Austin: Day Two

Today we drove around the Arboretum area - where we are staying at. Don also wanted to do a drive by to my training facility so I know how to get there on Monday. We found it and it is really easy to get to - only a mile from our hotel. How convenient is that?

For lunch we went to The County Line Bar-B-Q. A place recommended by Ra, an electrical engineer (Korean) who is also staying at our hotel. We met him outside of the hotel while Don is out for a smoke. I had the chicken and brisket platter served with coleslaw and beans. Don and Berna had pulled pork sandwich, and Jackie (our Miss Picky Eater) had some chips and some of my chicken. The food was good, but did not have the Wow Factor. We will try another BBQ place in the area. I want to try some good Texas BBQ. Don might drive us down to Salt Lick in Driftwood which is about 3o minutes from our place. I read that it is suppose to be the place for BBQ.

Jackie and Don befriended a kitty at The County Line

After lunch we headed to Downtown Austin via Scenic Road which is along the Austin Lake. A nice drive on a winding road lined with huge expensive looking houses. Nothing too exciting downtown - we drove along 5th and 6th streets, and through the Capitol building. We might be back there and do some sight seeing, maybe.

Austin's Capitol Building. It looks like our Capitol Building in DC, but it is smaller and the color is beige.

When we got home from our afternoon adventure, we spent some time looking on the Internet for good authentic Mexican food. Don found Jardin Corona Mexican restaurant to have good reviews and so we decided it was the place to be for dinner. The food and margarita was very good. Our waiter Luis provided us with very good service. My meal came with a plate of crispy corn tortilla topped with cheese, and gaucamole salad on the side. I had no idea how to deal with it, whether I should wait for my meal or what. When Luis returned Don asked what to do with it. Luis was a bit puzzled with the question and responded "do you think it is going to do something?" - and we all had a good laugh. Then Don told him that we are not from the area and that we have never been served such item back home. And so he (Luis) explained. When it was time for Don to have his margarita refill, Luis asked if "more little bit stronger" was desired, the answer was a definite yes. Luis made Don taste the new and improved drink - he stood and waited for the confirmation that indeed it was good and strong. When Don asked him how he should ask for the good margarita when we return to the restaurant, he jokingly said to just say Luis. LOL. It was the "top shelf" margarita. It had premium tequilla and a dash of Grand Marnier. He did not charge us the "top shelf" price. Don gave him a good tip.

On our way home we stopped at the Dollar Tree for window cleaner (to clean our very dirty windshield), a big plastic cup for Don's beer, air freshener, and dish washing sponge. And of course you cannot leave the dollar store without a toy for Jackie.

It was good second day in Austin. Tomorrow, we'll figure out what we'll do with our day after breakfast.