ROAD TRIP DAY 7 – Howdy, Pardner

The drive through Louisiana to Texas was very scenic. We passed through swamps, marshlands, rolling hills, and green pastures. We wished that we could have stopped and taken a swamp tour to see the wildlife and environment, but unfortunately, time was not an ally on this trip. At the very least, we were able to appreciate the sights since there was plenty of daylight left.

As dusk approached, we entered Dallas, where Andrea lived. Having recently moved to Texas from the Bay to practice dentistry with some of her fellow colleagues, she was putting us up for the night. Andrea is one of Jojo’s oldest friends from grade school. While Jojo and Drea went to different high schools and colleges, they remained close throughout the years. In recent times, Jojo and Drea, both foodies, would go on random eating excursions in the Bay whenever their busy schedules permitted. Therefore, it was only fitting that we have another one in Andrea’s new hood.

Once we pulled into Drea’s place in the McKinney neighborhood in Dallas, we quickly unloaded and freshened up a bit before dinner. It was very nice night in Dallas at a pleasant 79º so we were all in good spirits. Since we were in Texas, the land of ranches and cowboys, we decided to go to a steakhouse in the area. Andrea took us to a churrascaria called Fogo de Chao. There, we dined on all types of steak such as filet mingon, ribeye, skirt steak, bacon wrapped prime rib and more. If you have ever been to Espetus in San Francisco, this was the same type of fine dining establishment with the exception that the meat is bought directly from surrounding ranches. The service was impeccable and the food was even better.

Beef. It's what's for dinner.

Fellow foodies.

After dinner, we headed back to Drea’s spot to drop Jojo and Tiff off. They were going to relax and unwind while Jay-R, Drea and I were heading off to one of the local watering holes. As we walked through the neighborhood, it greatly reminded me of Santana Row in San Jose. The streets were very clean, with small boutique stores, yogurt and coffee shops, restaurants, and bars throughout. Tonight, we were heading over to Lemon Bar where some of Drea’s friends were hanging out. On a Thursday, the bar was not as packed, but was still pretty lively. The crowd was mainly in their mid to late 20s and some in their 30s. My kind of scene. If I were a local, I’d probably be a regular. Anyhow, we had a couple drinks and took the short walk back to the pad. With the strenuous tour de Texas looming, it was time for bed.

Santana Row?

 

The local watering hole

Nightcap

 

The next morning, we all woke up bright and early to bid farewell to Andrea before she left for work. Again, let me reiterate our appreciation for friends such as Andrea who let us crash at their pads and take time out of their busy schedules for us. We are truly grateful. We hope that she adjusts well in her new home in Dallas and are fully confident that she will have an awesome career there or anywhere else she decides to go.

So, we were off. The first stop of the day was in Austin. There we tried some authentic Texas BBQ at Iron Works BBQ in downtown. It was called Iron Works because before it was turned into a BBQ joint, it was actually an iron shop. Now this spot, reminded of what a Texas BBQ should be. The shack was rundown, it was grimy, and looked like we were inside a barn. The only thing missing was the mechanical bull! The sweet aroma of smoke and sauce emanated from the kitchen which wafted outside and lured customers in. We ordered a couple slabs of ribs, beef brisket, and their specialty sausage. Unfortunately, we were so famished from our drive that we didn’t take any photos. But trust me, everything was delicious.

BBQ Joint

 Next, we were going to visit the State Capitol, which is the biggest one in the U.S. but ended skipping it because it was under renovation. Rather we went over to the University of Texas and snapped a couple shots of the stadium where the Longhorns play. Moving on with the Tour de Texas, we drove further south to San Antonio.

Once in San Antonio, we headed over to the Alamo to visit the historical site. The mission itself had been almost completely destroyed, but luckily, some parts preserved. Within the mission, we imagined the last stand that the Texan soldiers went through before their final defeat to the Mexican army. Inside, dioramas depicted the actual battle and the complete utter destruction of the heroes within the salvaged walls. After taking some photos we went back outside to get ready for the final leg of the day.

Remember the Alamo!

While Jojo and Jay-R went to do some errands, Tiff and I walked around the neighborhood to the Riverwalk. What we found thoroughly impressed us. In the middle of the city was a man made waterway off the main river that was lined with hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Basically, there was a sidewalk right next to the water which made it seem as if it were an amusement park in the middle of the city. You could say that it kinda like Venice, but with a Tex-Mex flavor to it. We wished that we could have taken the river tour, but since time was of the essence, we just snapped a few more pics and met up with Jojo and Jay-R back at the car. If we were ever going to be this way again, the Riverwalk would definitely be on the top of our agenda.

The Riverwalk

Well, after a full day and a half of driving, we were still in Texas. I guess everything is actually bigger here! Anyhow, leaving San Antonio, we drove for a couple more hours until we arrived in Pecos, near the border of Texas and New Mexico. So far we had visited many of the major cities in the U.S. and ate much of the regional food. Now, it was off to admire the natural wonders of the southwest before the final trek to the Bay. Texas was grand and all, but it still wasn’t home. We missed home, and mom’s cooking.