Somehow, I invited myself along, don't even ask about how that happened, and found myself in a rented Grand Am speeding towards the South. The South has always kind of scared me, what with all those lynching stories I read in American History. After all, I'm from Berkeley, California, which if you know anything about geography and liberal modern history, you know is a liberal bastion of freakishness.

After an initial bout with a terribly disgusting virus (caused by McDonald's consumption- when in doubt about stomach ills, just blame the PH-infestation- is my philosophy.)

After swearing never to consume poorly cooked junk food again, my weary eyes were opened wide by the charms of the cunningly eccentric and delightfully kooky Austin.

Although we cursed the traffic to the heavens and sighed at how overpopulated the place was, we also ate pastor tacos at Taco Xpress and meditated at the Peace Gardens in the Botanical Gardens.

Austin was full of winding roads, tall trees and Texan brashness. You couldn't forget you were in Texas (mainly because everyone tried to cut everyone else off, on the crammed intersections, driving their unnecessary SUVs).

Even though it can get annoying the truth is that you can't give a goshdarn, as you walk down 6th eating a cup of mexican vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries from Amy's, looking at the brightly arrayed storefronts, with their unique artistic bent.

Independent stores in Austin all sell shirts with their store logos on the front, and the backs emblazoned with "KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD." That is the essence of Austin, colorful, unique.... weird.

Austin is a gem, a diamond in the rough. It is easy to see how people can become grassroots in Austin, without meaning to be. It's hard to leave, hard to get used to, but easy to grow to love.

It makes me homesick in an odd way, but the snob in me will always cry for Northern California's foggy mornings and clear afternoons, mountains, forests, beaches, and the rugged beauty of the West.

However, kids, Austin shouldn't be missed, and you should put it on your map of places you should go before you die, and take some time to let its charm seep into your pores.

Please feast your eyes on these images from that little town down in Texas known as Austin....

A skyscraper that's a recent addition to the Austin skyline.

A picture within a picture on one of Austin's many curvy green roads.

A bridge in Austin.

Texas is America's "Hartland Plaza"

One of many unique stores in Austin.

Laurie checkin' out some koi in the "serenity/zen" garden within the city's botanical gardens.

Austin is under constant construction, and the highways are horrendously congested at times.

A "taste" of quirky Austin.

Tennessee sky part 1, and part 2...

River bank near Smoky Mountains, Tennessee.

A view of Austin from the Westlake neighborhood.