New Year's start in Austin

I hope you all started the new year well? The headaches should hopefully be over by now and the first New Year's resolutions are probably already broken ;)

I celebrated the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year in Austin. Just to give you a little orientation, Austin is the capital of the state of Texas. Now, if you think that means it must be a very traditional, conservative, cowboy-like city, you are mistaken. Because Austin is an ultra-liberal, young city, it is home to the 5th largest university in the USA and therefore has many students. In Austin, everything has a hipster touch, which can be seen in cute little cafes, bars, and shops. Additionally, Austin is similar to New Orleans in that music plays a big role there.

In the bars, you can hear a variety of bands that spread good vibes and a unique atmosphere with their music. In my opinion, Austin is not the most beautiful city in the USA in terms of architecture, but it has such a special atmosphere that it attracts people from all over the country who want to live there. Especially people who love to party are well taken care of here. So Kevin and I immersed ourselves in Austin and its atmosphere for a few days. The food in Austin was really good, you can find food trucks and alternative restaurants on every corner, while McDonald's and the like are rarely found.

The most famous party street in Austin is 6th Street, where the nightlife is booming. Especially well-dressed young people can be found in the various bars or simply partying on the street. I felt a bit like in a mix of the Ballermann in Mallorca, St. Pauli in Hamburg, and Amsterdam. The only difference was that the music on the street and in the bars was much better than what I have ever heard at these three places. There were a variety of live bands playing in the bars, so there was something for every taste in music.

I can assure you, good live music in bars creates such a great atmosphere that cannot be compared to music played from a record, which is what you usually find in most bars in our country. Everyone is happy, dancing, singing, and of course, drinking together. Music can have such a magical influence on us humans. Therefore, this city was the perfect place to celebrate the end of the old year and welcome the new one.

We also explored the city during the day and tried to get a better feel for the atmosphere. Kevin, as a proud Texan, gave me a tour of the Texas Capitol building. Not only was the building beautiful and equipped with countless rooms, but it was also really interesting to see how different the American political system functions compared to the German one.

When strolling through the streets of Austin, you will also come across a lot of art. The city is known for its great street art, which can be seen in creatively painted walls and many art sculptures. With my lack of artistic talent, I can only marvel at such artistic achievement over and over again.

Furthermore, Austin is intersected by rivers and parks, which makes walks worthwhile.

After some research, we even found a super nice hiking trail located by the river, which included waterfalls, forest passages, and rocks. A beautiful path with such clear water, located near the city. You just have to keep your eyes open to find relaxing, secluded spots in nature even in close proximity to big cities. Some residents of Austin told us that they come to the river in the summer to swim, enjoy their beer, and simply unwind. For me, that sounds like the perfect combination: having an exciting city life and at the same time being able to escape into nature in no time. Simply beautiful :)