FRIDAY'S FOTO



I saw this wonderful combo as we drove along a Texas highway. 
Does that pooch look concerned?  Nah!
He has his shades and his fur is blowin' in the wind.



FRIDAY'S FOTO



We may be a bit past the season for the lights, but we are never past the need for Peace. 
I took this is Copperas Cove, Texas not far from Ft. Hood.  It was part of a great, drive-thru light display.
May we find Peace every day of the year.



FRIDAY'S FOTO

How's this for a perfect Texas sunset?  Can anything be more peaceful?

IN WACO I'M A PEPPER; YOU'RE A PEPPER

Here's a place I bet most of you don't know exists, but you very well might be a fan of this product. If you are a fan, you certainly don't want to miss the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas. Waco is a name out of cowboy movies and the “old west,” so I liked the idea of simply going to the city memorialized by its wild ways. Dr. Pepper was certainly never on the Most Wanted list—except by zillions of soda drinkers.

If you love Dr. Pepper, you know how this special soda has a cult following, and this museum traces its creation and its rise in popularity in a very entertaining way. Even the salespeople who popularized this little soda to people across the nation and the world are part of the museum. People with only one product and a big mission performed a miracle. They are examples of a combination of hard work and the opportunities afforded by free enterprise, and the upper floor of the museum houses The W.W. Foote Free Enterprise Institute to support this noteworthy combination. Dr. Pepper is the proof that a combination of free enterprise and hard work brings out man's creativity and ingenuity. The man who really sold the public on Dr. Pepper did it simply but persistently. He offered samples of this unusual beverage to the man -on-the-street. The unique taste caught the public's imagination, and Dr. Pepper's popularity soon spread. Here's a bit of the hologram presentation.

The first time I tasted Dr. Pepper many years ago on my first driving trip south with Rob, we filled up the trunk of the car and brought six-packs back to New York; Dr. Pepper didn't sell up here yet. That's hard to imagine today, but it's true. This soda had a great and surprising taste, and I became a fan.

In addition to tracing the history of Dr. Pepper which had its origins in the combinations of flavors behind a drug store soda fountain, visitors can see how it is bottled and shipped. I got a kick out of a video that demonstrated how cans of soda are put together. I never really thought of it before.

I never thought about the evolution of can and bottle shapes and some of the reasons why companies decide on a particular style to attract customers. Marketing professionals certainly have an interesting make or break job! How's this for a marketing tool—the Dr. Pepper slogan: 10, 2, and 4. Studies showed that workers begin to drag at those times, so the company promoted Dr. Pepper breaks. It was just the pick-me-up to get the adrenalin pumping again. Companies adopted that Dr. Pepper break, and some even supplied the soda for their employees. A taste for the soda spread rapidly.

Also intriguing was the variety of soda machines displayed in its own section of the museum. We all laughed at some of these, and it was quite a jolt to see how far back our own memories went because those soda machines really were old!!!! (although we ARE NOT old)

The pièce de résistance, however, was a horse made of Dr. Pepper caps. Really

One huge disappointment in this tour. No sampling! Though there is an admission charge similar to ones at wineries we've visited, the only Dr. Pepper offered came with a price tag. This missing piece really surprised us. It would have been fun to end up in a “tasting room.” Available in the gift shop was every possible Dr. Pepper souvenir imaginable from post cards, magnets, neon clocks and signs, clothing, picnic bags, winter jackets and windbreakers. Some of these were ridiculous, but they made the gift shop fun. Had we had a tasting opportunity, I might have been more amenable, but two post cards later...

If you remember “I'm a Pepper; you're a Pepper,” if you like that special Dr. Pepper flavor, or if you're in the mood for something a little different from ordinary tourist haunts, find yourself in Waco, Texas, and ask for directions to the Dr. Pepper Museum.

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THE BEST BRISKET AND BURGERS IN TEXAS!

Andice General Store

FM 97

Florence, TX 76527
254 793-3971

When you're told that you can get the best burgers and brisket in Texas, how can you resist making a short trip for lunch? We couldn't, so five of us headed to the Andice General Store, a little place where the road makes a T (as in Texas). There's no way you can miss it. Andice seems to consist of the General Store and a post office. Population is about 25.

Picture in your mind's eye the general store of movies and books. Picture the store of days gone by with its shelves of everyday necessities. Andice is no modern convenience store. It is as laid back, casual, and friendly as one can imagine. You can buy cold coke in the bottle. I'm sure the “regulars” sit and talk, and because I sometimes live in that “movie” world, I might even look for Ike Godsey behind the counter. We did, indeed, chat with the owner, Alan Thomas, behind the counter. He stood beneath the huge blackboard listing the burger and brisket variations and all the other things we could order. Lots of hard decisions to make there because everything is so tempting. We finally do decide, place our order, and take bench seats at one of the long, vinyl-covered picnic tables that make up the middle of the store. Condiments are kept in empty oil cans. Wall decorations are old-time gas station accessories. It's wonderful.

While we wait for our lunches, we might wish to visit the lavatories, but don't look inside the building. Outside, at the back of the property is a two-sided building and I think I am heading back to an old fashioned outhouse. Thankfully the inside is modern! But it does give us a start.

Back inside our lunches are ready. Rob and I ordered the brisket. I love brisket. I loved my mother's and I love New York deli brisket. Texas brisket—or at least Andice Country Store brisket—is different AND BETTER than any brisket I have ever tasted. It arrives in a plastic basket lined with white waxed paper. The brisket is superbly seasoned, slowly cooked until it is tender and succulent without being the least bit stringy or overdone. I put my own condiments on it. I'm a NY ketchup person which I believe goes against the grain here in Texas, but it is obvious that the Andice General Store does not have to smother its meat with some kind of sauce. The meat speaks for itself. On the table are several choices if that's what the diner requires.

Barbara, Stan, and Michael order some variation of burger. Each burger comes with a different collection of toppings. Texas is beef country, and these burgers are big and hearty, each cooked exactly as ordered, and each juicily delicious.

The owner had suggested we try the cole slaw or potato salad or the special onion rings, so of course we did. Normally the baskets come with fries, but the onion rings I had rated way up the list. The potato salad, too, was excellent. The owner was right to be proud of what he served. Everything was scrumptious.

The Andice Country Store is not on a main road, and maybe you will never be in that part of Texas. But if you are, stop in. You will be visiting one of the many hidden treasures tucked all over this country. Whenever you spot one of these treasures, make sure you stop in.

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ALAS, THE LAST OF ANDREW ZIMMERN'S CRICKETS

I hope you've been following the trail of the crickets sent to me by Andrew Zimmern, star of the Travel Channel's incredible show, Bizarre Foods. Alas, the edible crickets, in salt & vinegar and bacon & cheese flavors, are gone. I took the remaining ones with me to Texas where four more intrepid souls tasted them. View their reactions. The first is a video featuring Noah, Meghan, and Michael.

Make a Smilebox slideshow This second video is Andy's review.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

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SALADO, TEXAS--A PERFECT DAY TRIP

At Meghan's urging, we headed to Salado, Texas for the perfect day-trip. This little town, once a stop on the Chisholm Trail and part of the Butterfield Stage Line, was historically a favorite camping place for the Tonkawa Indians. For someone like me, these facts bring enough romance to encourage a trip to see the town. Factor in the belief that Salado Creek had curative powers, and Salado becomes a must see.

Even Salado’s history is interesting. The early families settling Salado in the early 1850s were people of education and refinement who felt their town needed to provide opportunities for their children. By 1859, lands were donated for a town and a college. Unique was the feeling that equal education for males and females be assured. The college prospered for a while earning a reputation for the level of education it offered.

To keep the sense of refinement the citizens demanded, Salado also became a “total abstinence” town. Here’s a great local legend surrounding that designation.

Bell County in which Salado is located went “wet,” and within no time at all, a saloon keeper rode into town with his wagon filled with evil temptation. The town fathers pleaded, but to no avail. The saloon opened, and men—young and old—could not resist. Salado’s women were determined to find a way to bring their men back to the straight and narrow righteous path.

Six women who met weekly in a Mother's Prayer Meeting began sitting in shifts in front of the saloon. They sat during the entire time the saloon was open. Neither man nor boy ventured near, and within a short time, the saloon keeper re-loaded his wagon and high-tailed it out of town. He set up a saloon in a neighboring and more welcoming setting, and ironically named his new venture The Salado. Believe it or not, even today there are no bars in Salado. One must drink at a private club or in a hotel. So much for sin.


As we enter Salado today, we are greeted by banners proclaiming Salado: Artfully Yours, and it is evident that the town takes its appellation seriously. In the Visitor Center, Rob and I and buy a cd tour produced by the Historical Society. The tour gives us a wonderful opportunity to learn of the town's history as well as to see some of the preserved buildings and landmarks.

We begin along Main Street which has a multitude of interesting shops featuring everything from antiques to contemporary western gear, artists' galleries, and historic building converted to offices museums, inns and B&Bs. The town is charming, but as the tour winds into the areas beyond Main St., an even more charming world opens before us.

Many of Salado’s early settlers built homes in the Greek Revival style, and they still exist. Many have been converted to B&Bs, and visitors surely can find a beautiful place to stay. Other homes, though private residences, have been beautifully maintained, and while visitors cannot enter, the homes and their histories are included on the tour.

One of the most picturesque homes is the 1860 home of Rev. G.W Baines, the great-grandfather of Pres. Lyndon Baines Johnson. As I stood on the opposite side of the street to take photos, a car came to a stop so I could finish, and the driver smiled and waved as she then made her way past. This is Texas friendliness, and please don't be skeptical—it happened on another day outside the Fall Creek Winery.

A site that really tweaked my imagination was the Silver Spur Theater. It operates on Friday and Saturday nights, and it advertises shows, music, and vaudeville for private and public events. Featured this season are Steel Magnolias, If You Build It, They Will Laugh (A Vaudevillian look at building things, featuring our trademark blend of live variety acts and classic cinema), and Boom Town or The Sinister Slickster's Fuelish Frame-up. I'd love to be able to come back to see the latter two. It’s a grand building from the outside.

I am an avid believer in Small Town America. I live in one, and I love to visit other towns that exemplify my personal definitions. I loved spending time in Salado and experiencing its valuable culture. The citizens work hard to preserve it. They’ve created ways to share with visitors and make a living doing it. I admire their ingenuity in keeping their world in tact. They offer a full calendar of events. In October, for instance, they celebrate Founder's Day with a cattle drive down Main Street, re-enactments along Salado Creek, Ranch Rodeo, Sunday Picnic Box Lunches, and a host of other happenings. I'd love to visit then, but that is not to be. [ fishing for minnows in the Salado Creek]
I learned after we returned home that Salado was also the site of Jenna Bush's wedding. Here is an excerpt from Laura Bush's thank you letter to the citizens of Salado:

“We send our special thanks for the flags along the main street and to the inns and hotels where the guests stayed. Jenna and her bridesmaids enjoyed their luncheon at the Inn on the Creek, and the Range Restaurant catered a delicious rehearsal dinner at Old Salado Springs Celebration Center. And after the rehearsal dinner the Silver Spur Theater was the perfect setting for our Texas dance party. All the guests loved the wedding day barbecue from Johnny's Steak and Barbeque.” Take your sweet time in Salado; it will be time well spent.</div>

vacations trips travel "travel+blogs" Texas Salado "small+towns" history culture tours "historical+society" photos "travel+photos" scenery houses "Greek+Revival" B&Bs daytrips "Chisholm+Trail" "Salado+Creek" college "Main+Street" LBJ "Silver+Spur+Theater" "Jenna+Bush" "Laura+Bush" "Third+Age+Traveler"


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SALADO, TEXAS' STAGECOACH INN

Stagecoach Inn

401 S. Stagecoach Road

Salado, Texas 76571

(254) 947-5111

www.staystagecoach.com

One marvelous attraction for me in Salado, Texas stands on the historic crossroads of the Chisholm Trail, the Texas cattleman's route north through Indian Territory (today's Oklahoma) to Kansas, and Old Military Road, a road that linked a series of forts. This Texas romantic mystique so attracts me that I had to join the ranks of the stagecoach travelers, cattle ranchers, soldiers and others who frequented the famous inn known today as The Stagecoach Inn. Among the many famous people who visited are Sam Houston, General George Armstrong Custer, Captain Robert E. Lee, son of the general, and the James Brothers. Rob and I would be in famous and infamous company.

The Inn was purchased and restored by the Van Bibber family in the early 1940s, and the recipes selected then are still served today although it is now owned by Mrs. Van Bibber's nephew. This was definitely the place for lunch.

The Stagecoach Inn is a beautiful old building right on Salado's main street. It is set back slightly from the sidewalk, and one can rock comfortably on the big wrap-around porch and watch the world pass by. That’s just what preceding generations did.

As we enter the lobby, we can see through to the dining room and porch beyond. On one side through large glass doors is a larger, more formal dining room. The room in which we're to dine is big, woody, and comfortable. There are no empty tables on the porch, so Rob and I are seated at a big round table. On our placemats is a picture of the Stagecoach Inn and a short history.

It doesn't take long for our waitress, Suellen, to spot us as visitors. In Texas all we have to do is say a few words and we practically announce, “New York.” We share with her the love of train travel, and she tells us about trips she has taken with her daughter. Once again we are treated to a hospitality that is warm and sincere.

Our meal is wonderful. We begin with a delicious beef broth served with freshly baked hush puppies and creamy butter.

Next we're served a fresh salad with an extra special touch. Not only do we find the usual ingredients but also we find radishes and celery. It's a nice salad with a lovely dressing. A tempting basket of freshly baked mini-rolls, still warm from the oven, accompanies the salad.

Rob and I are drawn to the same entree—fried catfish. We both like catfish, but this Southern fried catfish dusted with cornmeal and fried in peanut oil is irresistible. The catfish is served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables, a delicious and perfectly prepared combination of red and green peppers, yellow squash, celery, carrots, and green squash. Neither Rob nor I could identify another accompaniment although the taste was very familiar. When Suellen came back she asked if we could identify it. It was, she said, a banana fritter—truly the most wonderful we'd ever had. It didn’t look like a fritter. Once it was identified, the flavors popped out at us. We three smiled at the guessing game.

Suellen practically insisted we'd be cheating ourselves if we left without sampling The Stagecoach Inn's desserts. Okay. We forced ourselves. LOL With coffee we had a cream custard pie. Unbelieveable! No wonder this inn is still thriving!

When you read my post on Salado, you'll find many reasons to visit this charming town. Add a meal at the very hospitable Stagecoach Inn to that list of reasons.

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EL CHARRITO--AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD IN TEXAS

I-35 running through the hill country of Texas cannot be mistaken for a rural New York road. Passing Georgetown's Del Webb's Sun City and other new subdivisions, it quickly becomes a road where cacti bloom on the fringe and arched entrances announce the names of the ranches they guard—Rancho Guadalupe for instance. Little towns like Florence, Texas reflect the Mexican influence on the area, and it is in Florence that Rob and I stop for lunch at El Charitto. El Charitto, we expect, will be true to its menu’s proclamation and offer authentic Mexican food.

Modestly decorated, El Charitto’s tables are filled with local diners—a good sign—for there are couples at some tables and cowboys at others. We are painfully obvious outsiders. This is definitely a land of cowboy boots, dusty jeans, western-cut shirts, and cowboy hats. I love it!

El Charitto's menu is expansive, and as the waiter brings orders to neighboring tables, we can see how tantalizing everything looks. We try to narrow down our selections—keeping away from the normal fare of a New York Mexican restaurant. As we choose, a massive bowl of fresh chips still warm from the making is brought with a bowl of tempting salsa—a tomato and spice mixture that packs a zing without the breath-stealing hotness. Delicious.

Rob and I are still discussing the possible choices when our waitress comes to take our order. She directs us to the back of the menu which lists the daily luncheon special, and in one minute, our choice is made; Thursday’s special is enchiladas tejanas—one of the possibilities we had already selected.

Enchiladas tejanas—two enchiladas, (choice of cheese, beef, or chicken) topped with homemade chili and shredded cheese. It is served with rice, refried beans, a chopped salad, and homemade guacamole. It arrives on a big, oval dish. It's beautiful.

The enchiladas are perfect. The chili is hearty and delicious. Surprisingly the chili does not overpower the taste of the enchiladas, and the blending of flavor offers a unique, robust dish. The enchiladas are not so thin that they fall apart under the influence of fillings and sauce nor are they so thick that they are tough. The Spanish rice is still moist with a hint of tomato and spice. Lovely. I haven't had refried beans in a while, but these are smooth and creamy. Exquisito. The guacamole is fresh and chunky. It was a bit too oniony for my taste, so I push some of the onion aside and enjoy it. The chopped salad, primarily a mixture of tomato, onion, and green pepper is delightfully flavored with cilantro—one of Rob's favorites. Again, a simple delicacy.

Sometime mid meal, a waiter brings another bowl of salsa, and we continue with it. It is delicious.

In fact, the service is excellent. Our water glasses are re-filled, and we are asked several times if there is anything else we wish.

I also like the decor—the walls, the pictures of the owner's sons in traditional Mexican dress, and the other suggestions of another culture. OK—I was into that Texas state of mind again. I love the fact that we are the only sedan in the parking lot; the rest of the vehicles are pickup trucks. I love the fact that the man walking past our table is wearing scuffed cowboy boots, dusty button down jeans, and a western cut shirt. He is carrying his cowboy hat. I love the fact that a group of men come in talking Spanish and all looking as if they just came off one of the ranches we passed on I-195.

Rob and I leave satisfied in many ways. Florence, Texas is a great little Texan town on a long, winding road. El Charrito mirrors the wonderful cultural mix that is Texas. Lunch was super! We are just beginning our visit. Certainly we are off to an auspicious start.

As a postscript let me add, that we timed our departure to Austin's airport so we could stop at El Charitto for lunch again. It was great the second time around!

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TEXAS' CAPITOL IS CAPITAL!

Our first full day in Texas has Rob and me heading from Killeen to Austin, Texas' capital and a city with a reputation for great music, a swinging, modern culture, and an acceptance of individuality. A lot of its fame began when PBS channels began broadcasting Austin City Limits, and the music explosion began. Today it is a busy metropolis--somewhat high-tech and yuppie--causing complaints by artists forced to vacate their neighborhoods because of burgeoning rents.

We won't have time to plumb the music depths of the city this visit, but we'll be back. We are in Austin to learn about Texas.

In less than an hour's drive from Killeen we're in Austin at the State Capitol. This building is designated a National Historic Landmark, and it is an impressive example of Renaissance Revival style. Its Visitor Center was built in 1856 as the General Land Office, the oldest state office building in Texas. Unlike most Visitor Centers, this is also a wonderful museum--very hands on and diverse enough to offer an excellent and interesting history of Texas and some of its famous people.

Rob and I begin with a video about the 3 million acre XIT Ranch up in the Texas Panhandle, land sold by Texas’ government to finance the building of the Capitol. It says much about Texas evolution. In the screening room, we sit in rockers. The walls are lined with quilts, and it's a thoroughly relaxing and interesting atmosphere. The video runs 15 minutes, but there isn't anything that doesn't spark the imagination which is just the way it is in Texas—people with imagination doing remarkably big things. We immediately get the feeling that Texas sees itself as unique, and we're not sure Texans (born or adopted) aren’t right!

You can’t make this up: The Capital Lands that became the XIT Ranch were bought sight unseen by two brothers from Chicago. They developed it into a major cattle ranch, made money, paid back Texas, thereby financing the building of the Capitol building, and the XIT eventually was sold piecemeal to developers for homes, smaller farms and ranches, etc. The brothers, motivated by their imaginations, made great things happen. Leaving the screening room we've been drawn into the world of Texas possibilities.

Much of Texas’ land was distributed in huge grants to reward service during the war for Texas Independence. In one section of the museum are plats of these grants given to famous Texans--like Sam Houston, Juan Seguin, and William B. Travis. In a hands-on exhibit, we choose the name of one of these men and find and measure the tremendous acreage he received--many square miles of land. We take our visitor's certificate and imprint Texas' seal on it. Looking closely at the evolution of the state is very informative. It doesn’t take much to see where power lay.

Another exhibit—The O. Henry room--examines O. Henry, or William Sydney Porter, the short story writer famous for the classic Christmas tale of giving with love, The Gift of the Magi. O. Henry spent some time in prison for embezzlement. Working here in the Capitol, he committed his crime. He spent five years in prison and never returned to Texas! He ended up in NYC. Rob and I used to go to Pete's Tavern and sit in the very booth where he wrote “The Gift of the Magi.” In addition to this room, there is an O. Henry Museum in Austin, one in San Antonio where he also lived, and in New York you can visit the mews where he lived and had a view of the wall that inspired his story, “The Last Leaf.” Great short story writer was he, and a good traveler too.

Not part of the permanent exhibit was a display of the Texas-inspired water colors of painter Frank Reaugh. These beautiful pastels, pencils and paintings record hues and views uniquely Texas--the pinks of sunset on stone, the canyons and rivers, the majesty of the longhorn cattle at their watering holes. Very different from the boldness of Remington and other Western painters, these watercolors have a gentleness that exude the love Reaugh felt for his Texas Hill country, a subject he felt was ignored by other artists. Reaugh was also a diarist, writing about the source of his inspiration. He was a talented writer, and his reasons for choosing particular scenes to memorialize are beautiful to read. I was moved enough by his art and his writing to purchase some reproductions of his work for our home.

The State Flower is the Texas Bluebonnet. Of course we remember Lady Bird Johnson's movement to spread wildflowers across the country, but believe me, the Texas Bluebonnet is spread across Texas, and serendipitously, they are in bloom during our visit. Gorgeous. In the Visitor Center is a display of the Wildflower Movement, and there, as everywhere else we visit during our stay, envelopes of wildflowers are for sale. Leslie has spread them in her garden; down near Fredericksburg, TX, there is a Wildflower Festival the first weekend in May, and on RT 281 we pass a huge Wildflower Garden Center. We drive along roads rimmed by banks of color--not only the bluebonnets but also flowers in yellows, vibrant reds and maroons. Colors poking up through the green grass just put smiles on our faces. We’ll also see them in front of Lady Bird Johnson’s house—the Texas White House.

Finally we leave the Visitor Center and head up to the Capitol past the ancient cypress trees with their beautiful vertical bark and spreading branches. Because the number of people waiting for the tour inside the Capitol, we use the self-guided brochure we picked up in the Visitor Center. (BTW, there are self-guided tours of the areas around the spacious Capitol grounds but as it turns out, we run out of time to fully explore because we think visiting the LBJ Presidential Library on the University of Texas campus is an absolute must).

The Texas State Capitol is second only in size to the United States Capitol. But the most impressive part of the Capitol Building is the dome which is seven feet higher than the U.S. Capitol’s. The distance from point to point between the stars at the apex of the dome is eight feet. Texas big. On the floor directly beneath the dome is the seal, and if you stand in the center of the seal, your voice produces an echo. If you and another person stand on opposite sides of the seal, one can whisper or speak in a low voice, and the other person hears it clearly. It's pretty amazing. One of the guards comes over to demonstrate both feats. Very cool. On the walls are impressive paintings of former Texas governors, many of whom are very recognizable by name or reputation. Government is in session, and the atmosphere is bustling.

We decide to hurry on so we can take our time through the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, but we are really glad we spent as much time as we had in the Capitol Building. BTW, parking if free in a visitor's lot less than a block away and everything is handicap accessible.

It's probably safe to say that Capitol buildings should always be on a visitor's hit list as a way of getting a good feel for a place, but in keeping with Texas pride, this Capitol and its Visitor Center is one where the wealth of information gleaned makes it a definite stop as a destination.

travel "senior+travel" seniors Texas Austin "Austin+Texas" capitals capitols LBJ "Frank+Reagh" "XIT+Ranch" "Visitor+Centers" tours "Lady+Bird+Johnson" bluebonnets "Texas+bluebonnets" wildflowers "LBJ+Presidential+Library" UT

THE AUSLÄNDER--Fredericksburg, Texas

Deep in the heart of Texas—hill country, that is—a section of the state basically isolated well into the 20th century, is an area originally settled by German immigrants, and there, among the broken terrain, rocky outcroppings and beautiful wildflowers, is a piece of Texas alive with the traditions, styles, and food of those original Germans. We passed New Braunfels on our way to San Antonio, but while visiting the Johnson Ranch, we decided to head to nearby Frederickburg, Texas for a good old fashioned German lunch—with a distinctly Texas twang.

As soon as we reach Fredericksburg, we regret not having more time to spend here. It’s a great place. Right in town are the Pioneer Museum and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation which does fundraising for the National Museum of the Pacific War. We counted at least six German restaurants and dozens of shops, including one exclusively of antler art, Salt Branch Outpost. (Use the hyperlink to take a virtual look at this shop)

We settle on lunch at the Ausländer Biergarten and Restaurant. How absolutely different from any German restaurant in my experience! The Ausländer is definitely Texas-accented German!

We enter through the rear, a big open area of picnic-style tables meant for group seating, vaguely reminiscent of Munich’s Hofbräuhaus. The latticework ceiling serves as protection from the sun, and perhaps, during the summer months, flowers grow. Table cloths are vinyl, and the Ausländer proudly flies the American and Texas Lone Star flags at its entryway.

Don’t be fooled by the informality of the Ausländer. This restaurant takes itself seriously and claims to have the largest beer selection in the Texas Hill Country. Its impressive list of domestic and international beers as well as its unique draft beer system allows the Ausländer to serve what it boasts is the coldest draft beer in the world, something I like a lot. I choose the Oktoberfest draft and Rob goes for the Flensburger Dunkel. I like the Flensburger bottle!

We are seated inside the restaurant near the bar, but outside there is a quartet playing wonderful music. It’s a great atmosphere—and this is a weekday lunchtime! We like Texas hospitality.

Many of the diners around us are eating other than German food, but we are here expressly for the German touch. Before I tell you what we order, I want to give you a Texas-ized view of German food: “Texaschnitzel: A local twist on an Old World favorite! Hand breaded cutlet topped with ranchero sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream and guacamole.”

Rob and I select conservatively. We order Jagerschnizel and Wiener Schnitzel respectively. Each is accompanied by a garden fresh salad and a choice of two vegetables: hot German potato salad, red cabbage, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, or green beans. We both order the potato salad, and it is exceptional—warm and vinegary with diced red onion and bits of bacon. I order the red cabbage, and Rob tries the potato pancakes, admitting that my homemade ones are better. I like that. But the meal is nice; the beer is good; the atmosphere is German Texas. It’s altogether a very pleasant way to spend part of the afternoon.

If you get to the Ausländer at other times, you might try a Thursday evening when Texas Rebel Radio broadcasts live. There’s live music Thursday through Saturday. If you want an Ausländer tee, they’re available. The back says, “Life is too short to drink cheap beer.” A thought to ponder.

Texas Auslander radio "German+food" restaurants "Fredericksburg+Texas" beer

THINK TEXAS--THINK BIG!

It doesn't take long to realize that Texas is unique. Below most of the American flags flying there's a Lone Star flag. Sometimes the Lone Star flies solo. Sometimes it flies at the same height as the country's Stars and Stripes. The lone star is emblazoned in concrete on the uprights supporting overpasses. It flies above stores and shopping malls. It is incorporated into clothing design. It’s used as an address marker on homes. Texas, after all, was a sovereign country for 10 years. When Texas joined the Union, the treaty it signed with the United States government gave this state the sole right to use its flag in this manner. No other state has this privilege. In a tour of the Capitol in Austin, visitors are reminded of this proud fact. My friend, Barbara, a transplanted New Yorker via California, Colorado, and Arizona, once sent an email comparing the benefits of living in Texas to living in the entire Northeast. Texas won. So this, our first visit to Texas since we drove cross country and crashed in Amarillo for a few hours' sleep in 1971, was a lesson in Texas culture.

Texas thinks big. Even from within, it is divided into sections. Remember Marty Robbins' lyrics, "Down in the West Texas town of El Paso..."? That's not a direction; that's a section. Rob and I were in Central Texas, the Hill Country. A gentleman on our tour bus at the LBJ ranch scoffed. "Hill Country? These are more like speed bumps!" Nevertheless, had there been a Texan in earshot, the tourist would have had to defend himself!

We are in the Hill Country. The Hill Country was formed by the limestone uplift of the Edwards Plateau. There are rivers and nice mountain climbing, canyons and caverns. Of Texas' more than 115 State Parks, at least 18 exist in the Hill Country. This area of gently rolling hills also includes some marvelous cities with interesting histories and attractions unique to themselves. The Colorado River runs its rugged way through one of the State parks, and we visited the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic site operated in conjunction with the National Park Service. We lunched in Fredericksburg, the heart of German Texas, and that's German with a Texas twang!

Texas is a case of location, location, location. There’s more to the Texas State of Mind. It's big! Everything is big! When we left the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum on the University of Texas Campus in Austin, we asked for a restaurant suggestion that would be very "Texas." We were directed to the Hyde Park Bar and Grill. Sounded more like upstate New York to me, but I was wrong. Here's the description of Rob's sandwich as well as it photo. Texas sized.

Here are some more big Texas ideas:

The cattle are longhorn--quite a stretch from horn tip to horn tip!

The distance from star point to star point of the star in the dome of the Capitol measures eight feet across. BIG!

Texas has an anti-litter campaign going. Here's the slogan you see on bumper stickers, t-shirts, and signs. I picked up a few bumper stickers initially thinking they represented the independent spirit of the place, but look closely and you see the highway markers in the pattern. Fines for highway littering are a threatened $1000.00. Big!

There’s even a Lone Star Beer!

Along many of the highways we've traveled are fences. The lands are still ranch lands and open range grazing lands. Even on the Ft. Hood military installation, soldiers on the ranges must be aware of cattle and cease exercises when cattle are present. There are cattle crossings on the roads. Off the main roads, you enter a ranch by driving over gravely, unpaved or old macadam roads, but you pass under an archway--not quite as elaborate as J.R. Ewings’, but an archway just the same--in stone, metal, or a variety of other building materials. The archway proclaims the name of the ranch. This is the archway to The Moser Ranch near Killeen, TX.

Texas is not all old ranching country either. Texas wine country is beginning to flourish, and there is a Texas Wine Trail extending through most of the Hill Country stretching from New Braunfels in the south, through Johnson City, and up toward Lampasas in the northern part of Central Texas. Tours, festivals, and tastings are available, and it looks pretty terrific--and Texas Big. Rob and I drove through a section of it heading toward The Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Park, but time did not permit a visit.

When you come to Texas, come to enjoy its enormity and its diversity. I wouldn't presume to go beyond my impressions of this one section of the vast state. I bet the flavor changes radically. Do your research beforehand, and if possible, take your time. Remember, too, that Texas is more than a state; it is a state of mind.

Texas
Texas "lone+star" "Hill+Country" longhorn cattle