Shortbread biscuits dipped in Brocolli and Cheese Soup.

Yum 😜

That’s what I am having at the United Lounge waiting to board the plane to Bayport – to visit the relies.

Well technically Minneapolis.

It’s no Koru Lounge but it’s pretty nice all the same. Not the selection we are used too but definitely better on the waist line cause I can’t over eat. 

Although I am doing my very best. 

Today was our last day in Houston

The day started with the comment from MoD (consequently waking me up) ‘It’s only 27 degrees!’ 

Said the man who doesn’t love this weather like I do. 

Yay! Said my last-minute-packed ‘only dress that fits in with 37 degree days’. 

That dress gets the day off today. 

Our last day, best we get up and make the most of Houston. 

It was 10.40.am.

Jet lag has definitely got us. 

I don’t remember the last time I’ve slept past my usual sleep in time of 8am. 

I was up until 2. MoD from 3-5.

Oh well, no amount of jet lag will ever deter me from the pleasure and absolute privilege of travelling.

So, it was a rather short last day in Houston.

We wandered down the street with the intention of visiting our new favourite coffee shop from yesterday.

Got distracted by a hotel that used to be the city’s phone exchange. 

The distraction really was the Starbucks sign and my need for coffee.

A good distraction, having a wander around, looking at the old phones and the switchboard.

My nans green dial phone was sitting in the lobby. 

Once we were amply caffeinated, we decided we would hire a bike and cruise along the Buffalo Bayou.

The Buffalo Bayou is a body of water that flows through Houston and was formed some 18,000 years ago, flowing for about 85km. Goes east through the Houston Ship Channel into Galveston Bay and then into the Gulf of Mexico. As an urban waterway it is pretty vulnerable to low water quality, which was pretty apparent to us. Filthy. Mind you, we are used to the pristine blue of the rivers and waterways in NZ. Surrounding the Bayou in Houston are a number of parks and recreational areas. A great place to bike, blade or just take a brisk walk. 

We saw a lot of BCycle Stations, where you can hire a bike or an ebike. Tried the first one, didn’t like the colour of our cards.

Tried the second one, didn’t like the shape of our cards.

Tried the third one, didn’t like the cursing coming from our mouths. Ok. My mouth. MoD is far more civilised than I.

Houston.

We have a problem.

(Did you like that Jan? 🤣). 

A walk along the Bayou it was. 

Fortunately along the river was slightly cooler than in the city. As you know, I do love the heat, but the humidity seemed quite high today.

There was an unseeming layer of sweat upon my brow.

So uncivilised.

As for the hair?

Michelle (from the Rat)……the Fro was a Go!

After our walk, there was only time to eat so we headed to a little place we had seen on our travels.

SweetGreens.

Thought we better be healthy given our other meal for the day would be airport food. Although my soon to be best sister-in-law in the world had promised a meal at midnight if we needed it. Too amazing!

Anyways, SweetGreens follows the whole subway theme but in a much nicer way.

Firstly, there weren’t flies hovering around the open food containers, like every Subway I seem to visit in Aus or NZ. Sorry Subway but true story.

Secondly the food was just very healthy, very wholesome and very yummy. Not saying Subway isn’t, but…..

That’s my daily 2 cups of greens covered right there in the that bowl….

After that?

Pick up the bags and head to the airport.

In the bus.

Seriously, if you want to travel and really get a feel for a location, public transport, walking or riding is the best way to sample a place properly. 

Bus took us straight through to where we wanted to go.

$1.25 each. If you please. Yes I keep going on about that.  

Terminal C Domestic is awesome!

Lots of people, lots of shops.

And we got into the United Lounge.

Can’t beat that.

Before we leave, here are a few facts I found interesting:

⭐️29 of the Fortune 500 are Houston Companies with 16 of them being the fastest growing

⭐️The Texas Medical Centre is the largest in the world with 5 million patients and 50,000 employees. 

⭐️There are 60 universities and colleges

⭐️Forbes ranks it as the best city for Colleges

⭐️The Theatre District covers 18 blocks

⭐️The Texas flag is the only flag in the USA that is allowed to fly at the same level as the USA flag (that’s why they call Texas the Lone Star State)

⭐️Recycling clearly not a thing here – haven’t seen one recycling bin on the streets or in any shops except SweetGreens. And maybe the airport just now.

⭐️They don’t value their heads. No helmets on bikes or motor bikes. Maybe they should check out the exhibition we saw yesterday…..

⭐️Everywhere you go, people are hiring

⭐️There aren’t any big department stores or shops in the city, this photo shows a building I would have thought started as a department store. Bringing people into the city. I guess the Malls have taken out the shopping in central cities these days? Same everywhere I guess.

⭐️And lastly, I don’t have to touch traffic lights. They just change. Like magic. Good for MoD. He finds it ummmm funny, no, interesting, ok maybe just embarrassing that I hit the traffic light with my foot. Obviously not when I have a dress on peeps. That would be just gross. But using your foot makes you stretch AND balance. Method in my madness. Use it or loose it.

Anyway. 

That’s all today. Except for a few more photos of the city.

Look out Bayport.

Here we come.