So...SoCo

  Austin, Texas, United States
Saturday, January 12, 2008

Another bright welcoming morning, just right for more exploring - one thing about this incredible journey of ours is that we don't have to pack all the sight seeing into a couple of days or weeks. It is a luxury we cherish, but today we were in the mood for 'looking'. As we drove through downtown, it had its Saturday coat on, so the uni and the office buildings stood sighing, taking stock of the week past, bustling no more, on this one of their days off. The myriad of traffic lights blinked on almost empty streets, a bit like the financial district in London or indeed any large city, on the same day. We wanted to go back to one of the districts we'd visited on the Dillo, an area known as So Co, which is in fact south of the river; south Congress Avenue. You may recall that Congress Ave runs N to S from the capitol building that stands majestically at its northern end.

Looking up Congress towards Capitol building...

Background

This So Co is a 'recently' rejuvenated area; the avenue is lined with all manner of interesting shops, restaurants and cafes. By contrast it was lively, tiny improbable businesses had perpetual queues, street cafes hummed with conversation, shoppers browsed the unusual. Buskers entertained those who sat on chairs displayed on the pavement by a nearby shop.

Cup cake anyone?...

Containers...

Lazy Saturday afternoon

The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial. We loaded up with calories and fat at Frans diner where burgers were served long before the recent revival. Incidentally the jalapeno/cheese (Malc's of course) and the hickory burgers were very good, the milk shakes - well you have to go the whole hog don't you? - seemed to last forever.

Typical diner...

The servery, typical decor

Lots of wheel hubs

Speaking of hogs; one establishment didn't want anything to do with them! This place is a reminder that we're still in hunting country, as I took this photo a guy was unloading a heavy black bag and carrying it inside, I hope it was an animal..

Another resident that's been trading since long...

Not for the vegetarians

Don't know what you'd do with your hog!

If you were mystified by the message on your last e mail up date, something about 'crunchy on the outside' perhaps this will shed light upon it... I think this is awful and so are the frogs. This shop definitely dealt with the uncommon.

Still crunchy on the outside...

and so is this!

This place was amazing

Again the signs were pure 'road trip usa' and oh yes and there were some interesting cars too!

So USA

One for the boys