March 22, 2012

AUSTIN

I changed hotels today, as my previous hotel was too far from the city center and required buses to get around.

Today I did the Historic Capital Walk sponsored by AVA and organized by the Colorado River Walkers.

The walk began and ended at the Homestead Studio Suites Hotel where I am staying tonight.

And I love my room, with full kitchen.

Here's a view of Downtown Austin taken from the Congress Avenue Bridge which crosses the Colorado River. The bridge is home from mid-March to November of the largest urban bat colony in North America.

Driscoll Hotel built in 1885.

Driscoll Hotel Lobby

Paramount (1915) and Stateside (1935) Theaters

St. Mary Cathedral

The Old General Land Office (1857) - now the Capitol Visitor's Center.

I took these photos of the Texas State Capitol Rotunda looking up from the center of the floor below, but somehow they look inverted.

Texas State Capitol taken from the rear garden area

The Bremond block is a designated National Register Historic District. It is one of the few remaining Victorian neighborhoods in Austin built between 1850 and 1898.

The new Austin City Hall

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The walk also includes parts of the University of Texas campus.

Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum

The library is one the few presidental libraries that is free to the public.

Lydon B. Johnson

School of Public Affairs

School of Nursing

My sister, Linda, did her graduate studies in nursing here.

Texas Memorial Stadium

The stadium is dedicated to soldiers of wars from World War I to the present.

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This evening I went to 6th Street for food and drink. This definately is a party town with club after club serving drinks on the patio and live music in many of them.  I had beers in two of the clubs before deciding I needed to eat something. Had a great hamburger and sweet potato fries at Lucy's and watched March Madness, Louisville vs. Michigan State. Great day. I like Austin.