Well, I was reliably informed that there would be a Tartan Day event in the rotunda of the Texas Capital building in Austin, but for reasons I have yet to learn, nobody showed up! Except for me and Mrs.Z the capital was pretty much a tartan free zone! At least I was the most interesting person there for a while, doing my part for tourism!
But it was a nice day and since we made the 320 mile round trip anyway, Shelley took a few snaps...
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Our state capital was constructed from native pink granite in 1882–88, and a $75 million underground extension was completed in 1993. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is the largest state capitol building in the United States, larger and taller than the US capital in D.C.
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The State Seal in the rotunda under the dome, the crests around it are the 5 nations that have claimed Texas as a colony, territory or state; Spain, France, Mexico, United States, and the Confederacy.
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The dome directly above the seal.
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a nice mosaic in the new underground extension.
After visiting our capital, we took a little jaunt downtown to Austin's 6th street for a snack and a pint,
Since we were playing tourist, we checked out the Austin Coyote Ugly, tons of fun!
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some of the bar rules...
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some of the friendly coyotes
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This young lady (who was an awful cute redhead) was interested in "the question" I gave her answer #4; "The Irish Air Force: 2 hangers and a nightfighter"
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glad I shaved my noggin this week! When in Austin Texas, check out the Coyote Ugly bar, they love the kilt!
And finally on the way home, a riot of Texas Bluebonnets on the side of the highway...
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I'm glad you had fun in my home town of Austin! Thanks for sharing your pictures, it looks like you had fun. :D If I had know about Tartan Day in Austin I would have had at least 2 more tartan wearing men show up. If you make it back to Austin again I'll show you around town and buy you a beer.
:)
Thank-you for the great pix of the state capitol. Molden had tried to take me on a tour of the capital on one of my visits but there was absolutely no where to park. (Game day.)
A non-Tartan Tartan day? was the event canceled? We just finished a Tartan Days festival here in St Louis over the weekend. Had a great time
Quote from: jcbanner on April 06, 2009, 08:19:57 PM
A non-Tartan Tartan day? was the event canceled?
I don't really know, ??? the deal at the capital was supposed to be on Sunday the 5th. I know there were games in San Antonio that day, so maybe everyone went down there instead. I was relying on the TXSCOT.COM website for the info, and I guess the change in plans didn't trickle down to it!
Truth be told, if I'd known I would have saved the 12 gallons of gas! But we didn't get upset about it though, it was a nice day for a ride, and we had not been in the capital since before the extention and restorations were done in the 90's.
Quote from: Abbynormal on April 07, 2009, 08:59:23 PM
Glad you enjoyed my town, too. Wanna see lots of tartan? Come to town during the Austin Celtic Festival (the first weekend of November).
Lots 'o bonny knees!! ;)
I've never been to the Austin Celtic Festival but would
LOVE to go! Lets plan on going together this year, we can check out the bonny knees! ;)
Yeah, my knees will be at TRF that weekend.