Texas Capitol, Austin, TX – 9/24/2016

September 24, 2016 (Saturday)

We both slept well in the ultra soft and comfortable bed and bedding, but we finally pulled ourselves out of bed to go downstairs to the breakfast buffet. The buffet was a really good one with bagels, toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles, eggs, yogurt, cereal, and lots of other things. Really good.

The drive today was a little over 100 miles to Austin, Texas. We got another Priceline hotel deal in Austin, an Extended Stay,  which was $65.65 a night (we got two nights). The weather was the usual Texas weather we’ve been experiencing – blue skies, rain, grey clouds, rain, HOT, weird. There were almost no interstates but the roads were good.

Huge Tesxas A&M flag. A&M stands for Agricultural and Mechanical.
Huge Texas A&M flag. A&M stands for Agricultural and Mechanical.
On the drive, Edie thought this bridge beautiful.
On the drive, Edie thought this bridge beautiful.
Austin skyline.
Austin skyline.

We got into Austin around noon and headed straight to the Capitol. The Capitol (like a lot that we’ve seen lately) is being worked on. They have a garage about two blocks from the Capitol that we parked in and walked up the slight hill. The whole Capitol complex is secure so you have to park outside the perimeter.

Approaching the capitol.
Approaching the Capitol.
Like so many airports, all the capitols seem to be under construction/renovation.
Like so many airports, all the Capitols seem to be under construction/renovation.
A car happened to be leaving. The posts sink into the ground.
A car happened to be leaving. The posts sink into the ground.
Then the posts come back up.
Then the posts come back up.

We walked around the grounds and enjoyed the statues and plaques. We then walked up the stairs and around to get into the Capitol building and go through security.

Confederate memorial.
Confederate memorial.
North side of the Great Walk.
North side of the Great Walk.
To the confederate soldiers that died in the war of northern aggression.
To the Confederate soldiers that died in the war of Northern aggression.
Canon and statues on the Great Walk.
Cannon and statues on the Great Walk.
Depicting the Alamo.
Depicting the Alamo.
I think this is the roof of the courthouse.
I think this is the roof of the courthouse.
The windows are all covered with these wooden blinds.
The windows are all covered with these wooden blinds.
Lone star knobs. I like the flap over the key hole.
Lone star knobs. I like the flap over the key hole.
Special order brass.
Special order brass.

There were lots and lots of people visiting the Texas Capitol. Not sure if it’s because it’s Texas, or because it’s a Saturday, but every other Capitol we’ve visited did not have many people. The interior was lovely but not what we were expecting. We’ve heard for years that “everything’s bigger in Texas; everything’s better in Texas” (except waterfalls). We expected the Capitol to be both bigger and better. We were both underwhelmed. It’s lovely, don’t get me wrong, but nothing spectacular (like the Nebraska State Capitol); or artistic (like the Arkansas State Capitol).

"Looks like a basket from the island of Corinth." It is Corinthian.
“Looks like a basket from the island of Corinth.” It is Corinthian.
A odd looking drinking fountain.
An odd looking drinking fountain.
Steven Austin.
Steven Austin.
Sam Houston.
Sam Houston.

We waited around for a tour but the tour leader was very hard to understand, and with all the people, her speaking softly and with a heavy accent, we decided to wait for the next tour. (The tours run about every thirty minutes.) The next tour started and the tour leader was even harder to understand than the first one – so we just headed off on our own with a little map we had.

We started on the top floor and worked our way down. Like I said before, we were both underwhelmed. That’s why I don’t like to have any expectations going into something.

The second tour guide, had a heavier accent than the first. Spoke louder and it seemed to echo even more.
The second tour guid had a heavier accent than the first. Spoke louder and it seemed to echo even more.
Gubernatorial portrait.
Gubernatorial portrait.
Ann Richard's portrait.
Ann Richard’s portrait.
Pantheon style dome with the lone star in the center.
Pantheon style dome with the lone star in the center.
Surrender of Santa Anna.
Surrender of Santa Anna.
Door hinge with security screws.
Door hinge with security screws.
Lone star in the chairs.
Lone star in the chairs.
The six smaller circles are the 6 flags that have flown over Texas.
The six smaller circles are the seals of the countries of the six flags that have flown over Texas.
Looking down from the top level.
Looking down from the top level.
And up from the top level.
And up from the top level.
Edie especially like the banisters and balustrades.
Edie especially liked the banisters and balustrades.

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The house was closed and the senate open.
The House was closed and the Senate open.
Recently restored ceiling.
Recently restored ceiling.
Walnut wood for the senate, oak for the house.
Walnut wood for the Senate, oak for the House.
No electronic voting board on display. All portraits.
No electronic voting board on display. All portraits.
I tried to listen to her again and could only make out a word here and there. Clearly English as a second language folks are used.
I tried to listen to her again and could only make out a word here and there. Clearly English as a second language folks are used.
Beautiful door deadbolt strike plate.
Beautiful door deadbolt strike plate.
Beautiful door hinges.
Beautiful door hinges.

We left and went outside and walked around the other side of the Capitol building and then down to the car.

The Capitol complex is fairly large.
The Capitol complex is fairly large.
I really like the wooden shades in the windows.
I really like the wooden shades in the windows.
Our selfie.
Our selfie.
Walking around the outside.
Walking around the outside.
Fallen Peace Officer Memorial.
Fallen Peace Officer Memorial.
Viet Nam Memorial.
Viet Nam Memorial.
The only restroom I could find.
The only restroom I could find.
Handsome lines on the outside of the Capitol.
Handsome lines on the outside of the Capitol.  I am disappointed.  No grand words on any walls, no inspiration in any murals, all paintings and a few statues.  Too egocentric for me.

We left and headed to our “home” for the next two nights. We put in the address in our phone GPS and headed out. Got to see some pretty country around Austin, the river and lots of greenery. Only problem was it took us to the wrong address. Roads in Texas are weird I tell you. We called Extended Stay and the hotel clerk gave us a physical address nearby that she said should work to get us there. We plugged it in and discovered it was about 15 miles from us. Ugggg but another adventure! We got to see the river and all the greenery all over again on the way back.

Flows through town.
Flows through town.
Lots of folks in the water, a lovely green area.
Lots of folks in the water, a lovely green area.

We found our “home” (finally) and it is fun. It has it’s own kitchen, little living area, little dining area, and a bedroom. After we rested for a little bit, we headed out to another Cheesecake Factory (they have two in Austin), which was about five miles away. It was not busy and we got seated right away. Michael ordered a BBQ chicken salad, and I got some garlic noodles. Both were delicious. We ordered a snickers cheesecake slice to go.

I guess a dining area to the right.
I guess a dining area to the right.
Okay bathroom.
Okay bathroom.
Tiny kitchen. You have to order utensils, dishes and pots from the front desk at an extra charge.
Tiny kitchen. You have to order utensils, dishes and pots from the front desk at an extra charge.
Little living room area.
Little living room area.
Okay bed.
Okay bed.
Are our faces getting fatter?
Are our faces getting fatter?
My salad, it was delicious.
My salad – it was delicious.
We split a side of mashed potatoes. Looked up the recipe, there is horseradish and Gouda cheese in here.
We split a side of mashed potatoes. Looked up the recipe, there is horseradish and Gouda cheese in here.
Edie had garlic noodles.
Edie had garlic noodles.

After the Cheesecake Factory we headed down the street a little bit to the Costco. Michael was needing to get new t-shirts and socks. He picked up another shirt as we left his really good one at niece Natalie’s home. We scored some gas at $1.76 a gallon at Costco while we were there!

Glad we filled up here.
Glad we filled up here.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!