the tnain drags of (iuadalupe and South Congress. And. contrary to what you might expect to find in Texas. Austinites are generally a friendly. open-minded. helpful and fun-loving bunch.
One thing you probably would expect here is good food — and you‘d be right. liating is a huge part of Austin living. and you can tell by the sheer size of some of the folk that they enjoy their food. This is a modern. multicultural epicentre. scattered with sushi. pizza. (‘hinese and Indian restaurants and wherever you go there are excellent vegetarian options. But it's the Mexican and barbectte plates that are the city's speciality. Massive portions. quality local meat. sumptuous salsas and guacamoles and heavenly barbectte sauce all get washed down with bottles of Lone Star beer and possibly the best margueritas known to man.
For some of the best Mexican cuisine on the planet. try l.as Manitas for authentic breakfast tacos (a real favourite in Austin) or
kick-ass lunch: then any number of
evening eateries such as .luanita‘s Tacos. Taco lixpress. (‘urra‘s (irill or (iuero‘s (where you can also celebrity—spot apparently Bill
(‘linton has chowed down here of
an evening). And if you want that super-tasty. colon-busting red meat effect then the barbecues will definitely hit the spot. liveryone
116 THE LIST 1;) 7t; May 2on5)
TRAVEL
Away from the grand civic buildings such as the Capitol (above), there’s an unexpectedly bohemian approach to life here
should try it at least once. The Salt— Lick Bar-B-Q is one of the most famous — and for good reason ~ bttt Sam's Bar HQ and the Iron Works are also highly recommended. In fact. pretty tnuch every place you stumble into is almost guaranteed to provide stunning food.
Whether it‘s the weather. the shopping. the cooking or the rock‘n‘roll that entices you. this city has a really individual flavour. It
possesses a wild beauty. a sense of
hipness and freedom that feels unlike anywhere else. There is talk of Austin getting over-crowded with artists and losing its edge. bill it
certainly isn’t apparent. And even if
it does turn out to be true. it‘s just one more reason to head down there soon for a proper taste of Tex-Mex
cowboy culture and a whole lot of
fun. Yee-haw!
Vic Galloway presents BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Air’ at 8.05-10pm every Mon; and BBC Radio 1 at 7.30-9pm every Thu. See www.bbc.co.uk/air for details.
FACT FILE
l or more information on visiting Austin. check out www.austintexas.org. www.austinwebpage.com and www.austin360.com. which has details of gigs and other
entertainment. British and lush citi/ens Willi inachinereadable passports can
travel visa-free to the US for up to EEO days. but it 5 important to check the American Embassy websue before tiayeliii‘g .'.i.useinlmssyerg.uki. The easiest way to reach Austin from Scotland is to ‘ly to New York's Neva/ark airport then catch a connecting flight to Austin. Flying from either Edinburgh or Glasgow with Continental f‘.'.".‘."~.‘.’.C()llii!l(}ftl£ii.(2()l‘ll costs around S‘t‘iiifi) returi‘ il‘ June. Flybe also operates a senrce to Nev-ixark from both airports -- call 0871 700 053:3 for deta:ls. It may be slightly cheaper to travel Via London. aéthough this generally invo'ves at least two changes. by Aii‘erican Airiines ‘.'.l‘.'/.£l£l.(3()llii where fares can be found for around 53560. Austin is chock full of rnotels out there are some nice 8&38 \'.’|lll a bit of extra ceui‘try charm. Carringtons Bluff tvvy'xyv.carr'rigtoi‘sbltiffcon‘i is set Ir‘ a traditional old house. \.'.’ilil a leafy- garden and nicely decorated rooms. Prices start at around $7.715. per night. ii‘cltidiiig a "gourniet breakfast. For more simple accommodation. the Austin Motel "‘.'."‘.'~.".'-/.thlSlllllllOlCi.(IOllll ;s a faiiiiiywrun business \‘Jlil‘ a svviinining pool which costs from S‘zlf‘i per night. ii()\".’()\.’(}l_ if you want a bit of old school glamour and a slice of Austin's history. the [Driskill Hotel i\.'.«'\.'.~.'-/.(liiskiillioteltxnni is definitely the place to be. Be warned that you'll need to fork out around S‘lt‘ifi per night for the piivilege.
Howmuchtoflyto...
Long-haul destinations don’t always involve a change in London. Here are five exotic places you can reach directly from Scotland.
MOSCOW
Transaero runs a direct flight from Edinburgh twice a month. See St Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin and Red Square. During June Transaero flies out on Tuesday 7 returning Thursday 23. Check www.transaero.ru for details. To book tickets call 0870 850 7767. £195.90 from Edinburgh
PHILADELPHIA
Explore the ‘city of brotherly love' direct from Glasgow. Wander the happening hippy South Street district and sample the best Philly cheesesteaks known to man. wwwusairwayscom £321 .73 from Glasgow non-stop
VANCOUVER
Canada's west-coast city is a laid- back gem and the perfect base for exploring the country's natural wilderness. Vancouver Island has great Orca whale-watching. while the Rocky Mountains are less than three hours away. Fly with wwwflyzoomcom £459.52 from Glasgow via Calgary
SINGAPORE
The popular route from Glasgow to Dubai has opened up a wealth of cheap onward flight options. The island of Singapore is famous for its shopping but it is also an excellent starting point for travelling around south—east Asia. Book with wwwemiratescom £577.20 from Glasgow via Dubai
COSTA RICA
Once you reach Newark from Glasgow or Edinburgh, the Americas are your oyster. Head for the paradise that is Costa Rica. and explore rainforests or volcanoes. www.continentalcom £741.20 from Edinburgh via Newark, New Jersey
All prices are for return fares for one adult, including all taxes, for two weeks in June. Bear in mind that. though correct at the time of going to press, prices will vary depending on departure date. (Rachael Street)