From One Capital To Another

The Lone Star outside the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum 

So I suddenly realised the other day that I completely failed to complete my Texan adventure. Well...

Our final destination was the great capital of the Lone Star State; Austin. We just happened to stumble on through during one of the largest musical festivals in the world, South By South West - much to the great annoyance of my boyfriend Nick, an events manager and festival know-all! While we didn't go to any concerts, we did discover the Leftover Cuties busking, who were amazing, and we also ate in the restaurant next to wear Ed Sheeran was playing! Claim. To. Fame.

One of the houses in Bremond Block;
one of the more historic districts!

The city is stunning, completely unlike any other city I've been to in America. We didn't see any of the large shops and chains that overwhelm most cities and instead the streets were lined with quirky bars, restaurants and even a pub or two. Obviously the swarms of young people who were attending the festival gave the city a very hip and happening feel, but even wandering into the quieter areas where colonial mansions overlook you the city seemed different.

One thing that the city is famous for is its collection of bats: the largest in North America. Congress Avenue Bridge, the main bridge in the south of the city, was built specifically to house bats in an attempt to raise the population for a number of reasons, one of which being to kill mosquitoes. And so at dusk, Emily and I made our way down to the banks of the river to see them all wake up. Oh my gosh what a sight. I have never seen so many bats; it was like a swarm of bees just filling the air and they just kept coming and coming. It seemed endless!

Posing outside the Capitol Building

We also got our bit of history and culture in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and a tour around the magnificent Capitol Building.

When Saturday afternoon arrived, Jane once again met us in her trusty truck and we made our way back to Fort Hood before the next morning's early flight. Looking back on it now I can't believe how quickly the time went. It was such a fabulous week thanks largely of course to our brilliant and gorgeous host Jane! Thank you again! Texas is unlike any state I've been to, largely because of the amazing and individual history that it has (summed up brilliantly by Emily in her blog so that I don't have to!)

But as the title suggests my latest escapade was to another Capital...