Roadtrippin' Texas

harriettatham — Mon, 25 May 2015 18:34:00 GMT

Texas is a land of juxtapositions. Of fresh bright Mexican foods, and fried fried fried Southern food. Of $500 leather cowboy boots and novelty sombreros. Of cheap fuel and cars as big as caravans. I found it difficult to really grasp the cultural existence of Texans. Perhaps it’s silly of me to think of culture as something tangible. If there is one conclusion I can draw from traversing the Deep South, it’s that bigger is better in Texas.

My holiday started in San Antonio. My Airbnb “just a step from downtown” was actually based in the ‘burbs a 45 fast walk from anything considered central. After searching desperately for something that could closely imitate a fresh vegetable, I found myself more than an hour from home. Physically disgruntled I was approached by an employee finishing work and offered a drive some. Southern hospitality I thought, convincing myself the offer was nothing but sincere. And indeed it was.

A day trip included visiting Bandera, the cowboy capital of the world. This was perhaps the highlight of my Southern jaunt. If you want authentic cowboy boots and authentic southern views this is for you. I had a lively conversation with a woman in a milk bar who couldn’t imagine life without guns. After a lengthy chat we learnt that we were never going to share views, and instead shared a coke float.

Next stop was Austin, and indeed is it weird. Phenomenal food trucks, suburban streets wider than highways, groovy art galleries, and hipster vintage stores. The people of Austin were just as weird and wonderful. This is a city I could spend more time in.

My final destination was Houston, and no we did not have a problem. Our chic apartment overlooked the city and its abundance of churches. Like good tourists we attended NASA and were genuinely impressed. I learnt more about space than I did in the whole of high school. For example, did you know that man who invented Super Soaker squirt gun was in fact a NASA Scientist, who also helped in developing the Galileo mission to Jupiter. Fun! Houston also served up a winner when it taught me the honky tonk dance. I tapped and spun and kicked and tilted for hours, and giggled for days.

So Texas really did shape up in the end. If you want culture, science, enormous highways, even larger meals, and genuine southern hospitality, ya’ll should put Texas on your list.

Puerto Rico dreamin'

harriettatham — Mon, 25 May 2015 18:31:49 GMT

When you reach the doors of the trans-Atlantic plane, Puerto Rico greets you with a flush of warm, bright air. It's not the heat that makes the vein on your forehead appear - it's a comforting kind of heat - the kind of feeling you get from one too many champagnes, or a long hug. Perhaps the same feeling Puerto Rican people give you.

Located a 2.5 hour flight south of Miami, Puerto Rico seems a world away. Majority of flights land in San Juan, the capital. Brightly coloured terrace hours dance on cobbled streets. The warm air seems to bring a sense of ease out in both tourists and locals. With winter boasting temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius, it's difficult to feel anything but relaxed. The locals live on island time, so nothing happens with haste. Their understanding of basic principles of traffic are limited to say the least. Road markings appear to be more for decoration rather than to create any form of social order. However frustrating it may appear, it's all done with a smile and a wave.

Roughly 200kms southwest of San Juan lies Mayagüez. With a car, this city is a perfect base for exploring surrounding beaches and forests. One such location is Rincon. This area of the west coast has beaches which boast waves sought by surfers from all corners of the world. Remember that pencil you used to draw the ocean in kindergarten that was so aqua and so fluorescent it hurt your eyes? Much to my delight, that colour is a reality!

Partying and Puerto Rico are basically synonyms. Rum is considered the national drink, which makes sense because it’s available in almost any shade. As the world’s leading rum producer, they’ve really got it right. Highlights include Coquito, a festive drink made of rum, coconut milk, sweet condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Now if by some cruel twist of fate the deliciousness of Coquito gets the better of you, there is no place you will be better cared for. Puerto Ricans take you into their homes, into their kitchens, and into their hearts. Doused in never-ending sunlight, let Puerto Rico be your next holiday. You will leave this island with glowing skin, a deep breath, and more friends than you can count on your fingers and toes. Much like the people that live there, the island will take hold of you and never let you go.

Exploring the Carribean

Roadtrippin' Texas

Puerto Rico dreamin'