HOUSTON - DAY 1

Houston Skyline

Learning a large cities bus/rail system can be frustrating/overwhelming--unless, the employees go out of their way to help get you to your destination. My experience was made positive by the bus drivers and transit passengers that went above and beyond to get me where I was headed. They were wonderful.

However, the fare collection for the metra (train) has a lot to be desired  There is a machine sitting on the platform that is not user friendly – requires exact change ($1.25) or a credit card and the little slip you eventually get doesn’t get looked at or given to anyone.  Unless you have a Metro Q Fare Card you pay $1.25 (exact change) for the bus and pay another $1.25 in that not user friendly machine for the Metra. You may ask, where can you purchase a Metro Q Fare Card --- well that’s another challenge – the Downtown Transit Center (which in a stop on the Metra) or some grocery stores are the only places.

My goal for day one in Houston was to get that magic Metro Q Fare Card that allowed my 3-hour transfer between the bus and Metra (saving $1.25 plus the frustration of using that darn machine). So before heading back to LakeView RV Park, I rode the Metra (without getting the machine to work, so no ticket) to the Downtown Transit Center (in the rain). Found the counter, got a friendly, helpful lady who lets me know that seniors get to ride free with their special Metro Q Fare Card.  High Five!!!! My next two days are going to be spectacular!!

Houston was named after former General Sam Houston

Increases in the Houston's harbor and railroad industries, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has made Houston the 4^th largest city. Houston is also the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions.

The Houston 7-mile tunnel system (purple dots) is a network of, climate-controlled, pedestrian walkways that link 95-full city blocks 20 feet below Houston's downtown streets, so the hustle and bustle of pedestrians on city sidewalks are absent.  

Also taxis aren’t seen parked in clusters – they must wait until customers call for them—so less pollution and traffic congestion.

Morgan Chase Tower, 75-story skyscraper at 600 Travis Street, is currently the tallest building in the city/state and the tallest five-sided building in the world.

Morgan Chase Towe

Walkways, pools and cylindrical water fountains at downtown Tranquility Park commemorates the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.

Sculptures brighten up the city streets

On November 21, 1963, President Kennedy spoke at the Rice Hotel, the day before his assassination.

Apollo 11 plaque inscription: "We came in peace for all mankind" is derived from the 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act's, "declaration of policy and purpose.”

After my city tour, I was scheduled to go to NASA via Houston City Tours that I booked several weeks ago.  WELL, they didn’t have enough signed up so they canceled the tour – without letting me know. Not a happy camper was I.

I ended my day with an exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts: "Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces From the Prado" featuring 100 works spanning four centuries. It was a wonderful exhibit; I enjoyed a delish lunch (with wine) at the Museum and became a happy camper again.

 

I then used my precious Metro Q Fare Card on the metra to get back to the bus to get back to LakeView RV Park – mission accomplished.