Gruene Day Trip

Gruene, TX is listed as a worthwhile stop outside of Austin.  We spent the latter half of the day there, exploring the historic section.  As mentioned yesterday, Gruene is pronounced "green" and was founded by German farmers in the 1840s.  It's mainstay is the oldest running dance hall (and former saloon) in the state, called Gruene Hall.

We ate dinner at The Gristmill (the entrance is shown below - it was in an actual old mill - no air conditioning, just ceiling fans and open windows!) No photos of my dinner, but it was a plain baked potato and garden salad without cheese.

From inside the mill, we saw a little bit of the Guadalupe River, and we hiked down afterwards to get a better view.

I'll leave you with a few more images from around the historic part of town.

(inside the store - next two images)

Tomorrow: San Antonio

Austin Recap (Part Two)

As mentioned yesterday, we went to a couple of places where I didn't eat with everyone - so I'd enjoy a rootbeer, and pick up something at Whole Foods.

However, we did make it to Kerby Lane - a super veg friendly restaurant.  I had the Hippie Burger (homemade veggie burger - so good!) and fries.

Back to the tour: we walked down Congress Avenue (from the Capitol Building) and down East 6th Street.  I downloaded a walking tour, and read about each building as we went.

The Driskill Hotel

A few shots from East 6th:

I had requested to see Town Lake (also known as Lady Bird Lake), so we found parking and did a two mile walk along the trials.  Hot, humid, but absolutely gorgeous. I'd go back to Austin just to see it again.

(View from the bridge: people were paddle-boarding, kayaking, boating. . .)

(Below: further down our walk, a view of the city)

The adjacent park was setting up for Blues on the Green, and we would have stayed (we walked around and looked at the vendors - I bought a pressed watermelon water) but already committed ourselves to dance lessons at the Broken Spoke.  I now know how to Two-Step - just need to find me a cute cowboy in Colorado, and I can practice all the time.  ;)

Tomorrow:  day trip to Gruene (pronounced "green", founded by Germans).

Austin Recap (Part One)

Hello! I am still sifting through photos, and working out how to piece them together coherently, but I figured I'd get started now.  I feel like I took a lot of pictures, but I didn't document everything we did so there might be a few links to places here and there.  Also, these posts will be location-heavy and food-light. Plan on checking in most days this week, as I will be pumping out all five posts (I know, five!) within a reasonable time frame.

Coming into this trip, I wanted to know more about the history of Texas.  We visited the Bullock (no, not Sandra) Texas State History History Museum, which didn't allow photographs.  I would definitely recommend it. Additionally we toured the Capitol building.  Since everything is bigger in Texas, the building followed suit - it's the biggest Capitol in the nation.

(All door hinges - like that above, and doorknobs were ornate.)

There were several trips to Whole Foods (including the original shown below - it's in a bigger location now, but it's still considered the first store), as I was vacationing with carnivores.  I would let them go to their BBQ joints, as long as I could pick up a meal from WF.  Of interest: they had a policeman directing traffic for parking, and everyone inside was either a hipster or wearing yoga pants.  Nice to know it's the same everywhere. Ha!

Summer Kale Salad from Whole Foods:

Breakfast while at the hotel or when we visited my aunt and uncle in central Texas (that will come in a later post), consisted usually of fruit and toast with jam or pb or both.  And coffee.

Tomorrow: Austin Recap (Part Two). 

Berries, Brunch & Brainstorm

Well, it happened again.  Another delicious "waffles with berries and syrup" breakfast.

I met a couple friends for a late brunch (11:30am), and knew that the menu would be slim pickings for me.  So, I started with an espresso. . .

And then a Kir Royale. . .

Lastly, the Simple Salad.

Grapes and cherries in the afternoon (a.k.a. cleaning out the fridge).

Dinner:

There was a bit of a pow-wow (via phone) concerning all travelers and their preferred destinations while in Texas, and it sounds like we'll be all over the place.  Sadly for me, no time for a drive to the ocean.  I'm sure there will plenty of other adventures to keep me distracted, and you'll hear all about next week!  Be well, my friends, and I'll see you soon!

Relaxed Saturday

The last two days have been pretty busy, with just a quick break here and there - and I think the weight of the end of the school didn't hit me until today.  I am so tired! I've been lazy today, and don't feel a bit guilty about it. ;)

Are you tired of seeing berries on my page? Too bad.

At least they're on top of thin homemade waffles (and a little maple syrup on there, too).

From the Whole Foods Hot Bar: Tofu with Peanut Sauce and Rice with Vegetables.

I had high hopes. Alas, the tofu (and sauce) were pretty bland.

One hour massage. Ahhhhh.

Spinach, red onion, dried cranberries, walnuts (later topped with Whole Foods Brand Raspberry Vinaigrette).

 

I recently purchased two Groupons for fitness classes to use once I'm back from Texas: one to the same dance studio where I took an Afro-Caribbean Zumba class last summer (10 classes for $37), and one to a new studio where they do yoga and spinning (10 classes for $29).  I've also looked at my gym's schedule and found a class I'd like to try. I'm looking forward to them all!

See you tomorrow!

First Day of Break

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Long walk with a friend and her one year old, stopped for unsweetened iced tea.

Nibbled on throughout the afternoon while cleaning the house:

After all that cleaning (and I'm still not done! We're talking curtains washed, dusting under the bed and around door frames, et al - the stuff that gets done the least), I didn't want to cook.  Thus, Chipotle:

To prove it's not just guac, lettuce and rice:

I ate about half, and am reserving the rest for tomorrow's lunch.  I hope your Thursday has been pleasant!  See you soon!

Good Eats All Around

I've snapped pictures of a few meals over the last three days, and they have been quite tasty!

Fruit bowl, sunflower whole wheat with pb

Kung Pao Tofu with brown rice from Little Ollie's (ate lunch there, this is my leftovers - also good).  

Quinoa cooked in vegetable broth, corn, and pico de gallo (from the prepared section at Whole Foods). After this picture, I garnished with green onion.

Sweet and Spicy Cucumbers, Tofurky Dog 

 

Sunflower toast with pb and banana.

There has also been plenty of cherries enjoyed.  

Tomorrow is my last day of work before summer break. WOO HOO!