Visit to #Houston #Texas 1st -2nd Sept

After one of the wettest Augusts on record, it was now our turn to fly to Texas for a road trip. Flying with Singapore airlines was an enjoyable experience. What made us laugh was the final announcement as we arrived that the temperature was a mild 33 degrees!

After an expensive taxi ride to the hotel, we did have time for a quick explore of the nearby area before retiring to bed. The next day was described as Labour Day and we thought that this would be like one of our bank holidays.

We woke to a surreal environment with everywhere looked deserted, so we decided to explore further. The streets were empty. Had there been a pandemic with only a few survivors? Was there a battle ship out there looking for a cure? Maybe it was linked to a presidential edict where the population had been taken to a centre to be brainwashed, or was there a clue in the title 'Labour Day' had everyone reported to the border to build the wall?

As we wandered, we eventually found the remnants of a party with discarded food and drinks.  Had everyone been abducted? Where were Mulder and Scully or the Men in Black when you needed them?

Arriving at Sam Houston park, which contained a collection of old style houses, we stood and reflected on our surroundings when suddenly a waggon train of Segway's arrived.  They stopped and the leader got off and fed the ducks before they slowly sped away leaving us once more on our own. 

Following the path along the Bayou, we were accosted by lone cyclists as they sped to an unknown destination before suddenly hearing music off to our left. Here we found an entertainment area isolated from the outside world. Families carried on enjoying the rides etc as if caught in a Groundhog day. Maybe a large bubble would form to save this group. 

Moving on, before we were trapped, we decided to head to Main street as we were getting hungry by now. Only a few odd eating places were open and the survivors congregated  in these. As we sat with a meal, a group of youths passed by arguing and becoming aggressive. Eventually, one member became isolated as the group turned on him. He was soon squatted and the new leader lead the rest away.

As we made our way back to the hotel, we encountered a few lonely people, some talking to themselves, others foraging for food. Eventually, we reached Green Park, which was near to our hotel.  Thankfully here people had been spared and life carried on as normal. I decided to sketch some of these people for prosperity and sat in the café. I felt sorry for the first man I drew, as he was drawing a building and before he finished a park ranger left her buggy in front of him. A lady sat enjoying her ice cream and a young couple sat opposite each other and he was massaging her feet. If only these people knew what we had seen in the city, they wouldn't have been so relaxed!

Returning to the hotel, we found out that only eight rooms still had people in them, after the hotel being fully occupied the night before.  Was this just a bad dream ​and what would we find the next morning?