Hello friends! We’re almost finished with the road trip with only one more day on the road! To continue where we left off, I want to tell you about Thursday, when we drove from Texas City to New Orleans. We knew we wanted to stop in Galveston, see the Gulf of Mexico, and continue on to Louisiana.

We said goodbye to Texas City, only to return in a moment of time because I had left my traffic citation in the hotel room. We ran back to get it, but in vain, as it ended up being in the car the whole time! Needless to say, we found the citation, and got back on the road to Galveston. Once there, we drove around for a bit before we could really tell where the “downtown” was. The city was mostly a grid, but the city is quaint and therefore hard to find.

Once we found the secret downtown area, we parked the car and walked around for a bit, taking pictures of the beautiful architecture and historic signs. We got lunch at a restaurant that was nearly empty but gorgeous. Corelyn ordered crab cakes, and I settled on oysters. We both got fried okra and sweet potato fries.

As we ate, I swear that I discovered two pieces of shell AND the beginnings of a pearl. Don’t worry, there is photographic evidence coming soon. I made sure to take a few photographs for proof. After this meal, and a few cups of coffee, we were ready to walk around Galveston a bit before heading to the ferry that would take us to the Bovilar Peninsula. Or so we thought, until we happened on the Bishop’s Palace. This mansion kept us occupied for about 40 minutes as we took pictures outside and strolled the bookstore reading history books on the area of Galveston as well as the palace itself.

Soon we found ourselves behind our self-imposed schedule, so we purchased a cookbook of Galveston favorites and headed to the ferry. The 15 minute ferry is free to cross to the Bovilar Peninsula, thank you Texas Department of Transportation. We enjoyed ferrying across the water to the gulf, and once on solid land decided to take a trip to the gulf to stick our feet in.

The gulf’s water was quite warm (almost like bath water!) and was positively delightful. Once at the beach we noticed that people were driving their cars on the shoreline (which we found quite strange) and that all the houses were on tall slits. This seemed usual for a hurricane area, but the houses were VERY high. We figured that this was because of Hurricane Ike which destroyed much of the region.

On the beach we also discovered tons of clams that kept being uncovered by the waves only to immediately burrow back into the sand. This kept us entertained for a few minutes, and then Corelyn collected seashells (by the sea shore) and we headed back to the car, shells in hand, sand on feet. Trying to avoid getting sand in the car was impossible, but we did the best we could since the White Sands were already in the car…

After sticking our feet in, we drove from the Peninsula until we couldn’t anymore. Ryan, Corelyn’s old roommate and a good friend of ours, has lent his atlas to us, and it claimed we could drive to the end of the peninsula and to Port Arthur. We found this to be untrue, and figured it had something to do with the hurricane as well. We turned north, headed for Beaumont, and then onto Louisiana. We didn’t stop again until we got to Lafayette, where we ate dinner, as we knew we weren’t going to make it to New Orleans in time for food.

In Lafayette there appeared to be some kind of street/music festival happening, and therefore we couldn’t get to any of the restaurants we originally planned on eating in. So we headed to Blue Dog Cafe which was off the main drag, and were delighted to find live music and tables covered in butcher paper and crayons. Corelyn set out to draw our trip thus far, and I made a day by day itinerary on my side. I ordered some brie bisque and Corelyn got crab cakes, again.

When we asked our waitress if we could get the bread pudding to go, she explained that we could, but we’d need a microwave to warm it. We explained that we were in from out of town, and on the road headed to New Orleans. “I was there a few weeks ago, in this kitchen of (she named a restaurant I can’t remember) and they had one. So that’s at least one microwave,” she said. And so it was settled: we took bread pudding to go.

Once we got back on the road we headed for New Orleans in the dark. We checked in around 11:30, and headed up to our room. No microwave! Lucky for us, the car had been warmed and the top of the bread pudding was pretty melted, allowing us to have delicious Lafayette bread pudding in New Orleans. We went to bed soon afterward, ready to hit New Orleans in the morning.

When we awoke on Wednesday morning, after our 4:30 arrival, we were renewed and ready to hit the streets of San Antonio. Luckily, our hotel was mere blocks from the Riverwalk and the Alamo. We strolled the city streets to the river then took a flight of stairs down to the river level.

The river goes right through a main part of the city and boasts a variety of restaurants, galleries, and various shops. The weather was just right for a nice walk, so we meandered down both sides, looking for a place to get coffee and some lunch. We reached a point where there was some construction, causing us to go up and over the river and back down the other side. As we exited the stairwell to turn up the street that would lead us back to the river, Corelyn proclaimed, “The Alamo!”

We had previously agreed that we would only stop at the Alamo if we had time, and we’d just “drive by and grab a photo.” Turns out, we happened upon the Alamo and took a few dozen photos in front before reading the plaques surrounding the famous structure and heading back to the river. Time for food, and coffee.

We settled on Boudro’s, which turned out to be a famous restaurant. They had the prettiest seating on the river, however, and the most delicious looking menu. We obviously got giant coffees, and then settled in for a nice meal after the Sonic disaster from the night before. Corelyn got chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, and I settled on a shrimp and bacon sandwich. This meal was the beginning of our food tour of the South.

We ate quickly, getting coffee refills and enjoying the sunshine on the river. When we were finished, we walked a bit more of the river before heading back to the hotel. It was time to drive to Austin, then finally to Texas City, which was near Galveston and the Gulf.

As we drove to Austin Corelyn researched what we should do in the city, which clearly was go to a park (of which Austin has many) and get barbeque. So we headed Zilker Park, which boasts acres and acres of green space, as well as a botanical garden and a prehistoric garden. Yes, that’s right: a garden designed as a replica of what the dinosaurs would have walked among.

We immediately, obviously, headed to the prehistoric garden, walking amongst various ferns, trees, and flowers. As we had to use the restroom, we followed signs and mistakenly ended up in the botanical gardens! They were beautiful, and held various historical buildings, including a one-roomed schoolhouse, a blacksmith’s shop, and an arch from a historic home that once majestically stood over Austin and now is housed in the gardens. We spent the next hour or so snapping photos, both of the flora and the arch, and of course ourselves. In the process it appeared as though I was bitten by a few fire ants – and reminded that we were finally out of the west (almost) and headed back to the east where there are many biting bugs that love me.

We headed back to the car, which was parked in the parking lot underneath the highway (great use of space, Austin!) and hightailed it to the downtown area for some barbeque. We hit some traffic, and after some yelping found Ruby’s BBQ, where Corelyn enjoyed brisket and I ordered and promptly devoured baby back ribs. The BBQ sauce had a hint of spice but was delightful, and the ribs came with the most delicious coleslaw I’ve ever had, and potato salad to die for. Corelyn choose hot and spicy beans for her side, which proved too spicy even for her – needless to say, I did not try them.

While we were eating, we did encounter some interesting fauna — a great-tailed grackle, to be exact — that attacked Corelyn mid-brisket. She was about to take a bit when we heard a horrible noise, and then there was a flurry around Corelyn as the bird hit her arm and then fluttered around her purse. We deduced after the fact that the grackle was trying to steal Corelyn’s food and hit the ceiling fan, causing it to be slammed to the ground and into Corelyn. We were the only people on the patio, at this point, and we tried to warn the men next to us of the bird’s intentions, but they didn’t seem to hear us. Or maybe, believe us?

After a full dinner we switched drivers and head for our final destination of Texas City (or TEJAS CITY if you’re us, tired, and giggly.) We arrived relatively early, a treat, but we were in the middle of nowhere, so we watched the latest Glee, talked to MAC, and drank decaf coffee out of coffee cups and plastic cups (the plastic cups served as coffee sleeves because the cups were hot – an ingenious move on Corelyn’s part.)

We went to bed relatively early, up to date on Glee and well fed. This day was an excellent day, and a good introduction to our tour of Southern food.

Hello friends! We’ve made it to New Orleans, Louisiana, and we’re about to hit the streets and see what it’s all about. Tonight we’ll be in Memphis and update you on Day 5: Texas, and Day 6: Texas to Louisiana. For now, here are some pictures to see you through!

Below, please find a photo series from the Botanical Gardens in Austin, TX.

BBQ at Ruby’s in Austin. Delicious.

Well folks, we’ve almost made it to the Gulf. We’re in Texas City, right outside Galveston, about to head to the coast for a late breakfast. We’re watching the weather channel and keeping tabs on the tornadoes across the country, hopefully avoiding those throughout the southeast states.

On Tuesday, we spent the entire day driving, driving, driving, and driving. We left Albuquerque about nine, after a pit stop at a glorious Dunkin Donuts. We got on the road, headed to White Sands, NM, by way of Truth or Consequences. We had heard great things about White Sands – imagine, a desert of white sand, in the middle of the desert, right here in the US. We almost drove right by it — we were distracted by the fact that White Sands is also a missile base. Luckily we U-turned in time to get back to the park, which proved to be worth the nearly 2-hour detour.

We drove into White Sands, map in hand, camera on, ready for action. Soon, it was obvious that we were not prepared for what this park was. A sign at the side of the road stated, “Pavement Ends” and suddenly, we were driving over hardened sand, straight into a scene out of Star Wars. The winds were incredible, and the picnic tables all had wind shields, giving the park an alien feel.

We found ourselves an empty parking lot with decent dunes, and then set ourselves up to climb up. The sand was made of gypsum and calcium sulfate, which give them a finer feel than regular sand. This also made it hard to hike up the sands, but when we got to the top we knew it was worth it. For as far as you could see all around you, there was just sand dunes upon sand dunes. The wind picked the sand up and swirled it into funnels, making the otherworldly feeling that much stronger.

After climbing down the dunes, we got back in the car, covered in sand, as we would be for hours to come. After a quick lunch in Alamogordo, we got back on the road headed for San Antonio, TX. By way of nothing. We drove for hours and hours through nothing. We kept hoping for a change in scenery, but that did not happen. We had thought that the drive through Texas would be painful, but that seemed to be nothing compared to New Mexico. Which lasted forever. After a dim sunset that was clouded by the amazing amount of dust in the sky, we finally saw the border sign. Texas. The border was underwhelming, flanked by nothing for at least 50 miles on either side.

We stopped in Pecos, which housed a few Chinese buffets and one gas station with bathroom. We moved on, hoping for more of a city with perhaps a roadside dinner. When we finally came upon Fort Stockton, our available options were Chinese Buffet, a IHop that we couldn’t find, or Sonic. As I had never been to a Sonic, I choose this, and we ate as though we hadn’t eaten in days. Then we immediately regretted this decision, but had to power through. It was nearly 11 pm, and it was time for the final push. We had nearly 300 miles to go.

Corelyn took the wheel, and we had to be strategic about the music we chose. R&B? Pop? Hip-hop? The book on tape was out, obviously. We settled on a mix by Ana, until we got to “Seasons of Love” from Rent, and Corelyn struck gold. “Let’s listen to the entire Rent soundtrack.” Done. This kept us singing for hours, alert and aware of the deer on the interstate and the flat, plain landscape.

We rolled into San Antonio, TX, at 4:00 a.m. As we opened the doors we realized how humid it was, and we parked the car and headed into the hotel. “Oh, you finally made it,” Bryan, the hotel attendant, said. He had clearly been waiting for us. We headed upstairs, and passed out by 4:20.

Just another day on the road.