Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico

After our detour to Kemah Boardwalk, we turned our rental car to the west. Travelling along the smaller state highways we saw a lot of the smaller towns and caught a glimpse of the Gulf now and then. Our destination that night was Corpus Christi.

I had hoped to spend some time laying around on a beach, but the weather was pretty drizzly and windy. We did get out though and do a bit of beach walking. We stumbled upon a few dead jelly fish and lots of shells. I tried to find some beach glass, but there just wasn't any at all. I had to be satisfied with taking photographs instead.

There were a lot of seagulls that were making me crazy. I felt like I was living the movie "The Birds!" April tried to calm me with some explanation about them wanting food from me, but I wasn't buying it. Everywhere I walked they hovered above me and squawked!

Weather Pixie

Today I added a little Weather Pixie to both blogs. I ran across it on another person's blog and had to go out and get my own. She changes her outfits according to the weather report where I am at. If you want to get your own, go here.

Cool Building

I really liked this building. We came across it just south of the Kemah Boardwalk. It's an Attorney's office. The top of the building has a crown of clay pots. The sides are embedded with various metal discs and fish shapes. It sits all alone on an island bordered by 3 streets. I was intrigued. I had to have a photo.

Check out the altars and the unique windows.

Leaving Houston - Heading South(ish)

We arrived in Houston on Monday in the early afternoon. We left early morning on Wednesday. Our first stop heading south, we visited Kemah Boardwalk. It was pretty deserted. I can only guess the reason to be that it was the middle of the week and not yet really summertime. I don't know. But being two women with money in our pockets, we shopped. It's hard keeping track of everything we purchased on this trip, but I believe we got the "Ass-kickin Mango Salsa" and "Habanero Microwave Popcorn" here. I think April got a tshirt or mug too. I also took quite a few photos since this was my first sighting of the Gulf of Mexico. Although, is it really the Gulf I saw at Kemah? Maybe it was technically some kind of inlet instead. Not sure.






Whatever it was, I enjoyed it. The weather was a bit rainy and gray, but we still walked around and took in the sights.









You can see how choppy the water is.

Houston - My first experiences with the Texans

Arriving in Houston at about 2:30pm, my partner quickly changed and headed out to her convention. I was left in the hotel to explore.

We were staying at the Hyatt Regency. It is a beautiful hotel, with a majestic atrium lobby, rooftop pool, exercise room, and 5 restaurants. After freshening up from our 18 hour drive from Denver, I took a look at the Room Service Menu.

There was nothing. The only possible thing I could eat was a salad stripped of 3/4 of its ingredients. So I thought, no problem, there are 5 restaurants in this hotel. Surely one of them has something vegetarian. I went down to the lobby and headed for the Concierge desk.

The concierge was a happy, eager young man that quickly asked if he could help me. I said, “Why yes! Which of these restaurants would a vegetarian find something to eat?” He paused. His smile faded. Then, in that cute little southern drawl they all have down there, he replied, “Uhhhh, I don’t know, ma’am.” I had stunned him. I’m sure I even ruined his entire day, and destroyed all of his self-confidence. I quickly departed.

It was suggested that I have a seat at the bar and ask for a wait staff to help me adapt a menu item. I tried that, but no one seemed willing to help me out. I wandered over to one of the restaurants and worked it out with the hostess.

I ended up ordering a Cobb Salad minus the cheese, the meat, the dressing, the egg, and something else. So basically I got a bed of iceburg lettuce, 6 thin strips of avocado, and probably 1/4 cup of diced tomatoes. I ordered fries too, but they were coated with something suspiciously like cheese bits, so I didn't eat them.

Thank goodness I had leftover goodies from my week in Washington!

Washington 2006

First, I must thank my daughter for gifting me the round trip tickets to visit her this year during our Spring Break. What a surprise that Xmas gift was!

I was met at the airport by my daughter and her boyfriend, and we spent my 9 day visit shopping, dining, and touring in Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver BC, and a few other nearby small towns.

My favorite was Seattle's Pike Place Market. It is nine miles of arts, crafts, fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers, entertainment, and delicious food - glorious food. We bought the usual touristy things like tshirts, postcards, and hats; but we also came away with fragrant incenses, spicey tea, woven pouches, and gifts for those back home.

Oh, and did we eat! For a vegan, it is not that often that I find a place where I can gorge myself so fully. I found veggie dogs, vegetarian burritos, falafel sandwiches, and awesome pastries. The best were at a little bakery called "Cinnamon Works". Let me just say that those cinnamon rolls are the most sinful thing I think I have ever eaten! They are as big around as a dessert plate, and twirled around with nut-filled pastry about 3 inches high, topped off with a luscious, creamy frosting. It took me two days to finish mine, and I think I moaned with delight on every single bite. I also bought a cookie - just as huge, and just as delicious.

The most entertaining thing we came across was the flying fish. If ever you visit this market you will not be able to resist a look at the flying fish. It is easy to find. Just listen for the cheering, and watch for the strobe-effect of numerous camera flashes going off. Push your way through the crowd to see them at a vendor's booth called Pike Place Fish Company. Mobs of tourists stand around, cameras at the ready, just waiting for someone to purchase a fish. Everyone cheers and applauds, because this is what causes the fish to take flight.

It goes something like this.

Pretend that I am interested in buying fish. I'm not, because I'm vegan, but just pretend.

I spot a nice salmon that I want. I don't know a lot about salmon, but say it's a Persian Red-Breasted Salmon filet. (I made that up) So I tell the guy this is what I want. He scoops it up as he shouts out "Persian Red-Breasted Salmon Filet!" He throws it through the air to another guy. This one shouts out "Persian Red-Breasted Salmon Filet!" as he throws it to another guy. This one might wrap it up and then will shout out the same thing as he tosses it back. And so on and so on. Eventually you are handed your nicely wrapped fish to take home.

Sometimes they add details like "her mother likes them grilled!" or whatever. It's quite the show. The crowd is quite entertaining. Many of them ask to have their pictures taken along side one of the guys who work there. Watch out for the Monk Fish though. Creepy! Was it really a fish?

And...

Why would anyone want to have a picture of themself along side a man holding a large dead fish?

Spring Break 2006

I have just returned from my 2006 Spring Break adventures.

I started out with a flight to Seattle. I visited my daughter in Bellingham and her boyfriend in Vancouver BC. I spent a week there and had a fantastic time!

When my return flight touched down in Denver, at 8pm MST, I met up with my girlfriend, April, and we navigated a rental car through the night, to arrive in Houston at approximately 2:30pm CST the next day. WHEW! What a drive!
One week later, I'm back home.

Conclusion:

Seattle = Land of the Vegans
Texas = Land of the Beef