July 7 - 8, 2002
Houston, the forth-most populous city (metro population of 4.3 million, more than 90 languages are spoken in this area) in the U.S., spreads its borders as a huge mega-metropolis, filled with monster trucks on superhighways, awe-inspiring glass-and-steel skyscrapers, enormous oil plants, and the largest strip malls in the country. Fortunately, the advocates of the "make it bigger" philosophy also support a softer side of Houston, cultivating operas, ballets, and museums.
The city's most popular attraction, the NASA Space Center, is technically not even in Houston but 20 mi. from downtown. The active Mission Control Center still serves as HQ for modern-day Major Toms. When astronauts ask, "Do you read me, Houston?" these folks answer. During our time in Houston, we didn't visit the NASA Space Center as we have already been to Cape Canaveral, Florida 3 years ago. Yet I think that the Space Center might be really interesting to visit.
Houston also houses two huge parks, Memorial Park and Hermann Park - green oases that offer perfect spots for stressed people, children, athletes, and everybody else. Moreover, around Hermann Park you find most of the museums: Contemporary Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Natural Science & Planetarium, etc.
Back in Houston downtown, the skyscrapers offers a profile of the modern architecture: the pentagon-shaped tower of the Texas Commerce Bank, the green-glassed facade of Allied Bank Plaza, or the triangular-prismatic shaped Pennzoil Place. Currently, downtown Houston is one big construction site. According to Blake, they try to revitalize the center of the city, make it more attractive for its inhabitants and visitors. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed being in downtown - making a small sightseeing tour with one of the numerous free Trolleys or getting lost in the vast network of the 18 mi. Houston Tunnel System, which connects all the major buildings in downtown Houston.
So, what's the impression I got from Houston? Well, I guess Houston is all about roads. I will never forget these huge highways that connect all the parts of this spread-out city with each other. If I have counted right, we drove on a street that had 7 lanes (!) for each direction - for a European like me this is really a lot :-) Furthermore, I'll never forget the nightly illuminated skyline - very impressive!
While being in Houston, we stayed at Blake's house; I got to know him during my time in India. He was very committed in showing us around this huge city, in telling us the history and several stories about Houston, in keeping us entertained and well-fed. Thanks a lot, Blake, for your hospitality and everything else - we appreciate it a lot!
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