Hi everyone...we're still alive!!!!

When we posted last we were staying in an interesting hotel. It didn't appear to be the safest but we survived. I think we must have booked on the weekend of the Gangster Conference 2008. Barring that weekend we had a wonderful time in Austin. It's a really great place and seemed a slower pace than elsewhere in the US. We saw plenty of it whilst walking about the downtown area. We spent a lot of time on 6th street which is the place to be for live music etc. Nashville takes it regards the music but still a great street nevertheless.

We spent our Sunday in the centre of town and visited the Texas congress building which is a good place to go. After that we spent lunchtime in an open air bar chilling with the locals in scorching weather. Hard job but someone has to do it!

Austin is nicely placed between Dallas and San Antonio so we got in the car and visited both, starting with Dallas. Dallas too is a really nice, clean city. We didn't find out who shot JR but we did see where JFK was shot. We visited his memorial in the centre of town which was good to see. We had a good walk around and got a feel for the place.

We got home in the evening and headed to the bridge on Congress St where every night 1 million bats take flight to go and eat all the bugs etc... There were hundreds of people on the bridge and we got the feeling it was a real big thing. It's the largest urban bat colony in the Americas. We got an ok view and it was great to see but we understand it is better in the summer and you can see more because of the light. Still a great experience though.

The next day we drove down to San Antonio. We were impressed with this place also. There was plenty to do there. We visited The Alamo. I'd never been before but I have used Enterprise and Hertz a few times previously!! Seriously though, that was really good to see and it is bizarrely slap bag in the middle of the town. It's like the city was built around it. It was strange to see that with huge skyscrapers around it.

As we were walking around the city Jules' handbag broke right outside Macy's so we had to go in and get a new one!!!!! (Good timing!)

In the afternoon we did the River Walk which we thought would just be walking along a river but are pleased to say it was better than that. It's like Cambridge almost with a network of canals running through the city below street level with shops and restaurants all along it.

In the evening we went to our first NBA game. We watched the San Antonio Spurs play the Phoenix Suns. Being a Chelsea fan there was no way was I cheering on a team called spurs so I was shouting for Phoenix. They won so I was happy! We have to say we really like the game of Basketball but it's amazing how stop start it is and EVERY time there is a break in play there is some show on the court advertising something and you'll hear 'Here's a message from our sponsors!!!' and about 50 companies will be listed etc etc... All good fun though and a great experience. Shaquille O'Neal plays for Phoenix now so it was good to see him.

Before we knew it, it was our last day in Austin and we visited the Central Market which is a lovely fresh supermarket sort of place to get food (although Jules wasn't too impressed by the price of Lurpack about $5!!!!)for the afternoon which was spent in glorious weather in the park by the city (big sunburns followed!!!).

Next it was on to Phoenix, where we've been for the last couple of days. We had to pick up a hire car again as we did in Austin but for some reason we received a complimentary upgrade and was able to get a Ford Mustang!!!! It's the business, let me tell you! We're doing plenty of driving on this leg of the trip so it's very welcome indeed.

Last night we saw some more sports. This time it was baseball and more good fun was had. Less advertising here and they even put on a great fireworks display at the end of the game.

We spent lots of time Downtown today and got to see plenty of Phoenix. It's a really great place and it's in the desert so it's really hot, again! There are mountains all around the town and it looks great.

Next for us it's off to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas before we come back to Phoenix to fly on to California so there should be some great photos on here soon.

Please check out our latest photo's Austin and Phoenix and let us know what you think. You could play 'spot the cloud' but I'll give you a clue....there isn't any!!!

Please keep the messages coming as they're great to get. We can't believe we've been away for over a month already. It's gone so quick. We're having a great time!!!!!!!

Take care all.

Hugs and manly handshakes to all.

Alan and Jules

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