Houston's Downtown Aquarium

Once again it is 100 degrees in Houston so I decide to make an outing to another venue that will be - at least in part - outdoors.  This time, I have time to go to the hotel first and change clothes but realize I really didn't pack to be outside (since I would usually avoid that at these temperatures).  So jeans it is.

You may recall from the last post that I was feeling motion sick after the Led Zepplin show at the planetarium.  So, even if I had been remotely tempted (I wasn't and wouldn't be) to ride the Ferris Wheel here at the amusement area outside of the Downtown Aquarium, I didn't.  Plus, just like the museum, everything here costs extra.  

You pay extra to ride the Ferris Wheel, when I took this image, it was completely empty.

As was the game midway (also extra).

I was vaguely tempted to play this fishing game since my grandbaby has the miniature version at my house.  I am frequently encouraged to play so I am pretty good at it.  However, I was self-conscious about walking around by myself with a blow-up spiderman doll.  And...do you see an employee in the booth?  I don't.

The sea creature carousel - you guessed it - costs extra.  Not something I was willing to do with no child in tow.  Especially when I would have been the ONLY person riding.  I would have totally picked a seahorse though.

Look! People!  I am not here alone as it may have appeared.  This is also not in my plans and it costs extra.

I don't like to be in wet clothing so whether this costs extra or not, moving along.

There is one outdoor activity that I will take part in: the 360 degree shark tank.  For this activity, which costs extra, you ride a small train around the park and through a tunnel filled with small sharks.

To ride the train you line up, outside, in the heat, to wait.  I may end up wet after all as I soak my clothes with sweat standing here.  Fortunately a train comes every 10 minutes.  I don't realize until later that this is the same train over and over.  I paid an extra $5 for this so that is $1 for every 90 seconds of sweaty, fun-filled, pre-recorded excitement.  To get my money's worth, I went around twice.

As we leave the "station" we pass this plastic strung-up shark.  This exhibit is supposed to be about shark conservation?

The tunnel goes through the old waterworks building.  One of my customers says this building was an eye-sore before so repurposing it was a good thing.

As with all rides at amusement parks, we are told to keep our hands, arms and other body parts inside the train at all times.  The two men in front of me there totally ignore this and completely exit the train to take a photo next to the glass.  The train comes to a complete stop inside the tunnel for about 2 minutes.  The conductor starts to leave when he realizes they aren't on the train.  He doesn't say anything, he just waits for them to get back on.

The recording discloses that technically, this isn't a shark swimming in the 360 degree shark tank.

As we exit the tunnel, the recorded voice tells us that during the last flood in Houston, one of the sharks escaped and has not been recaptured even though the "scientific staff" have searched high and low.  We should be on the lookout they say.  Rumor is it might still be in the local area (despite the rigorous search).

We are then led to believe that this plastic animatronic shark that I think was used in the original Jaws movie is the escaped shark.  Even the small children on the train are not scared or impressed.

At this point, I am starting to notice a couple of themes.  Boredom and plastic.  These themes continue inside the aquarium. 

I like this alligator's ingenuity.  He was in need of a nap and created a pillow out of a  passing turtle.

A napping regular-sized snake.

A gigantic napping python.

A napping lizard of some sort.

A tarantula that didn't move so I assume he was napping.

Dorrie!  At least she was moving though she probably doesn't remember where she is going or why she is here.

A napping white tiger (really, look way to the right of the image) and a very strange Buddha-like figure who is either meditating or napping.

I did get to watch a video tape right outside of the tiger room of the two tigers moving around.  Wait!  There are two tigers? 

The tiger(s) are the end of the exhibit.  From beginning to end it took me a total of 20 minutes to see it all, including the "petting zoo".

My one finger stayed dry since this tank was empty.  They did have a bigger tank, manned by a single employee who didn't talk.  That tank had some small rays and a few other things with what I believe were all of the children under 5 in the building crowded around splashing in the water with multiple fingers.

If only I weren't alone I could have my picture taken inside this fake, plastic diver suit.  You can have your photo taken posing with a fake white tiger by a member of the staff, for an extra fee.

I did find someone outside to take my picture with plastic Bruce from Finding Nemo.

All of the foliage throughout the aquarium is plastic as far as I can tell.  And there was a lot of plastic foliage, in planters, stapled to the ceiling, everywhere.  I didn't see a real plant anywhere.  I think they should change the name to The Downtown Aquarium and Plastic Foliage Museum.

Because the facility is owned by Landry's, there is, of course, a Landry's restaurant on the property.

The restaurant surrounds a huge tank of fish.  As the waiter showed me to my seat, he asked if I wanted to hear more about it.  I said no.  He seemed relieved.

So, I order from the largely seafood menu and eat my seafood while I watch seafood swim around the tank.  This seems inherently wrong.  I am self-conscious.  I look at the fish and think - Am I eating your sister/mother/brother/father/friend?

I am so stressed, I don't finish my food.  The waiter brought the dessert tray for me to review anyway.  It has an example of all of the yummy things you can order.  Molded in plastic.

Houston's Hermann Park

I really don't want to go to Houston.  I have never liked Houston.  David and I returned from San Francisco on Saturday and on Monday, it's time to go and I just feel like...blah.  Maybe I can call in sick.

It doesn't work that way though.  There are people in Houston who have arranged their schedule around these 3 days with me.  I can't let them down. 

The sign at the bottom says "Houston we have landed" but all I can think is "Houston, we have a problem".  Seriously a COW as an astronaut?

I am already sweating and I am still inside the airport.  Dallas is hot and we have humidity but not compared to Houston.  They really have humidity.

So, since I am hot and sweaty, why not do something outdoors?  Using my GPS I see that there is a memorial to Sam Houston near my hotel.  I don't have a lot of time on this evening so I think this will be something quick to check out before dinner and bed.

I read somewhere that statues of mounted soldiers convey specific information through the leg position of the horse.  In this case, Sam's horse has one leg in the air which supposedly means that he died later due to wounds suffered in battle.  I also read that Sam died of pneumonia so you be the judge.

While working around a large herd of teenage girls in formal wear at the base of the statue to take this picture, I notice that there is a reflecting pool similar to the one in Washington D.C. (that I have never seen in person though I have been there twice) across the street.

It is a reflecting pool.

When I approach the statue at the end, I find out this is Hermann Park.  I passed some train tracks and a Japanese Garden (closed) walking over. Back at the hotel I do a little research on the park and make plans to return the next night.  The Houston Museum of Natural Science is attached to the park and is only open late one night a week.

The next day I leave straight from the office and go to the park.  My attire (gray slacks and a black shirt) are ill advised but if I go to the hotel first, I won't make it.  I want to check out the Japanese Garden (because it closes earlier than the museum and isn't open late any day) but I park at the museum since I will be leaving from here.  This means I walk back past the reflecting pool sweating the whole way.  Some visitors have figured out how to beat the heat.

By swimming just beyond the "Please no swimming or wading" sign, which obviously doesn't apply to them.

This boy and his family can either read or they respect the posted signs about swimming and utilize the spray fountains which are designed for this purpose.

You can rent paddle boats here.  I didn't because it is hot, humid, I am wearing business clothing and I am by myself.  I also didn't get to ride the train that goes around the park because I can't get here early enough.

In fact, there is a lot about this park I didn't see.  It covers 445 acres, it is 100 degrees and I am in my work shoes. 

At one time, you had to pay a fee to see the Japanese Garden but that recently changed and it is now free.  That is a good thing because having been to the one at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden, I would have been disappointed if I had paid.  The garden here is okay, nothing special.  A few statues, one building, some ponds, ducks, some really big turtles and exactly one other person.

It is starting to cloud up, which I am grateful for.

Until I come out of the garden and look towards Sam Houston because I hear a familiar noise.  I have lived in Texas all of my life so I know what those clouds and that noise mean.  Time to go to the museum, as quickly as possible.

I just made it.  I had time to pay for my tickets before the bottom dropped out.

The museum has a lot of things you can do but they all cost extra.  There is a planetarium with two remaining shows today.  There is a butterfly exhibit, one on the Titanic and one on the Warrior statues from China, among others.  I get a general admission ticket, both shows at the planetarium and the Warrior ticket.  Plus I pay for parking.  It isn't an inexpensive outing to "see it all" and I didn't even get to see it all.

First up is the planetarium show, "Cosmic Collisions" narrated by Robert Redford.  I haven't been to one of these since probably junior high and remember immediately why I avoid them.  I don't do well with the rounded ceiling.  I get motion sick at regular movies.  Fortunately this show is pretty short (no photos of course, not allowed) and I don't get too queasy.

Just queasy enough to know that I won't be eating at the McDonald's that is installed in the museum.  This costs extra too and they close a couple of hours before the museum does.

As I walk through the permanent exhibits I have to acknowledge that this doesn't interest me.  It isn't all that different than the exhibits I saw on field trips to the Fort Worth Museum of Science & Natural History as a kid.  The museum does brag that they are in the top 10 most visited museums in the nation so I tell myself am helping them keep that distinction.

Dinosaur Bones

Dinosaur in his "natural" habitat

The traveling exhibits, such as the Warriors, while more interesting, will make their way to the Dallas area so it isn't as if I would have totally missed this by passing it up in Houston. 

Two of the warriors.  This exhibit was pretty empty, I counted 5 total people besides me and the warriors.  It was really quiet in here which was rather nice compared to the main areas of the museum.  Plus it is very cool in here which makes me happy.

I am wrapping up the night with the final show at the planetarium - a show set to Led Zepplin music.  I am not a fan of Led Zepplin.  I don't dislike them but I would choose something else first.  Some of you already know what's coming.

I am on the verge of vomiting on the floor and I haven't even eaten.  It is a psychedelic convergence of colors and images set to music.  I can't look.  I hear someone near me say, "This is what it is like to drop acid".  All I can think is that if I ever decide to take acid, I better have some Dramamine handy.  There is one other problem.

President Kennedy is watching.  It is hard to think about dropping acid or aisle vomiting with the President watching.  During the first show, I thought this was the person talking about the "rules" and the show before it began.  I was surprised he stayed there the whole show.  I didn't get up when it was over because I was waiting for him to leave the podium.  I didn't want to be rude.

At the second show, Led Zepplin and the President had to carry on without me.  I didn't hurl but I didn't stay either.  I hope the President understood when I blew past him in a hurry to get to the exit. Fortunately the rain has stopped so I can hopefully make it to the hotel quickly where I am pretty sure I have motion sickness medicine in my traveling first aid kit.

Tomorrow I have plans to go to the Downtown Aquarium.  They have a Ferris Wheel.  I will not be partaking.

San Francisco & the last day of our vacation

It's almost time to go home and I am not ready.  It is 72 degrees here and it is in the upper 90s at home.  When we get home I have to do my laundry and immediately travel to one of my least favorite places - Houston. 

Also, this is our first vacation.  Ever.  David and I never went on a honeymoon and other than a couple of weekend trips revolving around an event (graduation, wedding, birth) we have never been away together.  If I could call home and say - sell the house and all of our stuff, we aren't coming back, I would.  But that isn't reality for most people and certainly not for us so we will have to make the most of our last full day.  Tomorrow we have time for breakfast and then the airport.

Home base for this part of the trip is the Westin St. Francis on Powell St in Union Square, San Francisco. 

We picked this hotel because we heard that this is where the Texas Rangers stay when they are in town.  They are in town and we have plans to see them play tonight at AT&T park against the Giants. 

We get up for breakfast and walk to Lori's (up the street also on Powell though I get turned around and we walk around the block to get there).  They have changed the decor since the last time I was here from Lucille Ball to Barbra Streisand.

I want to go to the Haight-Ashbury district and David is aware of this.  I have only been there once, several years ago, at night.  I don't remember much, only that there were independently owned type stores that I thought David might like.  Although he doesn't say this directly, I can tell by his questions over breakfast that he is unconvinced.  "How many stores?"  I don't remember.  "What kind of stores?"  I don't know.  I reiterate, I was there once, in the dark, by myself.  Not considered a good plan so I didn't stay too long.  I went to the store I needed to go to, got what I needed, went to one more store around the corner and got out of there.

He seems pretty resistant but again, doesn't exactly refuse to go.  I don't really want to force the issue so we are at a quasi-impasse.  Walking back to the hotel we see a tour bus, the kind with the open top.  I have never done one of these and wasn't in a big hurry to either.  Too obviously tourtisty.  But we walk up, they are hustling customers, we ask a couple of questions and next thing you know...

We are smooching on the upper level.  This tour is going to take us through "Downtown".  There is another one that runs across Golden Gate Bridge and one more that goes to Golden Gate Park and down Haight Street.  We have time for two so after this one is done, we are planning to do the Golden Gate Park tour.

This tour fits with our attempts to not be too rigid in our plans.  We walk up and bam - we are on the tour.  You can't tell from the photo but it is a little chilly and we didn't bring jackets.  Or sunscreen.  When we get back to the hotel and the end of both tours, we are quite cold and David's face is sunburned.  Mine is burned a little but my makeup provided some protection.  It was pretty windy up there too so it could have been windburn/sunburn combo.

We sit in the very back and it isn't a full tour.  This makes taking pictures off the side easy though I didn't do too much of that.  The Downtown part only takes us through a few places I am not familiar with.  The second tour takes us to lots of places I am not familiar with.

Here is what I know because of this bus tour:

I want to go to Golden Gate Park.  This appears to be an all-day affair to see even a reasonable amount.  We see a very small area on the tour but it is enough for me to realize I have missed out by skipping this in the past.

David would have enjoyed Haight Street.  As we drive it on the tour, he mentions that he could have spent an entire day there.  There are TONS of shops (the kind we like with unique items, not like a mall), restaurants, bars, etc.  We pass this doorway with a bluegrass band playing inside.

The biggest thing I learn is that I will likely be able to talk David into coming back to San Francisco some day.  That, in itself, is a victory.

The tour also took us past Alamo Square Park and the "Painted Ladies".  These houses known for being in movies such as Ms. Doubtfire and in television shows such as Full House were the only homes in this area not destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires.  Unlike the herds of cars going down Lombard St (the crooked street), there is no stopping or idling in this area so no crazy throngs in front of your house.  The bus slows some but never stops here.

We could have exited the tour in Golden Gate Park or on Haight Street and they would have another bus by later we could ride back to Union Square.  But we have tickets to the game and don't want to be rushed so we stay on so we can eat and then get ready to go.  David kindly allows me to pick our lunch destination, my favorite, Sear's.  I have my favorite salmon dish so all-in-all this has been a good day so far.

Based on the map I had on the last trip, I have an idea of a good way to walk to the park.  We agree on this and leave returning to the hotel open - we can either walk or try to get a cab.

It is still cold.  It is June and I am wearing a sweatshirt and am carrying a jacket that I will eventually wear.  As they did in Oakland, they sell hot chocolate during the game.

Unlike Oakland, this is a really nice ballpark.  They do a lot before and during the game to get the fans involved, something that was non-existent in Oakland.  We are on the second row right by the Ranger's bullpen.  This means that Nolan Ryan (on the left) has to walk directly in front of us to reach his seat which is, of course, closer to the dugout.

When I booked the Westin, I had no real way of knowing if the rumor that it is team hotel is true or not.  It was.  Between our two bus tours we went into the lobby to use the restroom.  The men's room and women's rooms were, according to the map, not together.  I head one way, David heads another.

I see pitcher Yu Darvish, new Texas Ranger, instant star, walking in the lobby (this is him at the park signing autographs).  David sees Tom Greive, Rangers television announcer, eating lunch.  I win!

The next day we both see a couple of players in the lobby, including Yu Darvish again.  We don't ask for autographs.  Maybe this is the point of staying at the team hotel but it seems intrusive to me.  No one comes up to me to ask for my autograph in the hotel lobby, why would I do that to someone else?  I like baseball but ultimately, they are just people.

As I mentioned, the park is really nice and has a lot of things to do and see, and a nice variety of food vendors.

Statue of Willie Mays in front of the park

If you go to guest services, they will give you a certificate for your first game.

Home runs can end up in the bay.  This is the view behind the right field seating area.  There is a digital sign that tracks the "splash hits".  It read 60 when we were there.

There is a nice kids area including a slide in the Coke bottle that I am fairly sure I won't fit in.  Those white blurs are birds.  When the game is over they swarm the park to eat food that was left in the stands and on the ground.  One of the people near us that has been here before said they know when the game should be over and sometimes become a nuisance when the game goes into extra innings.  There were a LOT of birds starting to land in the outfield bleachers before all of the people even clear out.

When the game is over, we walk back to the hotel.  We are in good spirits because our team won this time and we had a better experience here .  This doesn't mean that this park was without its issues, primarily with people in our vicinity.

1. The girl seated to David's left, between him and home plate sits perched on the edge of her seat and leaning forward, making seeing the batter difficult.  Unless HE leans out which blocks my view, creating a domino effect of leaning.
2. The man and woman behind us aren't watching the game.  They talk loudly to each other and sometimes he talks loudly on his cell phone.  He has his body turned towards the woman, away from the game.  At one point I notice that the woman's voice sounds weird so I peek and see that she is crying.  Hey - There's no crying in baseball! 
3. The girl sitting to my right sits down with her food and proceeds to sit with her body forward and turned towards me so she is holding her tray of GARLIC french fries over my lap while she shovels them in her mouth very rapidly and in large chunks.  When her male companion arrives a little later, she continues this while also eating from his tray.  He sits down, starts talking and NEVER STOPS the whole game.  On and on and on, explaining baseball to her, quoting statistics.  He is paying attention to the game but really?  SHUT UP for 5 minutes PLEASE!

Now that we have been to a few parks (we have been to Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City, Oakland, San Francisco & our park in Arlington, Texas together, I have been to Wrigley in Chicago for a Cubs/Braves game), I know what I like best...

The view of the game from my living room.  David is "watching" the game, or checking his eyelids for cracks, one or the other.  Peanut, our crazed Pappihuahua (papillon/chihuahua mix) is guarding something.  Could be a treat or food.  Could be David.  Could be air.  He is a psycho.  Our other dog Karma is napping behind my empty recliner.

Back in Texas watching the game on TV I realize this is all I need.  I pick the food, I pick the temperature and best of all, I pick who sits/naps near me.  These are the best seats in baseball.