USA 2025

We have an early breakfast, as we have a good three-hour drive ahead of us. Just after nine, we set off. Our first destination after a good hour is Buc-Ee’s Travel Center in Luling, TX. This is the largest gas station in the world, with a refueling area of ​​approximately 7,000 square meters. The station has 120 pumps, 60 restrooms, and also the largest convenience store in the world. I also counted about ten 400 kWh charging stations. Luckily, there was a pump available for us (😜), so we could fill up for the equivalent of €0.52 per liter. After this experience, we continue towards the NASA Space Center in Houston. Also a wonderful experience. We take the tram to the Saturn V rocket, then back to the Space Shuttle Independence, which is displayed here on a Boeing 747 and can also be visited from the inside. Then, through the main hall, past all the highs and lows of American space travel.  Late in the afternoon, we’ll head to the third item on our list today: the Houston Premium Outlets, where we’ll finally fill many of the empty spaces in our suitcases. We’ll then drive to the hotel to check in and then visit The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Our return flight awaits tomorrow. It leaves at 3:30 PM Texas time, 10:30 PM Dutch time, and we should be back in Bremen around 9:40 AM on Thursday. But before we return the car, we’ll do a few more errands.

I hope everyone enjoyed reading this as much as we did. And now for the last time the …

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We started off leisurely this morning and were ready by eleven o’clock to leave the apartment behind and head towards San Antonio. A drive of a good hour. We drove straight to the hotel, parked the car, and asked if, despite it being relatively early in the morning, there were perhaps two rooms available. They turned out to be available, so we settled in. After the four-person room in Corsicana and the two-bedroom apartment in Austin, we now had two rooms with two double beds each, so everyone had his own bed. The hotel offered a shuttle to the Riverwalk, a 15-mile stretch of waterfront along both sides of the San Antonio River with restaurants, bars, and shops. Very pleasant and enjoyable. We had a great time there, but eventually decided to visit The Alamo, one of the most heroic places and stories in American history. It’s about a battle in the Texas Revolution, where a small group of Texan defenders resisted the Mexican army for thirteen days in 1836. Although all the defenders were killed, including famous figures like David Crockett and Jim Bowie, knoen from the Bowie knife, their heroic struggle became a symbol of the fight for Texas independence. The slogan “Remember the Alamo!” became an inspiration for other rebels and ultimately led to the Texas victory at the Battle of San Jacinto. Afterwards, we’ll go to the nearby Merger Hotel, or rather, the bar. An English-style pub, where we’ll have lunch. Late in the afternoon, we’ll return to the Riverwalk, settle in at Mad Dog, another British pub, and make a reservation at Domino’s around 8:15 a.m. for a delicious meal.

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A short blog post today. Sometimes days don’t go as planned. Today was one of those days. Originally, we were going to go to the racetrack today as well, but because Henk wasn’t feeling well, we decided to stay in the apartment, under the motto “together out, together home.” That’s where the Chromecast Bene always brings on vacation came in handy. We plugged it in, started the VPN, and watched the Sprint Race on our 55″ screen. And did a quick load of laundry in between. Fortunately, Henk recovered a bit during the day, so we decided to replace the bad experience at Texan BBQ with a better one. Earlier this week, we got a tip about another restaurant, Cooper’s, at the Beer Garden, so we went there. And indeed, the meat is just as good, but the atmosphere is much more relaxing.

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We woke up even later than expected this morning; it wasn’t until around 8:30 that things really started to get going. We took a leisurely shower, had breakfast, and around 10:30 decided to walk to the Texas State Capitol. The state’s government center. True to Texas tradition, it’s the largest capitol in the country, even larger than the Capitol in Washington, D.C. We explored the building’s interior, visiting the House of Representatives, the Senate, and more. Afterward, we walked through the Historic District to Rainey Street, where we settled into a Beer Garden for a delicious lunch of a bratwurst sandwich and a Hazy IPA. Then we leisurely headed to our apartment on a rented scooter and lounged on the top floor. Around 7:30, we took an Uber to Terry Black BBQ restaurant, a must-do if the guidebooks are to be believed, but don’t believe everything you read. The meat was delicious, but the ambiance wasn’t exactly European. We join a line that lasts for half an hour to 45 minutes. When we finally reach the ordering area, it’s a rush, and within a minute we’re sent inside with a tray full of food to find a table ourselves. The term “food shed” or “soup kitchen” is used, and yes, that’s not far from the truth. Within an hour, we’re in the Uber back to our apartment, finishing the day with a final beer.

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We start this Wednesday with a genuine American hotel breakfast. This after all four of us have reasonably conquered jet lag and don’t wake up until around seven o’clock. After all the daily grind, we get in the car and head to Southfork Ranch. A term probably still familiar to anyone over fifty. Naturally, it refers to the hit TV series Dallas. We just manage to join the first tour of the day, where we learn a lot about the series, the cast, and of course, the ranch. After a tour of several rooms, we can then walk around on our own and see everything, from the swimming pool to J.R.’s grave. That’s why this time we have a double video of the day. First, here’s the Dallas theme song, and after this blog post, the second.

After about an hour and a half, we head to the nearest National Car Rental branch. In the hustle and bustle of picking up the car from the rental company at the airport, we’d forgotten to register an additional driver. We’ve now corrected that. Afterward, we drove to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which is dedicated to the JFK assassination, and according to the Warren Commission report, was also committed from this building. Unfortunately, upon arrival at the parking lot, we were told the museum was currently closed due to an emergency; he didn’t know what it was. He also didn’t know whether it was temporary or for the entire day. So, we decided to have lunch first and then try again. The lunch was delicious, and upon returning to Dealey Plaza, we first visited the scene of the assassination, the so-called Grassy Knoll, and took pictures. Then we returned to the museum, which unfortunately remained closed for the remainder of the day. So, we drove back to our apartment in Austin empty-handed. On the way, just before Austin, we had a delicious pizza and arrived at our apartment at eight o’clock.

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A very long travel day. As mentioned yesterday, our original trip to Houston was canceled and replaced by a step-by-step trip via Newark. We started with breakfast at four in the morning and then flew from Bremen to Amsterdam at six fifteen, because that leg of the trip had remained intact. The flight to Newark was supposed to depart at nine fifteen, but it ended up an hour and a half later, but it only landed half an hour later than planned. Since this is the first airport we’ll be visiting in the USA, we have to go through Homeland Security and collect our suitcases from the belt. Fortunately, we’re near the front of the line at Homeland Security, as the shutdown slows down the work pace. Anyway, everything goes relatively smoothly, and with five minutes left until boarding, we’re at the gate to Houston. This flight goes very smoothly, and at four thirty Texas time, eleven thirty at night Dutch time, we pick up our rental car. Another two-and-a-half-hour drive, and we arrive at our first hotel. But not before we’ve had dinner at Applebee’s near the hotel. The final surprise awaits us at the hotel. The card slot isn’t working; the batteries are probably dead. So, after half an hour, we’re moved to another room. First, a beer, and then bed.

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Well begun is half done, they say, right? So I’m curious what else awaits us. A little over an hour before our departure for Bremen, a text message arrives from KLM. Unfortunately, your October 14th flight to Houston has been canceled due to technical problems. We’re looking into alternatives for you. And sure enough, half an hour later we’re transferred to a flight to Newark near New York, from where we can still fly on to Houston. So, we can head to Bremen as planned. We’ll spend the night there, as our first flight to Amsterdam leaves at 6:15. Bene picks up Paul and Doeije, respectively, and then we drive to the gas station along the A7 near Scheemda where we meet Henk. Around 8:30, we arrive at the hotel, check in, and have a beer before going to bed, as it’s going to be an early day.

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We (Bene, Henk, Paul and Doeije) are going to prepare for a trip to Austin, Texas to watch the American Formula 1.