Austin, TX

And so is the nature of the journey, that you have to move on.

As I prepared to leave Guatemala, I felt a great sadness as that particular part of my journey was coming to an end. It was harder as I was leaving the comfort of being part of a wonderfully diverse, kind and funny group of fellow travellers.

Perhaps symbolically, my left flip flop snapped on my final walk back to the hotel along the cobbled Antigua streets. I knew then that it was time to return to colder climes, reuniting with my trusty boots.

The pain of leaving my love affair with Latin America was somewhat eased by the anticipation of a love I'd dreamed about from afar for as long as I've known what inextricably enriches our lives.

Music.

Some of you may be aware of Austin's notoriety in the realms of music, film and general weirdness. Every year I watch with eagerness the goings on at SXSW music festival. I've dreamed about going many a time, but schedules as they are, I had to make do with a visit at non-festival time. (Fellow members of Cider In The Park I still hold out a flicker of hope that one day we'll be discovered on Sixth St).

Austin is not called the live music capital of the world for nothing.

Music pours from the doorways as you stroll along. My musical experience in Austin took this journey...
1) Lunch in a diner accompanied by a medley of Arctic Monkeys. A random taste of home.
2) A Russian drum / dance group performing at Austin's family New Year event.
3) A funky rock/blues group of brothers getting the crowd dancing in a field on a freezing New Year's Eve.
4) Watching a talented entrepreneur make cigar case guitars then showcase the different sounds they make.
5) Relived my 'yoof' by dancing like a maniac in a dark, crowded Drum n Bass club.
6) Rounded New Year's Eve off taking in the sounds of Prince in a Speakeasy establishment.
7) Eased in 2014 watching a busker in the SoCo district pouring emotion into a song about lost love leaving on a train.
8) Was entertained by a plethora of guitar and box players at a local open mic night.
9) Passed the time waiting for my flight listening to a country singer in the airport bar.

It may not have been quite the hectic experience of the festival life, but it will tide me over until my return one day.

And it's not just the music that will ensure my return. I had no idea how pretty the city is. A walk along the miles of riverside gave wonderful views of the city and the surrounding touches of nature. And the dogs! Man alive, I've never seen so many dog walkers and/or joggers in one place. Serious dog walking envy there.

It was a real treat to be in Austin. To experience a tiny fraction of the live music, to people and dog watch on a crisp, sunny winter's day and to browse the vintage shops that overlook the downtown area (bought a delight of a vintage dress that shall henceforth be known as 'my Austin dress').

Oh, and how could I almost forget. My eyes were treated to two cowboys on horses making their way through the downtown area. Only here. Keep Austin weird!

What a city. Austin, you can count on me seeing you again! Until then...