Happy Birthday, Bob - Wed., December 24

This will be the last year that Bob is in his 50s. Next year we are planning an adventure trip to celebrate his 60th, but it won't be at Christmas time! We may wait until January or February. In other words, it's not written in stone yet.

For his birthday present from me, he received two tickets to the Dodgers vs. Texas Rangers exhibition game in March. He loves the L.A. Dodgers! Because Bob is crazy about the Dodgers, I had to spill the beans about his birthday present earlier than his birthday. He was online getting ready to buy tickets, so I had to tell him a few days early. At least I know I gave him something he really wanted.

Both of us worked a half day on Christmas Eve Day. Randall joined us after work and we drove the Escape Pod to League City, Texas (between Houston and Galveston). The 5th wheel and kitties stayed in San Antonio (just one night). We stayed in a Candlewood Suites Inn and had a very nice room. We got one suite for $76 (because it was booked a week early) and one for $81 (senior rate) plus tax.

Christmas Eve, we went to dinner at Landry's in Galveston to celebrate Bob's birthday, and his brother and sister-in-law's anniversary. I doubt we would return to Landry's. We had five in our party. They brought us a big bowl half-filled with salad to share between the five of us and were told we could not have another bowl of salad. Seriously? We were practically counting the lettuce leaves to divide it up evenly. They did load us up with bread, however. Two of the orders were wrong, which they fixed pretty quickly.

The birthday boy

Tom and Rosemarie, anniversary couple

Randall and I (not in that order!)

Decorations at Landry's

Christmas decor at Landry's

When it came time for dessert, the birthday and anniversary celebratees were offered the shot-glass-sized dessert. The only problem was, for the anniversary couple, only one complimentary shot-glass-sized dessert could be ordered for two people. One part of the couple said, "Wait a minute, it takes two people to be a couple." Then decided not to fight with them. She told the waitress, "Forget it. It's not worth it."

After dinner, Randall, Bob and I drove around Galveston to try to show Randall the sights, but it was pretty dark! On Christmas Day we would be back in Galveston for brunch, so we decided to show him around then.

We headed back to Candlewood Suites.

Travel Bug out.

Galveston Farewell - Wed., Aug. 6

Today we finish our mini trip to Galveston and head back to San Antonio. After a yummy breakfast at IHOP, we drove along Seawall one last time. Across the street from IHOP is a Rainforest Cafe and Rainforest Ride. It wasn't open in the morning, but I was able to snag some photos.

We drove past Pleasure Pier which boasts some thrill rides, restaurants and midway-type games. Admission for one day is $26.99!

Pleasure Pier entrance

Once again, rain came in off the Gulf. We could see the squalls as they headed our way.

Our home for four days was Sandpiper RV Resort located on Seawall...very convenient to Galveston's beaches (one is right next to the RV park). We had a nice level concrete site with full hook-ups. The sites are close together, but it's not a very big park. If you're going to stay here make reservations in advance. It was completely full (except for a couple of sites along Seawall St.) for the entire four days we were there. They have a nice infinity pool with a waterfall that cascades off the edge of the pool down to the RV park level. We did not use the pool or restroom/shower facilities, so can't report on the condition of those. There are also motel rooms at the resort. I would give the park 3-1/2 stars (it could have been more if I knew the conditions of the bath houses.

The pool is behind the palms.

Our 5th wheel is the one on the far right.

Here's our site. You can see it's been raining.

Sadly, we said good-bye to Galveston admitting we just couldn't see everything in the short time we allotted after our two days at Houston Space Center. I also have to add to our Galveston bucket list from the other day:
12. Explore shops and eat at restaurants on The Strand in the Historic District.
13. Tour the historic mansions

On the way home from Galveston, we stopped at the Ford dealership so I could pick up my Escape. It cost more than we thought it was going to. The car needed two front brakes, the 105,000 mile service, and diagnostics of the engine and transmission The labor was over $600 and the parts were around $200. Gulp. That's a tough pill bill to swallow. My escape should be good for a while now. (It better be!)

All for tonight. Over and out.

NASA, Day 2 - Tues., Aug. 5

Jogging was on Bob's agenda this morning. He was up early to try to beat the heat. It had poured rain overnight flooding low-lying areas. Even so, it was hot and humid for his run. He did about five miles.

On our way to Space Center, we drove out to Fort San Jacinto Historic Point. Not much to see of the fort, but it's an awesome view of Galveston Bay and the ship channel to Houston.

Fort San Jacinto is summed up in this sign.

Awesome view of big ships and the ferry in Galveston Bay

Also on our drive through Galveston Bob stopped so I could take photos of places we had only seen in the late evening.

When we walked past Texas Heroes Monument on our Volksmarch it was too dark to photograph. This memorial to the Heroes of the Texas Revolution is made of marble and granite. The female form of Victory holds a laurel wreath.

Texas Heroes Monument

 "Open Gates" (next three photos) was home to the Sealy family. Locals at the time called it The Big House. For the full story, read this article, "No One Who Truly Knows the Mansion Would Ever Call It The Open Gates," by Bill Cherry. As an aside, Magnolia Sealy was responsible for the proliferation of oleanders throughout Galveston. Galveston is also know as the Oleander City. The home is now owned by University of Texas Medical Center and designated to be used as a conference center for the university.

"Open Gates" (ironic because I found the
gates closed and locked)

Beautiful columns and pinkish Belgian brick
with hand-cut Texas limestone.

Old Gates architectural style is neo-Renaissance.

Another stunning architectural beauty is the Moody Mansion which was built of limestone and brick between 1893 and 1895 in the eclectic tradition of the late 19th century. The design mixed Richardsonian Romanesque with the Beaux Arts as adapted for the Texas Gulf Coast with deep porches, cross ventilation and thick walls.

Moody Manson

Moody Mansion

Welcome to Galveston

Estuary with oil refineries in background

Oh, I forgot to mention that Bob's cousin, whom he hadn't seen in 20 years, requested him as a Facebook friend. It just so happens she lives about 20 minutes from the Space Center. When she found out we were going to be at the Space Center, she invited us for dinner at her house in Seabrook. After our Space Center exploration today, we will head over to see her.

Our goal today at Space Center Houston is to see the movies we missed yesterday and finish looking at the museum. We accomplished most of what we wanted.

Lunar module cockpit trainer

Our tour guide yesterday talked to us about mining helium-3 (He3) from the moon. He3 would be used in thermonuclear fusion reactors. He3 is plentiful on the moon but sparse on earth. Read about it in the photo below. The world is years away from this technology; no one has figured out how to make a fusion reactor.

The mock up of Skylab was interesting.

Bob heading into Skylab - America's first Space Station

Zero gravity meal above,
zero gravity shower below.

Notice the triangular metal soles on the astronaut's shoes below. If you enlarge the photo below you will see the metal walls have triangles in them. When an astronaut wanted to work in one area, they would clamp the triangles on their shoes into the triangles on the wall to hold them in place in zero gravity.

Weightless maneuverings in space. Notice the
handrails in all different positions on the wall?

Hangin' with the astronauts.

Demonstration of how astronauts sleep.

After we finished viewing movies, live demonstration and the museum, we were ready to call it a day. After a short drive to Seabrook we reconnected with Bob's cousin and her kids. It was fun to spend time reminiscing. Bob also learned more family history. When we take our trip to Wisconsin and Michigan we will know family locations to look for. Thank you Linda, Mary, James and Robert for your hospitality and good conversations.

Mary, Robert, Linda, James and Bob

Tired and happy, we headed back to Galveston.

Travel Bug out.

Galveston Historical Volksmarch - Sun., Aug. 3

We're having too much fun, so we had to take a Beach Break!

Yesterday I left you hanging with photos of "Old Red" and Bob standing next to a Hurricane Ike flood line and no explanations. We were on a Volksmarch of historic Galveston.

Old Red is the Ashbel Smith Building on Galveston Island. This Romanesque Revival Building was built in 1891 with red brick and sandstone. It was the first University of Texas Medical Branch Building, but certainly not the last. The building was renovated in 1985, then sustained damage during Hurricane Ike in 2008 when the lower portion was submerged under six feet of water.

Bob in front of the Ashbel Smith Building (Old Red)

Ashbel Smith's bust

High water markers are all around historic Galveston.

Volksmarching is a great way to see new places. Over the 17 years we have been doing these non-competitive walks, we have gotten up close and personal with cities, capitals, festivals, national parks, state parks, and other places we likely wouldn't have seen. Sunday's Galveston Historical Walk was really good!

Both of us were amazed by the gorgeous homes and mansions. To tell you the truth, Galveston is bigger than I ever imagined. Following are our impressions of historic Galveston.

We started out meandering through The Strand (historic buildings now housing restaurants and shops) which reminded us of New Orleans, and neighborhoods affected by Hurricane Ike. Quite a few historic homes took a beating when the storm surge submerged this part of the city.

Because I'm curious, I wondered why this street in Galveston is named "The Strand." On the original plat maps of the city from the late 1830s, the street is named "Avenue B."

A German immigrant who opened a jewelry store on Avenue B didn't like the name of the street, so he changed the name on his stationery to Strand (named after a street in London), thinking the name would have higher-class connotations for his jewelry store. He then convinced other store owners on the street to change the name they used for the street as well. The name stuck. (The word strand comes from Old English for "shore" or "river bank;" in German, Swedish and Dutch, the word means "beach.")

Looks like New Orleans, but it's The Strand in Galveston, TX

Clock says "Observatory Time"
(Corner of The Strand and Kempner)

Bob walking in front of Stewart Title Building.

Above is Stewart Title's original building and they occupy the building to this day.

High water line from Hurricane Ike

 

Stewart Title - a different perspective

1894 Romanesque Opera House entrance

United States Customs House

So much detail to enjoy on this house.

Victor Gustafson home, a one-story cottage

Hurricane Ike killed 40,000 trees on Galveston Island during its storm surge leaving the landscape bare. Galveston Island Tree Conservancy member Donna Leibbert found chain saw sculptors to create sculptures from the dead trees in the Historic District. (We walked past 20 of them on our walk today!) What once was an eyesore and reminder of the horrors of Hurricane Ike, became a treat for the eyes and spirit.

The sculpting of Galveston's trees is one way of reusing resources. Over 100 tons of wood was selected for the restoration of America's only remaining whaling ship, the Charles M. Morgan. A local lumber yard took several tons of wood to mill and dry for building projects; 200 tons of wood went to Malaga, Spain to be used in the completion of a full-scale replica of the brig "Galveztown." Galvestonians kept 100% of the "Iked" wood out of the landfill. Now that's what I call recycling!

There was an unexpected consequence of losing so many big oak trees from the storm: Homeowners found that without the shade the big trees provided, the sunlight allowed flower gardens to grow. When walking through the historic district there is now an abundance of flowers as homeowners are using them as a substitute for the lost oaks.

Dead tree carving of a pelican eating a fish.

Landes-McDonough House

Trube Castle

Norwegian Wood guitar? (It's a joke, son.)

The carving below is in honor of King Wallis Vidor, one of the directors of the "Wizard of Oz" film. He was born in the house on this location in 1894.

Toto and the Tin Man

Beautiful flowers now grow in place of stately oaks.

Some houses still need work!

In the following photo, the dog was on the roof! What's up with that?

The following notice was posted in front of the house with the dog on the roof.

The 20-year owner of the 1898 home below was walking his great dane puppy and we met him on the sidewalk out front. I noticed his Great Dane sculpture and asked if he lived in the house. (He did indeed.) Their old Great Dane, Hunter, must have passed away. The sculpture was a tribute to Hunter. The tree that grew where the sculpture is now had grown around the fence at the spot where the paws grip the fence. Thieves cut off the paw at the fence line which prompted a reward from the owners. The sculptor, who was still on the island, carved a new one to replace the old one. I can tell you his new Great Dane puppy is absolutely adorable!

Grand home.

New Great Dane puppy.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church design reflects the influences of Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque styles. It features ornate octagonal towers, flying buttresses, elaborate ornamentation and a variety of arches.

Bob in front of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Front entrance of the church

Bishop's Palace, another architectural beauty.

Griffin guards entry to Bishop's Palace

Hotel Galvez and Spa

Pleasure Pier

Mural looked great at night.

 Below is the decorated arch entrance to The Strand National Historic Landmark District.

That concludes our walking tour. We spent a little over three hours doing our 10K (6.2 miles) because we took time to look at many of the dead tree sculptures along the way and I HAD to photograph the gorgeous homes and architectural wonders we found. It was hot and humid, so five miles into the walk we bought fruit smoothies. Boy did those taste good!

I know this blog is long, but I want to close by saying this: we found so much more to do in Galveston that we will have to come back for a week. Here's what we have on our bucket list:

1. Moody Gardens 
2. Pleasure Pier
3. Pier 21 Theater (to watch: "The Great Storm" and "The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte")
4. Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center and Museum
5. Galveston Island Railroad Museum
6. Texas Seaport Museum with Tall Ship Elissa
7. Schlitterbahn Galveston
8. Free ferry
9. Seawolf Park (a WWII submarine, a destroyer escort and other military hardware are open for tours)
10. Lone Star Flight Museum
11. Rosenberg Library

 At the end of the day, we were tired but very, very happy.

Monday we are off to the NASA Space Center for a Level 9 tour.

Travel Bug out.