Those who read my blog back in 2015 already know that I have no passion for the US of A. I generally spend my travel money in tropical countries and preferably in Asia. As we found out, friendship is a catalyst that can divert a plane 180 degrees and make you cross the Atlantic rather than the Indian ocean! Friends who I wish would have joined us on one paradise beach invited us to discover Texan life for a fortnight. Off we go for The Lone Star State, home of a famous 80’s show, a Ranger whose civilian name is Chuck and a lovely family we haven’t seen for a long while! I’ll pass on the late plane departure, long immigration queues and night driving adventures to avoid toll ridden expressways, let’s jump to the first impressions!
You arrive knowing the USA means BIG but you are still caught off guard when overtaken by a car the size of a small train! They have the space to drive these though as, like in the movies, they roam on convoluted lanes, wider than a soccer field!
Immoderation does not stop there. Food aisle in common supermarkets make you believe that you can make a meal for 4 out of a cheese ball jar!
And that food colouring may actually be good for your health… except perhaps for your eyes
mind you, traveling there around St Patrick’s day would probably explain the crazy alien green colouring!
Having quickly visited NY city in 2015, I imagined Dallas as a gigantic concrete conurbation where tarmac and high-rise buildings would be our only horizon. Gigantic it is but they did leave a lot of green space to enjoy Texan nature in a mild (or even hot) March weather. No tall building where we were staying in Plano (north) but rather nice houses surrounded by parks and walking paths.
We visited the The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden where tulips were already in full boom and came across locals who enjoyed the green lawns as we do in London in June or July (if lucky!)
Time to close this post and to start writing about one of my favourite subject… Craft beer!