Austin, Lockhart, & San Antonio, TX

From Dallas, Texas we headed toward Austin. There we visited the University of Texas, the Texas State Capital building, and South Congress street - the home of live music. On the way to San Antonio we made a not-so-quick stop in the extremely small, but charming town of Lockhart, Texas, the official capital of Texas BBQ. Texas BBQ is distinguished from BBQ from other states because it does not have BBQ sauce. Being non-Texans, and accustomed to North Carolina vinegar based BBQ, we would tend to think of Texas BBQ as smoked meat, but in Texas, they call it BBQ. We sampled the BBQ brisket, ribs, and sausage at Smitty's Market. When we first walked in the door to Smitty's Market, we were greeted with the strong smell of BBQ, thick white smoke that burned our eyes a bit, and black walls. Once you order your chosen meat, it is served on brown butcher paper with white bread - no plate needed. We went through quite an ordeal to get our BBQ, but it was more than worth it. In San Antonio, we toured the Alamo,a former mission and fortress, browsed the Riverwalk, and sampled a bit of what we suspect is the world's largest cinnamon bun (3.5 lbs from Lulu's).


Texas State Capital Building (Downtown Austin, TX)


Welcome to Lockhart, Texas


Delicious


Lorenzo cruising the black walls of Smitty's BBQ


The Alamo


Lorenzo & Kim at the Riverwalk


Kim sizing up the GIANT 3.5 pound cinnamon bun

Memphis: BBQ & the Blues

Our first stop in Memphis was the Lorraine Hotel and National Civil Rights Museum (http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/home.htm), where we saw the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King was assasinated, and stood in the room where he stayed. We toured the museum and learned about blacks in Vietnam, the Black Panthers, and more on the Civil Rights Movement. We also toured the building and apartment where the sniper's bullet came from that struck and killed Dr. King. The hotel has been restored extremely well, and the museum is exceptional. You will learn a lot and obtain a greater, more detailed understanding of the movement, its participants and what lead up to Dr. King's death, by eye witness and friend Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles.

In Memphis we also walked around Beale Street, often called "little Bourbon street," where many of the blues clubs are. Music lives and breathes here and the whole street is lit up in neoon lights. Our next stop was Jim Neely's Interstate BBQ (http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/), where the sandwiches are BIG and the sauce is even better. The best BBQ in Memphis. Interstate BBQ also has unconventional menu choices such as BBQ Spaghetti, BBQ nachos, and BBQ salad. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Mr. Neely. We did. Lastly, we took a quick look at Elvis' home, Graceland. Beautiful home, but not in the best part of town. Next stop Little Rock, AR.


Kim in front of the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. King was assasinated.


Room 306 where Dr. King stayed, and the balcony where he was killed.


Beale Street (aka: Little Bourbon St.)


BB King's Blues Club


A monster BBQ sandwich


Lorenzo at Jim Neely's