive country. Most of the fifty states have a bigger population than New Zealand! Great country, but there is no place like home.

Another Airport, Uber ride and city, and now in Austin, Texas. Our hotel isn’t quite ready, so we explore the local area. The Colorado River runs through Austin, and there is a tremendous amount of construction going on. It is one of the USAs fastest growing cities, with a strong tech presence. We even saw driverless cars! The temperature is in the early 30s, with high humidity, and we are pleased when our room is ready.

Very close to Downtown is Rainey Street, consisting of a number of old bungalows. These have been converted in to bars and restaurants, and we had dinner at Bangers. This specialises in sausages and smoked meats, but also have salads and vege options. The street is now surrounded by high rises.

Today is bike tour day, and our guide is Rooster, who is quite a character. With another couple, he guides us around Austin on powerful e-bikes, which you don’t even need to pedal. It’s an interesting tour, and Rooster does a good job.

It is the beginning of summer, and Texas is really warming up. 34degrees today in Austin, and Houston could be hotter.

After dinner at a Japanese restaurant opposite our hotel, we walk down to the river area to do a kayak tour. The main purpose of the tour is to watch the Austin bat population fly out from a bridge, to get their food. There are approximately 1 million bats who have made the underside of the Congress Bridge their home. Around 9pm they emerge and swoop off. Huge numbers of people on the water and on the bridge to watch. A little difficult to see, and somewhat of an anti climax.

Another hot day in Austin, but our activity today is mainly indoors. We are going to the nearby Texas Hill Country and a BBQ lunch, followed by wine tasting at two wineries. Our tour leader is Jax, and making up our group are seven young ladies from Florida, on a bachelorette weekend. Assisting Jax is Cliffy, and both guides are friendly and helpful.

Lunch is at Salt Lick, a traditional Texas BBQ joint, where they slow cook the meat, and use flavoursome dry rubs. The meat is very tender and melts in the mouth!

Off to our first winery, which is just over the road, called Fall Creek. Many of the wines are made from local grapes, some from other parts of Texas and some from California. All good quality. Ten minutes up the road is Duchman Winery, specialising in Italian varieties made from Texas grapes. Again, good quality.

The volume on the ride back has gone up considerably, but the ladies are good value and interested in NZ.

As we had a large lunch at Salt Lick, we weren’t particularly hungry, so dined once again at the Japanese restaurant opposite. Once again, good food.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Austin. A modern, lively city which impressed as a nice place to live. However, very hot in summer. Tomorrow, our final destination, with a day and night in Houston, before we fly home.

Quite a tiring journey from Nashville to New Orleans, as we had a stopover in Atlanta. However, upon arrival at our Homewood Suites hotel, although early, our room was ready. A change into lighter clothing, and off we go exploring.

It is noticeably warmer and more humid than previous destinations, but it is manageable. The French Quarter is very busy with people, and Bourbon Street is as expected, tacky and touristy.

Back to the hotel, then dinner at a restaurant up the road, which is Vietnamese. We will sample the local food tomorrow!

Today is our New Orleans bike tour. There are four other people on the tour, a group from New Zealand! Our tour guide is Eric, and he is excellent. A local, with great knowledge of the history of the area. It was interesting cycling around the inner city neighbourhoods. The overall impression was of a place of unique character, but quite rundown and grungy. The road surfaces were poor, and the areas were not at all affluent. New Orleans is built on a swamp, is hot and humid and vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding, so you need to be resilient to live here!

Eric took as to a cemetery. Burials must be above ground, due to the swampy, shifty ground below. Families are buried in mausoleums, stacked on top of each other. A coffin is placed in its burial site, and is not touched for a year. After this time, the heat has caused rapid deterioration of the body.

Overall, a really informative tour, one of the best we have done. For lunch we went to the famous Cafe du Monde, and indulged in the Beignet, deep fried squares of sweet yeast dough, absolutely covered in icing sugar. Once we removed most of the sugar, they were not bad, but hardly earth shattering.

As it was hot and humid, we walked to a large outlet mall by the river. Nice and air conditioned, and Blair picked up a bargain top from Tommy Bahama.

Dinner for the evening was a restaurant nearby called Streetcar Cafe. Nothing fancy, but a chance to try some of the local dishes such as Gumbo and Jambalaya. Both dishes include rice, and are tasty and filling. Talking of local foods, I have been having grits for breakfast. Similar to porridge, it is made from coarsely ground corn, which is boiled. Pretty much tasteless, so ingredients need to be added to provide flavour.

After a hearty breakfast, and loaded with grits, we visited a museum which caught our eye. It is the Pharmacy Museum, and the building, constructed in 1822, is the apothecary and residence of the USAs first licensed pharmacist. An extensive and fascinating displays of old potions, treatments and equipment.

Our final night in New Orleans, and we dine at Luke, a slightly more upmarket venue than our previous dining options. It is very busy, with the usual American prompt and efficient service. The food portions are huge, with my pork schnitzel taking up most of the plate. A nice way to conclude our stay. Tomorrow .. we are off to Texas.