zimmers in texas

Last weekend we flew to Jackson Hole which is a small town in Wyoming about 50 miles south of Yellowstone National Park. We arrived about 10 am and picked up the hire car and headed off for the park. It was another cold weekend but not as cold as Rapid City. There was snow on the mountains but it didn't snow while we were there.

Yellowstone has some of the most breathtaking scenery we have ever seen. We clocked up about 200 miles driving around the area and if we had more time could have done a lot more. We saw lots of geysers, including old faithful, and bubbling mud pools. There were spectacular waterfalls, canyons and mountains. We climbed as high as 8000 odd feet and both developed altitude headaches we were so high. There were beautiful lakes with all sort of birds, duck and geese. There were heaps of bison and deer and we even spotted a wolf but all the bears were hibernating. It was a shame not to see the bears and none of the hotels in the park were opened but it was good to go at this time as there were hardly any other tourists around and no traffic to speak of.

We stayed at a lovely old lodge on the Western boundary which was actually in Montana. The lodge was decorated in a real rustic theme with gnarled twigs as lamp bases and bears and bison designs on the curtains.



Jackson Hole is a small town at the base of a ski run. There was a bit of snow on the run but apparently it is a real sight to see in winter. The airport is next to the mountain and the view was spectacular as we landed.

Tuesday it was Halloween. This day really intrigued me. A couple of the apartments were decorated with pumpkins and ghosts but everyone decorates their houses in the suburbs and has done for about a month. We even saw the decorated houses in Mexico. You can buy really big plastic snow domes with ghosts and goblins in them (you can also buy them with Christmas themes) to put in your yard.

Most work places allow you to dress up for the day but TAA didn't allow this so lots of people decorated their work area. The call centre at Midland had a competition for the best decorated pod and one group even had a coffin.

On Tuesday night we went downtown and had dinner in 6th Street where it all happens. Nearly everyone came dressed in costume, including tiny babies. The street was blocked off and there were heaps of police to keep an eye on things. We didn't see any trick or treaters as we were out but I believe they were out in force. Glenn bought a cowboy hat so he could go dressed as a Texan. This is a university city so I guess most of the party goers were students but I am sure they partied all night (on a school night too) and got up to go to work/uni the next day. All the Halloween decorations are coming down now and the Thanksgiving ones are going up. Gee ( my friend from work) has lent us some for our apartment. After Thanksgiving which is 23rd November, we put them away and bring out the Christmas ones.

Yesterday was the 15th Annual Austin Powwow. This is a gathering of lots of Indians from around the area including neighbouring states like Oklahoma. They all come dressed in their traditional costume and perform their particular dances. We went to the opening ceremony and it was spectacular. Some of the costumes are really colourful with lots of feathers and bells. The opening ceremony was held in a school gymnasium and the dancers all came out dancing and completed a lap of the floor. Each group performed their own traditional dance so there was a real mixture from really slow right through to whirling dervish type dancing. Outside they had lots of stall set up to sell their wares. Mostly silver and jade jewellry and wooden figurines. It created a great market atmosphere.