East Texas Ramble

Texas was not what I imagined. In my head, it is a hot desert with tumbleweeds rolling through empty fields. Like Kansas, but even hotter.

So it was surprising to see so much greenery even in December. Even more surprising was to finally reach the coast and see swamps and sandy beaches. In retrospect, that is what I should have expected with Oklahoma in the north and Louisiana in the east. The landscape normally does not respect state boundaries and shifts gradually.

Camping on the beach in our trailer was unique. It is amazing that you can find plenty of RV parks right at the beach with full service. And even drive your car into the ocean, if you like. But we only stayed there for two nights since the coast was exceptionally humid, even in December. We can not tolerate this level of humidity for too long.

So far the two big cities we have visited in Texas are Dallas and Houston. Dallas was very lively with plenty of young people, awesome bars and restaurants and points of interest worthy of a visit. The Sixth Floor Museum, detailing the life and death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, might not teach you much, but it sure is a great and authentic detective story.

However, I do not see myself living in these cities for long because of an almost unavoidable requirement to own and constantly drive a car everywhere. These cities are sparse and definitely not designed around pedestrians. But they have an interesting highway system that makes you drive off a ramp, take care of your business and get back on the highway as quickly as possible. Dallas had no noticeable traffic problems, but I am sure it is just a matter of time and growth until they hit the limits of the system.

Other than that, Christmas is right around the corner and we are getting ready for a memorable celebration. But that is a topic for next time.