Our Beach Vacation

You may remember a few weeks ago we took our first vacation in several years. We arrived in Galveston late on a Sunday afternoon. We went to the beach as fast as we could. We were pleased to see a clean beach with few people.



We spent all the next day at the beach. I can’t tell you how great it was to be out of the rain we had been dealing with at home. Here, no clouds, nothing but sunshine.

As we are not ones to just sit on a beach towel all day, Chase and I spent all our time riding the waves on boogie boards. We must have ridden in a hundred times, and each ride was a thrill. We waded out…

…. waited for a good wave….

….then rode it in….

… and waited to do it all over again. I am always happy at the beach. I’m sure my face never looks like this in my office.

Taking a break.

The seawall.

We went downtown each night for dinner and strolling, sightseeing, and shopping. Sunday night in Galveston is not the same as it is in Austin. Most places were closed and we only managed salads and so-so veggie burgers for dinner. We noticed a Mediterranean restaurant and checked it out for the next night. It turned out to be great. I wish this picture had turned out better, because Chase’s Falafel Salad was excellent. It was a nice tossed salad with halved falafel patties drizzled with hummus surrounding it, and spicy salsa mounded in the middle. I gotta make my own version of this.

I was having serious broccoli cravings, but made do with this yummy fried cauliflower and tahini sauce.

We also got a veggie kabob platter.

The next night we scored at a Chinese buffet – plenty of steamed broccoli and other veggies, steamed rice, salads, fruits, and even veggie sushi.

One evening downtown we happened upon this giant chess match.

We spent one afternoon at Moody Gardens in the Tropical Rain Forest Pyramid. The grounds are beautiful. Here we are at the entrance.

Here’s Liz looking lovely in a tropical setting.

Many of the birds and small animals are free roaming inside the pyramid. Crystal, I waited and waited for two sloths to come down from the tree tops so I could a get a picture for you, but you know how slow they are! I did get a shot of a shy lemur. I love his big round eyes on his little round head.

Two turtles on a log.

A pair of parrots, one waving to Chase!

We were fortunate to enjoy a full moon while in Galveston, so walks on the beach at night were amazing – a time of reflection, meditation, soothing, and appreciation.