It is starting to cool a bit in Austin (only 95 degrees today), so I decided to go for a short hike. Steck Valley Greenbelt consists of a walk downhill to a small creek bed. You will find some mossy spots, some rocky bits, and areas of the trail out in the sunshine. At the bottom of the trail it spits you out into an office park located along the 360 Highway. From there, it is a short climb back to the trailhead. Just the right length for a quick evening jaunt.
I saw four great bands today at the International Music Festival put on by the Texas Music Museum.
I was surprised to discover that the two gentlemen playing the sitar and tabla were my favorite music of the afternoon. You can find them on the Internet and YouTube if you are interested in hearing their music.
The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center was my destination today for the Fifth Annual International Music Festival. Here are some photos to give you an idea of what the Museum looks like from the outside.
I did some walking on the East side of Austin this afternoon, and this church caught my attention. It is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Downtown Hutto is a rather lonely place at night. One restaurant and bar operation stays open until midnight on Friday nights. The rest of the city is left to the Hippos – the local mascot.
The City of Hutto has a historic Cotton Gin. The city is located along Highway 79, just East of Round Rock and right along the railroad tracks. Beginning back in the late 1930s, farmers would come to Hutto and deliver their cotton crops. Today, on this overcast and cloudy evening, the biggest silo was a backdrop for the Sunset Music Series and a great band called Lost & Nameless. What a great idea!
The skies were blue and white this evening as was the Flag of Greece flying over the Plaka Greek Cafe. This restaurant is one of my favorites for Greek food north of Austin. Today’s dinner was the #10 – Pot Roast Plate. Yummy. Come and check it out if you find yourself in Georgetown sometime.
When you get stuck in traffic on I-35, just pull over to the local Dairy Queen. Walk into the store with the setting sun at your back, throw down some cash, and order a small Oreo Blizzard. Soon, things will be right in the world, and you can plan a scenic, alternate route home that gets you off of the dreaded Interstate Highway.
This place is relatively small, but full of wonder. My favorite creatures today were the two free range turtles. One was “running” laps around the gift shop and the other one was having his way with the kids birthday area. They were both pretty large and not at all shy when it came to bumping you out of their way if you were caught in their path. The San Antonio Aquarium also had a Mermaid, Dinosaurs, Lorikeets, Seahorses, Manta Rays, a Pacific Octopus, Jellyfish, and plenty of other cool stuff. It is a great place to spend an afternoon.
My real reason for visiting San Antonio was to see Shakespeare in the Park. Tonight’s performance was “The Winter’s Tale”. There were kings, queens, lovers, dancers, and even a bear. The story is a good one, so go see the play if you ever have the chance. The Arneson River Theater is magical in itself – with people walking by on the Riverwalk and realizing they are suddenly on the front row of a play, boats full of tourists snapping selfies as they cruise by, ducks floating by and taking no notice to the proceedings, and the lovely outdoor theater. Too much fun!
earthrobert 