Sundays are for Austin

"We're going to Austin." Joelle has spoken.

A 14-hour layover in Dallas is apparently enough for the Gypsy Sisters before they climb back in the car. 

Dave – the Patient, Understanding, and Delightful spouse of Joelle, took us out to a delicious, relaxing dinner during our brief rest in Dallas. He listened with genuine interest as we recounted our tales from Jessieville, Hot Springs, and Paris, TX. It is worthy of note, that, feeling adventurous, all three of us tried the lobster bisque. Yes, the lobster bisque, in the midst of landlocked Dallas, was the best I've had since tasting it for the first time in Ogunquit, Maine. 

Next morning, fortified by a delicious, nutritious breakfast, served up by Dave the Patient, we hit the road for a quick 3-hour jaunt to Austin … or as I have come to think of her, Our Lady of the Bananas. Austin is every bit as quirky as promoted. 

Our approach to travel is: drive in, drive around, get a feel for the place, park the car, and explore. 

The dancing dead

Street artist confession

South Congress Avenue caught our attention. After strolling around, hunger set in. We walked past each restaurant, peered in the window, read the menu, and chose the place with the best vibe. Guero's. The food did not disappoint. I was too busy shoveling the best nachos I've had in years into my mouth to take food pictures.

I totally stole this picture off their Instagram. And the next one.

Who can resist those patina-d doors?

Joelle struck up a conversation with our server about travel. Turns out he is from North Carolina. Did you know Jo used to live there? He also has family in my neighborhood in Charleston, and he and I have been to the same neighborhood bars. What a small world.

More meandering and my first henna tattoo.

Near 6th Street

We turned over our splendid parking space to a waiting Toyota, gratefully cranked up the AC, and headed toward Rio Grande.

West 9th and Nueces

The temperature danced around 100 degrees, so we kept our walking to the shady side of the streets. Each corner we turned, revealed an unexpected visual delight. The beauty of unplanned communities reveals a mix of architecture that spans a century within one block. 

Determined root

Near Rio Grande

Time to head back to our home base for the night, Dallas. A little rest before hopping a plane to DC the next day for work.