These are elevators in one of the skyscrapers in downtown Houston. OBVIOUSLY they only go down. Duh! And because it’s an oil company building, the inside of the elevators are designed to smell like motor oil. A little bizarre and I don’t know why they do it.
I forgot to take a whiff of it, since I was holding my breath, avoiding covid, in the crowded elevator. ….a traveler can’t be too careful these days!
More of the tunnels and underground. One portion of the tunnel floods on a regular basis. You can see the huge water-proof doors the maintenance people close when heavy rain is immanent.
In fact a particular parking lot often floods. During one hurricane a woman working late was told to move her car out of the parking lot. Something happened and she had to come back inside, got in the elevator, it quit working and she drowned. That area is still flooding and they continue to fix it; but that low portion of the underground will be eliminated soon, just for safety sake.
Houston has a light rail systems, as do many large cities.
This bank building is over 120 years old. Part of the original marble floors are still in use and you can see the dips in the floor where thousands of people stood in line, and wore their footprints into the marble, in order to do their banking at the teller window.
Some of the artwork depicts the Mexican war and General Santa Anna and how the U.S. acquired a huge piece of land that is now Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It was on April 21, 1836, Sam Houston and some 800 Texans defeated Santa Anna’s Mexican force of approximately 1,500 men at the Battle of San Jacinto, shouting “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” as they attacked.
I’m throwing this in here because I found it in my phone. I allow my phone to always know where I am. It often provides some interesting insights as to why I am so tired on some days.
It WAS a busy day for Jane and me in Toronto We walked everywhere that day and totaled 8 miles when it was over!
I get dizzy just following the lines!!
We drove to a high school to meet a hedgehog, when we saw this. These are high school marching band members getting directions during practice for their next performance. IT WAS 95 DEGREES AT THIS POINT!! You can see each was carrying a gallon water jug with them. THAT’s dedication!
Here is one of the little hedgehogs I met. Anne said they could shoot their quills, so I was too chicken to hold it. (They can’t.) And they eat LIVE meal worms — and again I was too chicken to put those live worms in my hand and watch a hedgehog devour them, still squirming around. Creepier yet, hundreds of worms were being raised in the back of the room in 3 big buckets. The meal worm/beetles love potatoes. Beetles lay eggs on the potatoes, they become worms and then morph into beetles. But they only become beetles if someone doesn’t feed them to the hedgehogs beforehand!
The two hedgehogs have to be in separate cages because they fight. The are nocturnal and sleep all day. One hedgehog thinks their exercise wheel is her bathroom, so the wheel has to be washed about twice a day. I don’t see how they could be much of a pet. They are of the rat family and live in the outdoor hedges originally from England.
We were at the high school because Jeannine’s daughter is an instructor of high school science teachers. And the hedgehogs go to different schools of those teachers regularly.
This place was called RISE and served only soufflés. — mushroom, blue crab, smoked salmon, sun-dried tomato and pesto, escargot, chicken, corn & serrano, Cauliflower and brie — even dessert soufflés — raspberry, chocolate, grand Marnier, praline pecan, etc. For me, it was a one-and-done experience. It was fun to try it, but they all had the same wet, blah texture that didn’t stand up to the cost. I can’t see how they stay in business.
This place was was The Tea Kettle Café/Bakery. Very cute, as you can see. The two fairies were the owner’s children that the artist painted into the mural. Anne ordered apricot iced tea, which tasted like ice water. So she ordered it hot, which made her slightly ill. Needless to say the place’s cuteness far exceeded the good taste of the food.
I can’t see how they stay in business.
We found the old-fashioned telephone booth and the Royal Family. Who WOULDN’T want pictures with them!! The store was an English Grocery Store, with all the familiar English foods. I can’t see how they stay in business.
Google makes me animated shows, if I take enough pictures of the same thing.
I’m getting tired just watching them!
Dance party was a great success!!
The whole Zehnder family came over the night before I left for home. Dinner was Mexican; but the theme of the evening was Taylor’s birthday. — and yet, I got not one photo!! It shows the party was so fun, I forgot about my phone.
Anne made Taylor a pecan caramel ice cream cake from scratch!! And then added more caramel and nuts and whipped cream on top of it. It was to die for!! And a lot of work for Anne.
In the backseat on the way to the airport, I was really giving Elliot the business. It had been decided this hat was too little for him (the visor didn’t keep the sun off his face.) So I proceeded to insist it was now mine to keep. This kept him busy for awhile.
Elliot was quite pleased when I finally relinquished it. Isn’t he DARLING??!!
Apparently when I got out at the airport, he threw down a fit, insisting he come home with me to see Tim, the turtle. Tim was the star of a video I showed Elliot during the car ride in order to keep his attention. ….it wasn’t an INVITATION to come home with me to meet him!!!
This is Tim, our soft-shelled turtle who comes up from the lake many times a day to eat or just to stare at us. Apparently these turtles are quite smart, know their ‘owner’s’ voices and often just come to visit.
We usually feed him bread. But, boy!! did Tim get excited about the shrimp leftovers. And just the other day, I gave him a bowl of the juice, skin and spine bones that I take out of canned salmon. He was elated. However, note-to-self, put it closer to the lake because canned salmon stinks to high heaven for many days!!
I hope you enjoyed Houston.
I’m off to Bhutan and Nepal for 18 days. I gladly accept all prayers and good wishes for my safe and healthy trip.
Leave a comment if you’d life. I’m the only one who sees them.
Safe Travels!!
Linda Jeanne