Wee-Haw! We're in Texas Now!

Yes, it's true. Even the grasshoppers are bigger in Texas. We won't even discuss water bugs or snakes or any other critters!

I began my day yesterday sitting out in front of the El Cosmico office, ear buds in place, carrying on a conference call via cell phone, and pecking away at the laptop. I'm sure a shot of me contrasted with the rangy, wild surroundings spotted with trailers would have been quite amusing.

Conference call completed, we darted off to the Chinati Foundation for a tour. Marfa as an art center was conceived by Donald Judd, who saw it as a space where he could (finally) exhibit large-scale installations as he thought they should be shown. The tour lasts a full day but we only did the morning segment. Here are some photos of his work (aluminum), an installation of an abandoned school by a Soviet artist, a Chamberlin welded piece, and the Marfa barge (which may also be by Judd or not; don't quite remember).

Absolutely worth the visit, and had we not been committed to a seven-hour drive to Austin, we'd have stayed for the afternoon tour as well. (Now, along with seeing the Marfa Lights, I have a reason to return.) I really got how Judd used space, how he positioned the works in a way that really allows you to see and experience them.

To give you a further idea of Marfa, one of its best restaurants, Food Shark, also operates a food truck that happened to be strategically placed about a block from where the morning tour ended. That's where we had lunch.

And then it was off to Austin. The scenery was compelling, as you can see from David's expression in the picture below.

Okay, it was not very interesting. But at least they let you go through quickly.

We decided to stop in Fredericksburg, LBJ country, for dinner. The town was settled by Germans and still has many biergartens and Alpine touches. We ate at Hondo's, basically a burger joint with a very nice garden and live entertainment.

The weather was cool enough to sit outside. Quite enjoyable. And we were noticing something new in the landscape -- trees! We were definitely moving out of the Southwest and into different terrain.

After dinner it was a little under 1.5 hours to Austin and our lovely Radisson overlooking the lake. We dumped our luggage and headed over to the Hotel San Jose. The place is owned by the same folks who run El Cosmico and we had considered staying there. But the room rate is over $250 per night so, instead, we decided to check out their bar for a drink.

If it weren't for the fact that you can actually get a table as soon as you arrive and that there's space between the tables, you'd think you were nestled into a courtyard in hipster NYC or LA. Young, attractive folks, steel and wood decor, misters going nonstop. Very pleasant, although it was also my first encounter with something I haven't experienced for a while -- humidity! (Gosh, and I haven't missed it at all!)

This morning is perhaps the second (maybe third) time this trip that I haven't had to get up and get out immediately. David and I are luxuriating by the hotel pool, sipping our Starbucks coffees and contemplating a walk around the lake. It's going to be hot, hot, hot today and I look forward to a hot time tonight!