TEXAS

4 degrees Celsius, all of a sudden, it’s late evening and I’m standing in the pick-up line at IAH Terminal A. Four signposts are loudly threatening the drivers that only quick boarding is permitted and that they must continue their journey immediately. NOOOO PAAAARKIIING it sounds loudly, the engines of the SUVs bubble and roar, I’m still in Florida shorts but now with a coat, freezing a bit, and hope to soon be in the pick-up of my good friend John, who is already waiting in the line.

After Florida, Texas is basically like Germany. There is also an incredible number of people there with German roots. But there are even more Asians and excellent restaurants. However it was also lousy cold for the next few days and I first had to buy a thicker jacket, a bit of a cowboy style, and long trousers. I have been in Houston before, business wise, and it is a great place for shopping. Of course with your car, it is the city of freeways and Xpress Ways, where you actually can enjoy more freedom since there is a toll and more exclusive. The jams are as monstrous as the dimensions of miles you have to drive to get where you want. The „city of oil” needs a lot of it for its own living. So you drive in front of any store like Academy Sports, there is always a free parking lot, and a friend said „No one does parallel parking here”….Inside it is easy to find what you are looking for, and it took just 20 minutes until I was ready for the freezing lower 40s Fahrenheit outside.

It was Rodeo Week in Houston and along with it a lot of fans including my friend John are engaged in a barbecue festival. Live Music, pulled pork, spare ribs, meat and coleslaw along with beer and whisky or of course: Vodka- Energy Drink, but sure not for me, I hate the taste of that fluid that claims you get wings. You have a lot of tents and a lot of grilled or smoked meat, it is no place for vegetarians. Texas in general has the best tasting meat. Some of the steakhouses on Westheimer serve an iconic meal, beating even Argentina and Brazil in my opinion. So I went all in at this barbecue, however there are physical boundaries of enjoyment. And there is whisky to expand them…. That led to a happy mood and to videos better remain unseen. Thank you DIM for a special opportunity to get into Texas Life!