Austin’s got it going on! Swans on the river, live music in the supermarkets, great food trucks, house concerts.
There’s lots of building work going on downtown and the Eastside appears to be becoming gentrified. There are still some neighbourhoods of smaller houses and Latino families, but new young people are moving in, and renovating. In some cases, they’re building new houses out to the property edges. This is inevitably going to change the flavor of the neighbourhoods.
One evening we walked down the road to the White Horse pub, where no less than 3 bands were playing, starting at 5 pm, 9 pm and midnight! We really enjoyed the music of Conjunto Los Pinkys who played an infectious mix of Latino, Tejano, Cuban and I don’t know what else music, with everyone in the place dancing. All ages, changing partners, and yes I did my best when the charming older Mexican gentleman asked me to dance!
We stayed in the beautiful bungalow at the back of airbnb hosts Edie & Alberto’s house on the East side. The place was perfect. Very welcoming, with a beautifully equipped kitchen and bathroom, even a washer and drier. Combined, spacious living/bedroom, lots of light. Our view was of their stunning blue garden shed!
We even had the use of bicycles and took full advantage of them, riding into town, riding along the river for miles. It’s a popular activity, we were often surrounded by people and dogs and bicycles. People fishing from the riverbank, paddling kayaks and generally having fun.
Edie and Alberto were extremely welcoming and friendly, they were planning to be out of town during part of our stay, and wanted to introduce us to their friends and neighbours Bill and Janine, who immediately became our new best friends!
We had such fun with them, and were so lucky to have the opportunity to be invited to hear music at a private house concert in the Austin hills. There was a terrific group of young people called Harpeth Rising playing some wonderful eclectic music. At the end of the gig, the house’s Great Danes were let into the room and joined in!
We regularly received texts and emails from Janine, telling us what our next social engagement would be!
They have even invited us to stay with them in their house outside Cape Town South Africa, when they go there in October – what an amazing opportunity, of course we said yes, thank you!
Austin has a vibrant nightlife with many bars and restaurants stretching along 6th St. We really loved staying there, what a great place!
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