Historic

I was in Austin, Texas where I once lived and decided to spend one night at the historic and very beautiful Driskill Hotel. It was built after the civil war in 1886 by Mr. Driskill who made his money by selling beef to those fighting the war. Later, he would loose his money when all of his cattle died during a severe winter storm and have to sell the hotel. It went through several owners up to now where it is owned by the Hyatt Hotel Company. It is said to be very haunted but nothing visited me during my stay. It is a very beautiful place and it was a pleasure wandering around taking photos.

The exterior.
Part of the enormous lobby.
Look at this gorgeous stained glass.
The bar was also enormous. I was taken by the ceiling thinking that it was made out of leather or wood but was told it was pressed tin painted that copper color.
Maybe I need a couch made of cow hide.
A gorgeous dome over a dramatic sculpture also in the bar.

Texas Style

I made a visit with my grandson and his girlfriend to the Fort Worth Stockyards where cattle were once driven to before the drovers-people who took cattle to their final destinations-went into Indian territory. Mules were also a huge business during WWI. Then the railways came and cattle were transported that way. The railways then mostly stopped for transporting cattle with the arrival of highways and trucks but, luckily, they were able to preserve the stockyard area. It’s full of shops, restaurants, actual cowboys and people wearing cowboy boots and hats.

We started with lunch at a nice Mexican food place. There is no better starter than tortilla chips and salsa. I could make a meal of these.

A good Mexican beer served with a lime wedge. I don’t drink beer and have no idea how it tastes with the lime.
I had beef fajitas with bean, rice and tortillas. It was really good.
I liked this in the restaurant. So colorful.
Some old time architecture.
You could get rides in this wagon.
Or have your photo taken on these very docile long horn steer. They also do what is called a cattle drive down a street twice a day which I had seen before. I expected some energy but the cattle slowly move down the street like they are tranquilized which, I suppose, is a good thing as it keeps people from being gored by them.
You could buy boots.
Or a cowboy hat.
Cowboys were around for photo ops too.

Big

I was told that the Gaylord Resort in Grapevine, Texas, had really good Christmas decorations. I was a bit disappointed when I got there. I should have gone at night so the lights had impact. It is an enormous place and required a lot of walking. It was kind of like Disneyland and was packed with families. When I went to leave they wanted $20 for parking! The guy taking the money was young and wore a black shirt sweating in the sun and I said I thought parking was free and begged a little and he let me go without paying.

Pretty Christmas trees everywhere.
Places for photos.
This gives you an idea as to how enormous Gaylord was.
I thought this was beautiful.
A car in the parking garage was decorated for Christmas too!

Texas Lights

I lived in Texas years ago and, in fact, two of my children and their families still live here. They do great Christmas lights in Texas, especially in the wealthy areas of Dallas so I ventured out in my car for a look. I used to take my children out every year on the same route. I should have been a little later so the lights showed better but it was still great.

This is a high end shopping area where every tree is covered in golden lights from the base of their trunks to the end of every twig.
There were horse drawn carriages for touring.
Very American.
I thought this was the prettiest house I saw.
One of the first things I saw in a grocery story so I knew I was indeed in Texas.