I'm getting spoiled with vacations recently. There was the Colorado trip week before last, this past weekend in Austin with Julie, in two weeks I go to Colorado yet again for another friend's wedding... I'm thinking of taking up vacationing professionally.

Julie has already written a wonderful chronology of our trip to Austin, so I will let you read that to see what we did when, and instead write some of my impressions here:

• From my limited knowledge of Texas, I'd have to say that Austin is by far the most beautiful place in the state. I was amazed at how green it is there, especially near the river but everywhere else as well. It has great variety in its landscape across the city, from flat grassland to lush riverside to rocky hills. Something for everyone. And even though it is obviously very different, I couldn't help being reminded of Boulder. Perhaps it's the laid-back college-town atmosphere, but it felt very familiar to me.
• Mount Bonnell gives a fantastic view of the city. It's no Flatirons of course, but beautiful nonetheless. And definitely easier to climb. A very romantic spot.
• Sitting on the rooftop patio of a restaurant eating spicy Mexican food in the heat with misters four feet above your head is the perfect balance of temperature. I think misters should be required by law.
• The Zilker Theatre has an amazing cast. I was impressed by the quality of their production of Into The Woods, even though we left at intermission. I've always felt that the first half of Into The Woods could, and perhaps should, be an entire show in itself, but maybe that's just my desire for happy endings talking.
• I am amazingly horrible at drinking Mike's Hard Lemonade quickly. Julie, though, is frighteningly good at it.
• The Capitol Building is an absolutely amazing structure. Like any other piece of fine art, there isn't a single inch of the building that hasn't received detailed attention. Everything there is symbolic of something, yet functional as well. And for some reason I find it extremely relaxing to sit on a wooden bench in one of its echoing hallways and watch and listen to the tourists. It somehow feels very private even though there are hundreds of people wandering through the building. I could sit there for hours.
• Outside the capitol building is just as beautiful as inside. I could have stayed there forever, lounging on the grassy hill looking up through the trees at the blue sky.
• Note to self: next time get a small Butterfinger Blizzard.
• The Mother's chicken and dumplings definitely lives up to, if not exceeds, the hype Julie has given it. Thank heaven for leftovers!
• There's nothing quite like the sparkle in a person's eye as she shows you where she came from. I feel honored to have had that opportunity.