This past summer, we seemed to have a theme of taking pictures of each other in funny costumes or in cut-outs. Click on this link to see 'em.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Texas
Well, as you probably know, I'm not a fan of George W. Bush. And I'm not a fan of the oversized-American-syndrome: big cars, big grocery stores, big waistlines, big guns.... So I thought I wouldn't like Texas, not even a little bit ... but then Texas surprised me! It's really quite an interesting place! You might think so, too!
This past autumn, Nick and I visited Austin, Texas for his friend Doug's wedding to Paulette. Doug and Paulette actually visited us in Hokkaido, and then Doug was a groomsman in our wedding. So it was only fair that we returned the favor of a visit, for their special day.
They were really quite generous to arrange a 'homestay' for our time in Austin, so that we didn't have to pay for a hotel. And what a homestay! We were hosted at a gen-u-ine historic mansion. The property had three pools!
And gorgeous chandelier bathrooms with marble jacuzzi tubs!
We even got to borrow the family car (a range rover) to get us around town. Our hosts were so generous to allow us to stay there. I think we've sent them, like, three thank-you notes. It was that great!
Doug & Paulette's wedding was a lovely affair. Their wedding ceremony was in a Catholic church with a priest so welcoming that I actually cried (happy tears) during Mass. If only there were more Catholic leaders doing good stuff like that! And, as predicted by friends, the first wedding that we attended as a married couple was a lovely experience. We were so happy to be DONE with the wedding-planning, and so glad to just sit together holding hands, out of the spotlight.
Here in the spotlight, hopping out of their limo, is a pic of D & P. (Her dress looks similar to one I almost chose for myself!) Their reception was at a remarkable old plantation with live oaks reaching graceful arms around the mansion. I thought it would be a little disturbing and creepy to be in an actual Southern plantation, but it was a nice party with a lovely mix of people.
And! They! Had! Peacocks! The property had several colored peacocks, and this one remarkable albino peacock. It's like they planned it based on our wedding theme! But they didn't.
For our long weekend in Austin, we had plenty of time to explore the town. We visited the Texas State Capitol. It's really big.
Here's a picture of the door and ceiling of the senate chamber in the state capitol. I'd like to draw your attention to the iron hinges on the doors. Every single door in the capitol was fastened with two of these iron hinges, which were each made of EIGHT POUNDS of iron.
Now here's the interesting thing about Texas. Did you know that the whole or parts of Texas have been claimed by six countries? Each national seal is depicted on this marble floor in the capitol building. The nations are/were: Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy, the United States of America, and the Republic of Texas.
If you ever go to Austin, I highly recommend going to the Texas State History Museum. It really is great. It explained the history of the Texas star, and all those countries and when and why they claimed Texas, and why those durned Texans are always going and forming militias at every little thing. Cuz, you know, if you read the news, those Texans sure do like their guns and their militias. Well, now I know why, and it kinda makes sense to me. I also learned about the mix of Tejanos and Natives and Anglos who live there, and why there's such animosity between these three cultures.
Prior to visiting Texas, I knew only a few things about Austin: 1) It has lots of hippies, 2) it has great live folk music, 3) there is a fantastically active gay scene, 4) Whole Foods started there, and 5) it's a culturally marooned island in the middle of a very large conservative state. Well, here below is #s 1 and 2: Groovy hippie folk musicians playing for hippie hula-hoop dancers.
Other than making music, though, I would say that I don't think that the hippies of Austin are very productive. The hippies in Minnesota make arts and crafts. The hippies in Portland organize political rallies or design restoration projects in parks or volunteer for social service agencies. But, as far as I can tell, the hippies in Texas aren't too interested in the environment. But they can hula-hoop. If you have more information about the good people of Austin, I'd be glad to hear it.
And then we visited the nation's first Whole Foods! It's big, just like Texas.
This past autumn, Nick and I visited Austin, Texas for his friend Doug's wedding to Paulette. Doug and Paulette actually visited us in Hokkaido, and then Doug was a groomsman in our wedding. So it was only fair that we returned the favor of a visit, for their special day.
They were really quite generous to arrange a 'homestay' for our time in Austin, so that we didn't have to pay for a hotel. And what a homestay! We were hosted at a gen-u-ine historic mansion. The property had three pools!
And gorgeous chandelier bathrooms with marble jacuzzi tubs!
We even got to borrow the family car (a range rover) to get us around town. Our hosts were so generous to allow us to stay there. I think we've sent them, like, three thank-you notes. It was that great!
Doug & Paulette's wedding was a lovely affair. Their wedding ceremony was in a Catholic church with a priest so welcoming that I actually cried (happy tears) during Mass. If only there were more Catholic leaders doing good stuff like that! And, as predicted by friends, the first wedding that we attended as a married couple was a lovely experience. We were so happy to be DONE with the wedding-planning, and so glad to just sit together holding hands, out of the spotlight.
Here in the spotlight, hopping out of their limo, is a pic of D & P. (Her dress looks similar to one I almost chose for myself!) Their reception was at a remarkable old plantation with live oaks reaching graceful arms around the mansion. I thought it would be a little disturbing and creepy to be in an actual Southern plantation, but it was a nice party with a lovely mix of people.
And! They! Had! Peacocks! The property had several colored peacocks, and this one remarkable albino peacock. It's like they planned it based on our wedding theme! But they didn't.
For our long weekend in Austin, we had plenty of time to explore the town. We visited the Texas State Capitol. It's really big.
Here's a picture of the door and ceiling of the senate chamber in the state capitol. I'd like to draw your attention to the iron hinges on the doors. Every single door in the capitol was fastened with two of these iron hinges, which were each made of EIGHT POUNDS of iron.
Now here's the interesting thing about Texas. Did you know that the whole or parts of Texas have been claimed by six countries? Each national seal is depicted on this marble floor in the capitol building. The nations are/were: Spain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy, the United States of America, and the Republic of Texas.
If you ever go to Austin, I highly recommend going to the Texas State History Museum. It really is great. It explained the history of the Texas star, and all those countries and when and why they claimed Texas, and why those durned Texans are always going and forming militias at every little thing. Cuz, you know, if you read the news, those Texans sure do like their guns and their militias. Well, now I know why, and it kinda makes sense to me. I also learned about the mix of Tejanos and Natives and Anglos who live there, and why there's such animosity between these three cultures.
Prior to visiting Texas, I knew only a few things about Austin: 1) It has lots of hippies, 2) it has great live folk music, 3) there is a fantastically active gay scene, 4) Whole Foods started there, and 5) it's a culturally marooned island in the middle of a very large conservative state. Well, here below is #s 1 and 2: Groovy hippie folk musicians playing for hippie hula-hoop dancers.
Other than making music, though, I would say that I don't think that the hippies of Austin are very productive. The hippies in Minnesota make arts and crafts. The hippies in Portland organize political rallies or design restoration projects in parks or volunteer for social service agencies. But, as far as I can tell, the hippies in Texas aren't too interested in the environment. But they can hula-hoop. If you have more information about the good people of Austin, I'd be glad to hear it.
And then we visited the nation's first Whole Foods! It's big, just like Texas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)