Back from Austria

We have been on our annual family visit in Austria during the last couple of weeks. Now we are back and I'm trying to catch up with work, garden and laundry.

It's good to be "home" in Austria, spend time with family and friends, eat things we are not getting here (like Quark/Topfen) and enjoy the athmosphere of good old Europe. However, after 2 weeks it also feels good to be back "home" in Massachusetts.

Texas, along the US-mexican border

The long drive from South Padre Island to Big Bend National Park has been almost boring, at least for the first stretch.



Only billboards in Spanish and signs for border crossings let the traveller be aware that Mexico is just around the corner.




Foreigners, who are driving in thise area should always be prepared for a stopp by border patrol. We had our green cards and passports checked at least three times in two days - one time even about 20 miles inland.

Too much traffic on National Seashore

We spent the first day of our Texas vacation on Padre Island National Seashore. After reading the description of the National park on the Internet, we expected the barrier island to be a bit like Assateague National Seashore in Virginia/Maryland. Abundance of wildlife, nature, endless beach, crashing waves, and not many signs of human presence.

"Padre Island National Seashore is the longest section of undeveloped barrier island in the world, protecting rare coastal prairie; a complex, dynamic dune system; and the Laguna Madre, one of the few hypersaline lagoon environments left in the world…. Situated along the Central Flyway, Padre Island is a globally important area for over 350 migratory, overwintering, and resident bird species… Padre Island National Seashore is the most important nesting beach in the U.S. for the Kemp's ridley, the most endangered sea turtle in the world.” (http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm)

Well, we did see many birds, but we also had to put up with traffic and the trash left behind from hundreds of beach campers over the 4th of July weekend. From soiled diapers, empty beer cans to leftover catch.







I'm wondering why the entire Padre Island National Seashore is open to car traffic? Why not only a limited area, so that the rest can be unspoiled nature?

Texas roadtrip

We are back from our two week long Texas roadtrip. We really had a good time and I'm surprised that Texas is not more popular as travel destination. In Big Bend National Park we met just a handful of visitors. In Big Bend Ranch State Park, our car appeared to be the only one and though we had no hotel reservations, it was easy to find rooms and get big discounts - even in prime locations directly at the beach on South Padre Island (I hope everyone there is fine after Dolly, particularly the nice folks at La Quinta where we stayed for two nights in a suite with a balcony toward the ocean.

Here are a few pictures , more detailed travel stories later:

Padre Island National Park


Big Bend National Park




Sonora Cavern

Tips needed for Texas vacation

Hello, all Texas lovers out there: We are traveling this summer to Texas - simply because we haven't been there, yet. I heard, Texas has lovely beaches. I also heard San Antonio and Austin are a "must stop". I do have travel books, but I would like to hear from people, who have been there what they liked most. We are a family of four with two teenage sons. They love sports and adventures. My husband and I like sightseeing, nature, history and good food. Tips concerning activities, lodging and food,nature and so forth are greatly appreciated. Thank you.