Seeking a Place under the Sun

 The summer was simple. We did not go anywhere and spent our time in the backyard making BBQ. I'm thrilled we had a chance to explore the biggest USA national parks in the spring before I started a full-time job.

This July is not like one in the previous year. This one is full of rain, thunderstorms, "cool" temperatures and low humidity. It was so really nice so I stopped complaining about the heat and summer weather in southern Texas. We went to explore a couple of new places, and we were not disappointed. It seems like  I'm getting used to being here... 

Our another road trip for our family. 6 days and 5 nights in different places,  2 new states and almost 2500 miles / 4100km in the car. It could be a trip from Stavanger to Milan and back to Stavanger. Our first stop was Santa Fe , the town full of art galleries, beautiful architecture, gorgeous landscape, and comfortable the humidity of the air. It was just 12% in Santa Fe when the humidity in the Houston area is about 60-70% all the time. The difference in temperature and the common feeling in new conditions was significant.  Next stop is   Aztec Ruins : the footprints of Pueblo people who lived here until the 13-th century. The question of why they chose this place to stay at and why they left this place is still unanswered.

 I did not really know the place is real and unique. I mean the dinosaurs who lived here a long time ago and left their footprints on the bottom of the river.

April is the month when I completely fell in love with the gardening. Now I can spend a few hours in a garden center just choosing one rose from a few types, correct soil for the flowers, compost, fertilizer and so on... April was a peaceful month full of flowers, blooming, taking care of the lawn... The everyday routine that makes you alive.

Finally the temperature dropped to 80F, the season of hurricane is already in progress with its heavy tropical rains. The summer has came to its logical end.

There is one more must-to-see destination in Texas. Be prepared to book the time in advance to visit Hamilton Pool.  It takes 3 hours of driving from Katy to reach the target. So plan the trip so you can go somewhere else after spending time in the pool. Woke up at 05.00 and went out at 05.45 to be at 09.00 am. Last steps... And my first impression ... What a heck! The pool is smallish, the place is undersized, everything is so gray and dark...  I felt myself frustrated and disappointed, because I had HUGE expectations.    The photos from the internet lied as usually - too much Photoshop. But after a while the sun came out and lit up the already crowded place so the picture/impression has changed.  I did swim for 5 minutes but sprang out from the pool when I saw in  water a turtle with a head above the water. Almost tame/pet catfish close to shore made my time in water more unpleasa...