Seriously. We’ve had two full days in Houston and kept up the pace of incredible and new experiences.

Of course, with all that is going on there was some border anxiety, but we got through without a hitch. David had given me the “ we need to listen more than express opinions” so I was all primed. But the conversation itself was a little anxiety inducing! Truth is it was not needed.

Approaching our time here exactly as we have anywhere else serves us well, a smile, genuine curiosity, an accent and letting others lead us in to conversation has given us the opportunity to meet a huge range of people in the few days we have been here. Maybe it’s the southern hospitality, but we’ve been greeted with nothing but pleasant engagements. From a Spanish speaking recent immigrant to a Trump appointed Texan judge. The sharing of ideas, thoughts and opinions has certainly been enriching for us, and hopefully for them too.

Of course, being back in an English speaking environment has helped. The switch to cold weather too has been an adjustment.

Yes we’ve done what we intended. Shopping, NASA, a drag show, and museums and more on that later , but it is without doubt the engagement with others that has been the highlight.

No matter what their views there is an acute awareness that the USA is undergoing a massive transition. What that means and where that will lead is concerning for everyone we have spoken to. From the incredibly well informed and well read Uber driver who basically saw civil war on the horizon to the judge who supported what Trump was trying to achieve but just had concerns about how he was going about it. Has this made a difference? Who knows? But has it been positive to engage, absolutely it has. And we must , must do more of it, our lives are not lived on screens or through media but through real life engagement. I’ve loved it and hope we get to do more of it in Nebraska!

How lucky we have been.

It’s weird , the US is so familiar in so many ways. The huge highways, the huge cars, The yellow school buses and the red ambulances that we’ve all seen in numerous TV shows. It kinda feels like you’ve been dropped into the TV set, but no this is life here. This is America.

After almost two months wearing the same clothes we both engaged in a bit of clothes shopping, a few bargains, enough to use that new purchased suitcase. It will be full by the time I pick up my Amazon deliveries in Nebraska 😂.

We then went to a fantastic restaurant that I had booked months ago, chopnblock, an African themed home style meal. Funnily enough it was almost opposite the office of our nephews Houston based office. So cool knowing this is his hood when he is here.

Post dinner we decided to go to a local drag bar, as it was only 3km away we decided to walk. At which point we learnt that Houston is not a pedestrian city. Unkempt footpaths, poor lighting and no one and I mean no one else out on the streets. We made it there eventually, and the show was excellent, very political and very professional despite the small venue. Only tainted by my own poor behaviour in getting very drunk.🤦

Next day was an early rise for a trip to NASA. A massive hangover, bruising from falls I had no recollection of, not feeling great and clearly a pretty shit partner to be around I could not let my own choices stop us from doing what had been planned many months earlier!

It was to be honest pretty surreal. Again that sense of familiarity, seeing the space shuttle took me back to the days when I used to watch the live broadcasts. Seeing the actual control room where the moon landings were managed. Unbelievable. Knowing that it is still the same building that the current control room for the international space station is located.

There’s a very obvious irony isn’t there? That period of optimism where Kennedy challenged his country to achieve something for humanity “ not because it is east but because it is hard” and that goal being reached by the end of the decade. An achievement that propelled us all into a new era of human existence. Of positivity and optimism. And now, some 55 years later that same America propelling us into a very different and unknown future.

I was vaguely aware that we are heading back to the moon through the Artemis programme. Had no idea that the next launch could be next week. But off we go again to start the process of a permanent moon base.

So hangover in full swing post NASA I went to bed while David went to the hotel bar and restaurant for some entertainment and the next day, feeling refreshed we had brunch and decided to go to the Natural history museum. Looking at the map it was only 3km away and despite the cold ( we were all rugged up) we decided to keep the step count up and walk. Reaffirming that Houston is not a pedestrian friendly city we ended up quickening the pace as some parts were decidedly dodgy.

The museum was a surprise. And probably the most sophisticated and well resourced museum I have ever been in. We saw it all from the most magnificent dinosaur display, to a butterfly house, an absolutely stunning Terracotta warrior exhibition with artefacts so recently uncovered I doubt many Chinese people have seen them to a private collection of Faberge eggs and jewellery. There is money in this town. Lots of it.

4 hours whipped by and after a walk through Hermann park we tried ( unsuccessfully) to find a lunch spot. Lost and again the only ones walking in desperation we found ourselves in a hospital cafe for a break . Still not learning the “ do not walk in Houston” rule.

Looking at the supporters board Oil is behind a lot of this. Including for the McFerrins who only started their Faberge collection just over 20 years ago.

Next stop was Texas BBQ so off to the Pitt room. While we waited to order we had some crawfish. 🦞 basically a cousin to Yabbies. But way smaller. Delicious I have to say. The highlight being the 4 women who decided to basically take us under their wings , buy us shots and basically be raucous…lots of fun, instagram details traded and promises to come to New Zealand I hope we get to reciprocate the hospitality.

It was back at the hotel bar ( just for one wine) that we met the Texan judge and his partner. Hours of conversation later we bid farewell, having had a healthy exchange of ideas and perspectives. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and it’s left me wondering why I don’t initiate this more.

It’s expensive here, we’ve really noticed it, a bottle of water can be $5us a basic sandwich $15us and the bills quickly mount up. Add the tip and taxes and yowza! I wonder how people survive ? Or are we just in the expensive end of town.

For our last day in Houston we will head back to the museum district and try to go to the modern arts museum. If it’s anything like the natural history museum we are in for a treat.

Then we fly to Nebraska, to the final destination of this epic trip.

Thanks for coming along. It will end soon I promise!