zimmers in texas

Hi All
Yesterday we spent a quite day around Austin but we managed a few more firsts. We opened a bank account yesterday and it was like visiting a very quite upmarket Centrelink office. The staff were very nice and appeared efficient. We had to have photos taken to put on our ATM cards so now we have our first official US ID.
We have also organised the hire of furniture. After visiting about 3 wrong stores we finally found the one we need and have completed the paperwork so as soon as we know we have the apartment we only need to fax and then they will deliver ( we hope).
Today is our last day of holidays and we hope to achieve lots more, like buying a car. I dont like our chances but we will start this exercise and see how far we get.
We visited yet another supermarket and this one had a pharmacy with qualified pharmacists working in it. It also had the self serve check outs so of course we had to use them again. Only problem was I walked out still holding a book I meant to purchase and didn't realise until it was too late. I am now officially a criminal in the US but if I get locked up I am taking Glenn with me as an accomplice.

from Meryl

Yesterday we decided to go see the Alamo. It is only about 50 miles south on the IH35. The speed limit on the highway is 70 miles per hour so a bit faster than the M1. Travelling on the highway isn't so bad but finding our way around the town of San Antonio without a map was a bit tricky. We managed to find a parking lot so we could then walk around. It is a really pretty town with a river running through it with restaurants on either side. The Alamo is the fort where the Texans were originally defeated by the Mexicans back in 1836 and famous people like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett fought in this battle. Shortly after day Sam Houston led a battle and the Mexicans were defeated. Here is a phot of Glenn at the Alamo. The history here is interesting as Texas was a Spanish province, then a republic for a 9 years and only became part of the union around 1846.
Anyway enough history. We visited the Mexican market that has lots of silver and pottery but I imagine it is all designed for tourists. We had a look at the Coyote Ugly Bar famous because of the movie but it was really just an ordinary bar (see photo).
The best part of the day was seeing the biggest factory outlet site you could imagine on the drive out. I have noted that for future trips. We had another "first" today, going to a Drug Store. The drug store was just like a convenience store so I don't think they are all the are cracked up to be.
It is Memorial Day today so we thought we might visit some local attractions here in Austin. We visited the local Zilker Park and Barton Springs, very pretty. Tonight we went out to a "proper" Mexican restaurant with some local Austinites. They assured us the food was more authentic than the usual Tex Mex sold everywhere in Austin. It was really nice and good to catch up on a bit of background to our new jobs.

We are gradually becoming more accustomed to driving, Glenn that is not me. I have practised by driving around the car parks of the shopping centres and hotels. Yesterday we went apartment shopping but it became a bit difficult as we don't really know where the nicer areas are. We talked to the staff at the Marriott and they gave us a fair idea so today we signed up for an apartment on South Congress just 5 minutes from Downtown. They will do a credit check on us etc and let us know if we are suitable. The next step is to hire furniture and that seems to be tricky too but I am sure we will sort it out.
My cell phone has a broken microphone so I had to return it and to do this we had to visit another Wal-mart. Unfortunately they didnt have the same one so I wont get a new one until next week. This Wal-mart did have a hairdressing salon though. I cant believe the size of these grocery shops. It is very impressive and they are open all the time.
Tomorrow we hope to visit San Antonio and do some of the sight seeing touristy things. We actually tried to do that today but we are very slow getting around because we keep getting lost. The service lanes of the highways have 6 lanes so imagine what the highways are like. By the time you realise you have missed a turn you are about six exits further along and all the cars are speeding by.
We are going out to dinner on Monday night with one of the staff who has kindly offered ( I think) to assist us with our questions etc.
Talk to you again soon.

Hi All
We had a great flight from Brisbane to LA via Auckland.
Arrived at Brisbane airport in 2 cars and went to check in only to realise we had left a bag behind. Erin and Glenn went back to pick it up while Daniel and I had coffee. Checked in at 9.20 for our 9.50 flight. so much for needing 3 hours prior to the flight. Didnt even get to go to the QANTAS club.
We got to sit upstairs on the flight to LA from Auckland and slept like logs. Got woken up for breakfast but were so tired we hardly remember landing at LA. We went straight to the hotel and the courier driver was very impressed with our luggage being wrapped in gladwrap. I told him it was to protect the vegemite.
It was still Sunday. We went our for dinner and came back to sleep more. We booked on a tour of LA on Monday. Fortunately we only had to sit on the bus for most of the tour as we both were very tired- jet lag seems to be hard to cope with. We went to Venice and looked at the canals and some movie stars houses like Julia Roberts. We did the Venice and Muscle beach thing and looked in all the little stores.
Next place to visit was Santa Monica, then Hollywood. We did the walk up Sunset Blvde, Chinese Theatre with the stars and footprints ( John Wayne takes about a size 6 shoe). We looked at the Hollywood sign and saw Hollywood high. It really is all quite obscene. The American Pop Idol final was to be held on Wed night so they had a million movie trailers and cameras (Taylor Hicks won if that means anything).
We have been watching quite a bit of late night tele and I have even seen the finale of Medium but I wont spoil it for those of you who watch it.
The next day we slept in and then headed off to Austin. We spent quite qa few hours in the QANTAS club ( or Admiral club for those who are familiar with American Airlines). There is a 2 hour time difference between LA and AUstin so we arrived after 11pm and the courier to the hotel stops at 11pm. Caught a taxi to our hotel which is the Marriott. Sound Ok but there are about 5 Marriotts in Austin. Anyway we managed to sort that out and booked in.
We are still having problems with tipping like when to and when not to but we are slowly sorting that out.
Yesterday we did a tour of Austin which was quite informative. We found the biggest book shop you can imagine and the biggest supermarket with all sort of fresh fruit and veges. they have the hours between the time the produce was at the farm and the time it is in the shop. You can buy a whole dinner there and take it home on a plate. Truly amazing
Today has been the most progress so far- we hired a car. This has been the most nerve wracking of the lot. Glenn drives and I navigate which in itself is a probelm except that I am not really navigating where we are going so much as which side of the road to stay on. When you turn right you stay next to the curb when you turn left you got right over to the other side or something like that. How they can just give you the keys is beyond me.
We have started looking for accomodation so that will be our next milestone.
I feel like we are living in a parallel universe where everything is nearly the same but not quie. We all speak English but noone understands what we are saying. We went to Wal Mart today which is next door to work, and it is even bigger than yesterday's supermarket. They have self serve checkouts wher you scan and pay everything by yourself. If you dont put things in a bag you have to let them know by pressing a button so they dont get confused. We kept going back to buy things to keep practicing. I bought a new mobile phone today and my number is 5129833754 . Not sure what the area code is to ring but look forward to any phone calls. We are 16 hours behind in Austin.
I think we are getting close to recovering from jet lag as we have had a relatively normal day today. Woke up at about 8am and had three meals at normal times. We had dinner at the motel tonight and 2 people at different tables started talking to us when they realised we were from Australia - they had both been recently and loved it

Arrived in Austin yesterday and staying at Marriott a couple of miles south of downtown.

Can just about see the office from here but it's on the other side of a large, complex road system called the IH35 (Interstate Highway 35) and looks as though it would take about an hour to walk across - if there was a way to walk across.

gz