Fort Worth, TX (Day 2)

So our friends twisted our arms, and we spent another night at their lovely home.  The sacrifices one is asked to make on the road -- I tell ya.

We visited the downtown section of Fort Worth and had more lovely picture taking opportunities:

Cattle Drive Mural, Fort Worth Town Center, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Town Center Fountain Fort Worth Town Center, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Backlit Tree, Fort Worth Town Center, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Magical Light, Fort Worth Town Center, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Next stop was the daily longhorn cattle drive that they put on in the old Stockyard Station.  Yes, this is a touristy event, but hey, we're tourists!  Did you know the longhorns can stretch 6 feet in width?

Boot Sign, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Steven Rides the Champ, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Stockyard Station, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Longhorn Cattle Drive, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

After that, we stumbled upon a re-enactment of Texas Independence and the tale of the Alamo.  This is more likely a once a year event, so consider these tourists lucky!

Coliseum, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Texas Independence Day Re-enactment, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Fire that Canon!, Fort Worth Stockyard Station, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Water Gardens Addendum

I found two videos and one panorama picture on my iPhone, and think they help to capture the uniqueness of the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  So I'm inserting this post after the original one, in hopes that folks will stumble back here, and find these nuggets.

The Water Gardens were built in 1974, and designed by Phillip Johnson.  It has been called an oasis in the concrete jungle of the center of town, and while I think that is overly harsh description of Fort Worth center, there is no doubt that the design and architecture of the three pools (active, aeration, and meditation) are a deeply relaxing and interesting respite in the city.

First a video of the Active Pool.  This was the pool featured in the movie Logan's Run.

Next is a panorama photo of the active pool.  Another perspective of this very interesting architecture:

Activew Pool Panorama, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

And finally, a video of the Aeration Pool.  Incredibly soothing and perfect white noise generator ;-)

I hope you found this "addendum" worthwhile.  We really thought the Fort Worth Water Gardens were a very unique and special place.  And a true oasis in the city.

A Visit with Friends

Our recent "plan" did not have us in the Fort Worth area, as we were hugging the Gulf Coast.  But what became  a missed opportunity with another friend turned us north, so we continued up on I-45 (not recommended -- they drive really fast in TX -- not to mention the construction ;-)

Anyways, we made it and had a wonderful visit, and thanks to their kindness, spent two days sleeping on a real bed, and in general, slowing down.  We needed that!

Fort Worth is quite an interesting city -- growing like gangbusters, with the highways to prove it, and yet the city center has a small(ish) town feel, and the people were few and far between.  We really enjoyed walking around and taking (lots of) pictures.  First stop was an amazing water park -- artsy and clever -- not the play-kind.  And you may recognize this pool from the movie, Logan's Run.

Fort Worth Water Park, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Carol and Steve at the Bottom, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Carol on the Steps, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Aeration Pool, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Our next stop was to a nearby JFK memorial, where the President spoke the morning before he was assassinated in Dallas.  A nice memorial, and some interesting architecture (you can tell I like taking photos of buildings).

JFK Memorial, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Contrast and Perspective, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Lots of Blue, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Window Washers, Fort Worth, TX, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

We'll have some more photos and activities in Fort Worth in the next post.  We sure had a blast.