Greetings from Houston: A Vibrant Snapshot of City Life

Here’s a rephrased version of the article:

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I’m sending a quick virtual postcard from our trip to Texas, where I’m currently with my family. We started our journey in Houston after arriving from London. Thankfully, we stayed at the Park Inn North Houston Hotel, just a 15-minute drive from the airport. After a long flight, it was great to have a convenient, modern, and comfortable place to relax.

This was our first time experiencing the double queen bed setup, which is common in the US but not so much in Europe. It worked perfectly for our family of five, allowing our three kids to share a room comfortably.

After a good night’s sleep, despite waking up early due to jet lag, we decided to visit one of Houston’s top attractions, the Space Center Houston. The tram ride mainly toured the working buildings, and the commentary was fascinating. We even saw an astronaut in training. There were many other interesting exhibits – we learned how astronauts use the bathroom (with suction), experienced a Blast Off, and tried on a few space helmets.

Once we had explored everything at the Space Center, we hit the road for San Antonio. It was interesting to see the endless chain of fast-food outlets and garages give way to green fields. We were determined to find a classic diner for a late lunch.

We saw a sign for Tony’s Family Restaurant and decided to check it out. The building had mirrored glass windows and looked quiet from the outside, but it was bustling inside. The waitress was excited to meet visitors from the UK and loved our accents, comparing them to Harry Potter. I’m still getting used to the Texan greetings like “How y’all doing?” and “Yes Ma’am!”. I had fried catfish with battered okra, while the others tried various Southwestern and Tex-Mex dishes. By the time I noticed the large selection of sweet pies Texas is famous for, I was already full.

Next stop, San Antonio!

PS: Don’t worry – I’ll write more detailed posts about our activities once I get home!