Longhorn

It's coming on Christmas and its a different experience this year.  We are in Texas for a few days to spend the festivities with some rellies now here.  First up, Houston.  First impressions are formed from the place we are staying, the first day or so of walking locally, the ride in from the airport, a tourist bus ride around downtown.  Houston holds ~2.5m in the metropolitan area, 7.8m in the greater metro area; it's the fourth largest city in the US.  The customs entry was slow but friendly for us but with the pics and fingerprints that we've had before in the US (since deleted so done again). The ride in is by freeway, it’s flat, warm despite winter, can be smoggy, it's spread out, strange to our eyes, low rise with car parks and occasional suburban towers (we hear it's low on planning regulations).  We are staying in a comfy area, pretty close in, obviously wealthy, nearish to the Metro tramline.  A day ticket is just $3.  Local shops and bars and more, but not tons.  Many homeless begging.  Many roofs but not a solar cell showing.  Downtown has unexpected open car parks but mostly multistory.  Cement and big buildings, of course, but not many walkers or even cars.  They seem to bypass on the freeways or perhaps walk the 5 miles of underground passages, presumably to avoid humid heat that threatens.  Not bad now but hotter than expected for Christmas.  It's a town of big business, Texas after all.  We are staying in an apartment building and they had a happy hour for residents and it's young, from many places, professionals, educated.  It seems a good town for this type: well paying and broad opinions.  Friendly and wealthy if not for all.  And the cement of downtown, leavened by big public murals of worthy topics.  First days and shallow thoughts but interesting, this town of business and short history (est. 1836) and myths of cowboys and longhorn cattle.  Early days but I'm enjoying this place.