First impressions

We made it to Houston a few days ago. The search is on for a house and a second car (we managed to lease one already) whilst we stay at a furnished apartment and then at a friend's house next week. Our container should be delivered in about a week, as it is now clearing customs at the port.

Time to share those "first" impressions after 14 months away...

-Houston still smells of Houston. There are places with a particular smell (or, more likely, all places have a smell) and this is one of them. H reckons it is the smell of humidity in the air. Quite possibly. I like the smell of pine trees you get in some areas here.
-Everything is still very familiar, including driving an automatic. I can still find my way!
-The sunshine we were after is here indeed. Our daughter has been playing outside in the park, in a beautiful warm sunshine. We even had lunch outdoors on Tuesday.
-Country music on the radio!! Yay!
-I'm waking up very early and I don't even seem to mind too much. For those who know me that's a huge thing.

Maylis
________________________________________________________________________________

It all seems so familiar. In fact it IS almost as if we haven't been away. Settling back has been helped a lot by knowing the way around - where the major routes are, the supermarkets, where things are in the supermarkets, what the brands are, even little things like the times of news and weather on the local TV stations.

There don't seem to be many differences from the last time we were here. The most noticeable things is the trees - I'd read about the drought and how it had affected them, and there do seem to be a fair number of dead-looking trees around. It probably won't be until spring that this really becomes obvious, when those perished will be missing new green foliage.

Hugh