Dallas & chilling in the countryside

Relaxed greetings from Texas! Right now, I'm in the most relaxed part of my trip. It's not about waking up early every morning and trying to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. No fast changes of location with new faces and challenges every day. I have been able to continue staying with Kevin's family at his parents' house in the middle of the Texas countryside.

So relaxing, I think that's exactly what my body needed. Discovering new things, cities, people, and especially new landscapes is a lot of fun for me, but it's also incredibly exhausting. Even when traveling, I push myself hard and hardly give myself a break. True to the German mindset, I am constantly active, trying to accomplish as much as possible and avoiding taking breaks too often. This way, you experience a lot, collect thousands of new impressions, and reach many different destinations. On the other hand, there is a risk of rushing too much, not being able to fully enjoy everything, and overwhelming yourself. For me, it's a striking realization to see how much I'm always rushing through life, and it's astonishing that I can't really let go of that even when traveling. It's even better in situations like these to meet people like Kevin and his parents, who help you learn to relax and think about your own peace of mind. And what better setting for that than a huge farm in the middle of the Texas countryside? The air couldn't be better, the food couldn't be fresher, and the people couldn't be more interested. My main activities in the past few days have been taking care of the animals, doing some outdoor sports, sleeping in, and getting to know nice Texan people.

The cows and calves were just incredibly cute, I couldn't get enough of looking at them. Unfortunately, the fresh beef here tastes really good, but when you look into the eyes of these powerful, beautiful animals, you feel extremely guilty about eating them. They are just too cute and their souls are unmistakable. The journey to visit the cows was also a great adventure. There are numerous ATVs on the farm, actually small vehicles that can reach quite a high speed. We raced through different fields and hills among the cows. It was incredibly fun, I assure you, it's better than a roller coaster ride. The fear is more real, as I wasn't sure if we would survive Kevin's driving style ;)

The four dogs and two cats that were running around the area as if it was completely normal also kept us in a good mood all the time. While we Germans tend to worry too much about pets and their well-being, dogs, cats, and company just roam around here as if it's the most normal thing in the world. Sometimes one of the animals was missing, but then it would reappear among the cows and chickens somewhere. Relaxed lifestyles apparently also lead to relaxed animals, it's simply refreshing here. While strolling through the country roads, I also encountered other Texan farmers, who treated me like a huge tourist attraction. Everyone has time for a chat, questions, and exchanging life stories. As soon as you meet a Texan, you can be sure that you will be entertained for at least 30 minutes. Isn't it nice to be so relaxed that you interrupt your work for a moment to talk to strangers on the street? I have the impression that many Americans work just as many hours as we Germans do. However, they approach it in a more relaxed way, with less pressure during work and taking mental breaks. A life without pressure is simply super relaxing!

But of course, I still took in a bit of culture and took another look at Dallas. Unfortunately, the weather in the city reminded me a bit of Germany (gray and rainy). But it's still beautiful!

I convinced Kevin to go on a bike ride along a river in Dallas, which was very nice. City bikes for rent were available on every corner in Dallas for a very reasonable price. The only problem was the bike paths, they were an absolute catastrophe! They practically don't exist, drivers don't know how to handle cyclists, and even the sidewalks are more of a disaster, hardly inviting for a leisurely walk.

Everyone in Texas drives a pretty big car everywhere... Climate change doesn't exist here, and health is not so important ;). Although this aspect of Dallas didn't appeal to me so much, the city still has its charm, especially at night.

We went up to the highest viewpoint in the city, the Reunion Tower, which offered a really great view. The skyscrapers were illuminated in all sorts of colors and the Christmas decorations looked very beautiful from above.

You can also learn a lot about the assassination of former US President John F. Kennedy, who was shot in Dallas, in this building. As much as Americans still puzzle over the unsolved murder, I don't think Kennedy is commemorated in a spectacular way. The memorial is rather small and consists only of a plaque, instead of being equipped with a pompous statue. Strange, not typically American big and spectacular.

Nevertheless, the city has some other beautiful corners and parks. Like in many big cities, Dallas has the more run-down, more dangerous neighborhoods. Next to them, there is a fancy downtown area and an Asian-Korean neighborhood with its own special style. Kevin and I observed the Asian culture in this neighborhood. It was simply amazing for us to see how many things the Koreans differ from us. Especially compared to the overly friendly Americans, they seem quite unfriendly and not particularly pleased to receive guests. To fully experience the culture, we tried out a Korean spa. A very interesting experience that everyone should try once :D In the sauna, Koreans wear funny suits that make you sweat a lot. The men's and women's areas in the spa are mostly separate. However, Koreans are not afraid of physical contact, and all women massage each other in the wellness area. Some people apparently spent over 24 hours in the spa area, they slept there, and the opening hours were unlimited. Different countries, different customs...

But even all the great relaxation in the spa and in the countryside comes to an end... And so, after a few very nice days, we said goodbye to Kevin's family. It wasn't easy to leave such loving, warm-hearted people for an indefinite period of time. It's a pity that you can't just pack all the great people in your suitcase and take them with you. Fortunately, Kevin is still accompanying me for a part of my journey =). And so, yesterday we flew together to Austin, the liberal hipster city in Texas. I'm very curious to see what awaits us here. I'm certain, however, that with Kevin, New Year's Eve will be a fun celebration and we will enjoy the city. I hope you all find great companions to celebrate with, and I wish you a happy New Year 2018! Eat well, drink well, party well, and enjoy our amazing life! I'm looking forward to seeing you again in the new year.