ommadawn.dk - Fort Worth

Trip 2 Texas, part 5

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Events, Fort Worth, Me, Pictures, Vacation

Home again! So let me finish off by describing the way home.

First of all, I had a nice stay at Quality Inn & Suites East. This, by the way, was the view from the window:

Though I have been warned, that the neighbourhood is kind of dangerous. So you may choose to stay somewhere else, if you are traveling on your own.

Then I took the Supershuttle from hotel to air port. Very smooth ride, as it was on the way from the air port to the hotel.

Then a burger at Fudds. The nice American burger, where you get a good bun, a good burger, and get to choose and combine the rest on your own. Well done! Oh yeah, and they also had this at the air port:

Some piece of art, called "Circling".

Checking in online, and later changing the seat at the air port. Both worked marvelously. Yeah!

So, as I said, home again. And I've had time to spruce up the preceding chapters with pictures, and a video.

Trip 2 Texas, part 4

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Events, Fort Worth, Me, Pictures, Vacation

Business, business, business. But Saturday night, it was time to party a little again.

First we went to H3 Ranch, for some food.

I chose a ribeye steak, because I felt like meat with fat in it. Tasted fine, and I got all my special wishes seen to. But there was way too much food on my plate. And the place was very noisy. Still, a good start to the evening.

Then we went to a rodeo at the stockyards.

Where they had small horses.

Odd. People competing in bull riding and tie down (of a calf), well that seems familiar. But I didn't know about barrel racing, and certainly not the calf/mutton scramble for kids. And some of them tiny kids! The trick for the last bit seemed easy: the calf/mutton will head for the exit and then stop running, so the kids can catch it. I don't know how I feel about the animals -- but it seemed fair, that the animals weren't just taking their treatment, they fought back! And though no people got hurt, it was a real possibility.

Trip 2 Texas, part 3

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Events, Fort Worth, Me, Movies, Vacation

Yesterday I had all to myself. So I decided to take in downtown Fort Worth. I ended up in the cultural district first, because I wanted to see an IMAX movie, and check out the cowgirl museum.

The movie, Deep sea, was of course beautiful. And not too many scary moments for a person like me with fright for heights. And, surprise, there was a lesson built in. Because you can't talk about nature these days, without a little lesson. So the movie stressed how the animals live in relationships and balances. And how humans ignore that balance, with worrying results.

I breezed through the cowgirl exhibit, and the neighboring Living in space exhibit.

Nothing seemed momentous. But it's an interesting idea, to praise the women who helped colonize the US, not by feeding the children, but by herding cows etc. And an animated character (Jesse from Toy Story 2) chosen as cowgirl of the year. And it was fun, riding a wild horse.

And then into downtown FW. Really wanted a steak. Ended up at 610 grille.

Was given permission to eat from the dinner menu, even though it was kind of early. Chose something basic: salad, steak (and by "steak" I mean "beef tenderloin") with mashed (opps, I mean whipped) potatoes, and cheese, fruit and crackers for dessert. Very good! They must use some very fresh ingredients. And even though I ate a 3 course meal, I wasn't all that heavy and full afterwards. Good stuff!

Trip 2 Texas, part 2

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Events, Fort Worth, Me, Pictures, Vacation

After a very nice night (slept all the way through, woke up fresh and ready to take on the world--take that, jet lag!), surprise, I was invited on a trip to the zoo! Haven't tried that in a long time, so off we go.

Fort Worth Zoo seemed huge to me. The U.S. family Travel Guide selects this zoo as the top family attraction in Dallas/Fort Worth, and one of the best zoos in the US. Finally, #19 overall in the US among attractions. Wow! Didn't know that.

I was able to take some very good pictures. It was great to be so close to the animals. Seeing tiger "babies" playing. Being very close to flying mini-parrots.

Feeding them, feeling how they pick the seeds from the stick in my hand.

Hearing the eagle "shout". Even getting wet in a simulated storm. But, alas, the penguins didn't sing or dance ...

The tiger was relaxed.

As was the lion.

And the bear was stretching.

And then the challenge of dinner. My hotel is in a neighbourhood not overflowing with restaurants. But with some help I was able to find "Mexican Inn Cafe".

Studying the menu, I wanted something not in an "envelope" and ended up choosing Arroz con pollo, simply chicken on rice. Yum!

Trip 2 Texas, part 1

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Events, Fort Worth, Jet lag, Me, Movies, Science fiction, Vacation

Early Monday morning I went by plane to Amsterdam. And, surprise, I got an upgrade to not-economy class! Maybe because (by some weird definition) I am a frequent flyer? Maybe because I checked in online? Anyway, I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast:

Thank you, KLM!

And then, from Amsterdam to Fort Worth. Not just because I am going to the USA, Texas or Dallas -- I am actually going to Fort Worth, for business in the weekend. This plane was not very full, and I was able to stretch out on 4 seats, and get a bit of sleep. Very good against the jet lag!

I saw one movie on the plane, "The curious case of Benjamin Button". A life. Love. And not much more. Not a lot of action -- no car chases. Simply a man, born old, growing younger. And the slow revalation of why an old woman is telling his story. A bit boring? I am not sure. I wonder why the line "Good night" appeared so often. Night = death? Hm.

Anyway. I arrived safely at my hotel, and then just slept the rest of the day.