Keep Austin weird

They mean it when they said it! We certainly find it weird that Austin guys are dressed in shorts and t-shirts while the girls in mini skirts and short dresses when the temperature outside is below 10C! We, in our winter jackets, are finding it cold to walk out too long and here are the Austin-ians all dressed up like it's any summer day!

We skipped Houston and came to Austin after several individuals recommended us to do so (we still think Houston is worth visiting some day..) Austin is not a huge city but it plays a significant role as the capital of Texas state. Lonely Planet recommended us to check out the State Capitol Building as well as the Colorado River that flows through Austin. We did both and despite the gloomy day, they were worth visiting. There's also the famous 6th Street and Congress Avenue with the happening pubs and bars, as well as restaurants at night, which play live music. We went pub-hopping on our first night of arrival and were amazed at how the street came alive after 10pm. The music was awesome in every pub we went to - some had real distinctive sound and original scores. We also checked Coyote Ugly Saloon to see if it's similar to the movie Coyote Ugly - well, it's similar as the coyotes were hot but the movie was much cooler in my opinion :)

Another must-see is the University of Texas, a historical landmark, is a huge campus with a tall clock tower. We didn't arrive early enough to see it in broad daylight but the short walk around the area in the evening was calm and serene. Reminds me of my good ol' campus days :)

The boys also bought new hats at Hatbox and we learned a lot about cowboy hats! I, for one, didn't know that every city in Texas has its own signature design of cowboy hats! :)

After 2 nights in Austin, we decided to head to San Antonio to check out the Spanish missions. It was a rainy day and we went to the San Jose Mission as it's the largest (known as the Queen of Missions) among the four. It's a huge compound with the church as the centre piece. Smaller areas are compartmentalised as quarters for storage and living.

After a 'wet' walk, we headed back to the city for coffee and indoor warmth. We decided it best to keep driving and to head to San Angelo (about 4 hours drive) for overnight stay. Our aim is to reach Albuquerque by Tuesday (13 Dec) or Wednesday (14 Dec), depending on how well we survive the long drive.