Don't mess with Texas!

Sitting up on the observation deck of the 750-feet-high Tower of the Americas, enjoying a breathtaking view over San Antonio and its surroundings, seemed to be the good timing to post an entry about this week spent in Texas. And if I have to put it in one word, that would be "awesome'! From the bright lights of Houston, to the live-music venues in Austin, and the mariachi beat in San Antonio, Texas is as diverse and interesting as huge! The Lone Star State, proud of its history of bravery and independent spirit, of which the Alamo is the most obvious symbol, is no longer the wild west, but is still attractive and worth discovering. Friendly folks everywhere one goes, long history, rich culture, nice climate, great cuisine... Awesome destination! Austin, the capital, where quality of life reigns supreme, is a mystic mix of social consciousness and capitalist development, with an attractive university campus (home of the Longhorns) and an amazing live-music scene: indie rock, jazz-funk, alternative country, punk ska, acoustic rhythms, latin sambas, tejano trumpets, world beat... you name it! San Antonio is most famous for the Alamo, visited by more than 3 million tourists per year; crowds come for the history (and the myth), but end up partying along the tree-shaded Riverwalk. The lively Tex-Mex culture, however, is well worth the commercial crap developed around the Alamo, David Crockett and characters alike. Houston, where my journey started almost one week ago, and will finish in another week from today, is a sprawl of concrete and highways. But it is a multi-cultural hodgepodge too, where it is easy to find great ethnic restaurants or shop in arts-and-antiques neighborhoods. Tomorrow I will cross the Rio Grande and go to Mexico, and back to Monterrey and good friends. It will be a very different week, but equally pleasant for sure. The snow in Brussels can wait :)