I love austin

arrived in austin on wednesday lunchtime and it was like a breath of fresh air. after cycling through rural texas and swampland for so long it was an incredible feeling to arrive in austin where there is so much life, energy and colour. entered the east of the city and it was like being in mexico: the people, shops and restaurants were all mexican. found a vegetarian place almost immediately. makes a change from meat filled southern cooking in the small non descript towns that i have been going through. met up with a freind of friend called suzanne who amazingly let me stay on her very comfy leather couch in her fully furnished (antiques and all!) apartment. just cant really put across how much i loved austin. everything is unique and corporate america is hidden away as the high streets are filled with loads of independent friendly stores and restaurants.

the south by south west music festival is probably one of the best music festivals i have ever experienced. firstly it goes on a week! secondly there are over 2000 bands playing. thirdly there are probably more than 100 venues including bars, clubs, parks, coffee shops, bridges, street corners. literally music is everywhere, and the quality is ridiculous: folk, country, rock, hip hop, avant guard. saw an array of music including the raveonettes and dizzie rascal. there were countless bands i have never heard of but had so much talent. i think i am converted back to live rock music, djs just dont cut it when it comes to performances. forthly people watching is hillarious from the new york hipsters to the metal goths to the old school punks. austin has the attittude that everything has to be original and so there is no monotony like other cities and even though some people might try too hard it is still better than no effort at all. to top it all off the weather was perfect between 25-33 (80-95) degrees. oh yeah, i forgot to say, i hardly paid a cent for anything including the music, beer, food and even icecream. it just doesnt get better than that.

too much to say and i have to get on my bike (hail and rain comin). last night i slept on a couch on the porch of a bar, it was surprisingly comfy and i slept amazingly well although that might have had something to do with the beers i had with some of the locals (one of the guys called willie had been shot in the head and still has the bullet in his brain! good lad). will write again soon. now im in kerrville.