» posted on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
The Gumball Machine
Linda Burton posting from Austin, Texas – “They should name it Austin Over-Tours,” I thought as I called to make my reservation. The Austin Overtures Sightseeing website promised I would “see Austin and the Hill Country in Air Conditioned Mercedes-Benz Comfort” for only $25. For that bargain price I didn’t mind having to drive downtown to meet them; the exercise would help me learn my way around the city. I parked at a meter by Brooks Brothers, just a few blocks off historic 6th Street (aka Pecan) and walked into the Visitor Center with time to spare. Postcards for sale, tshirts, books; big and little souvenirs of the Live Music Capital of the World and the Big Howdy state of Texas. People lined up on a bench by the front to wait for the promised Mercedes-Benz ; there was quite a crowd. Our ticket-time was finally called; Tour Guide Philip (wearing a jacket of tweed) led us to the curb for our personal Pink Chariot Ride. “Can I please sit in the front with you?” I asked; permission granted. I wish I could remember everything to tell you. But Phillip rattled off so many facts and fictions about Austin, Texas that the inside of my head is like a giant gumball machine – filled with colorful, delicious, juicy bits. Which ones will the quarter bring down the slot?
Here are the 42 talking points listed on their brochure:
- 2nd Street District
- 6th Street
- Auditorium Shores
- Austin City Limits
- Barton Springs
- Barton Springs Road
- Bob Bullock Texas History Museum
- Bremond Block
- Brief Geology Lesson
- Brief History of Texas
- Brief History of the Highland Lakes System
- Camp Mabry
- Congress Ave
- Congress Avenue Bridge and Bat Colony
- French Legation
- Harry Ransom Center
- Hill Country Views
- J Blanton Museum
- Lady Bird Lake
- Lake Austin
- LBJ Presidential Library
- Long Center for the Performing Arts
- Mayfield Park
- Moonlight Tower
- Mount Bonnell
- O Henry Museum
- Palmer Events Center
- Pennybacker Bridge
- Restaurant Row
- Texas Capitol
- Texas Memorial Museum
- Texas State Cemetery
- The Drag
- The Driskill Hotel
- The University of Texas at Austin
- The Warehouse District
- Umluaf Sculpture Garden
- UT Performing Arts Center
- UT Royal Memorial Stadium
- Wild Basin Preserve
- Zilker Botanical Gardens
- Zilker Park
Did we see all of that? I couldn’t promise! Our tour of the U of T campus was cut short due to massive crowds; school buses were bringing UT wannabe’s in from all over the state; Phillip took one look at the traffic jam and quickly chose another route. I remember a quick-ride through the Texas State Cemetery although we didn’t stop for famous graves. I remember passing down the street where O Henry lived and hearing a story of his financial problems. I remember riding down Willie Nelson Avenue and I remember seeing Lady Bird Lake. The ride into the hills was enjoyable and scenic; the buzzing around the city made me blink at the awesome skyline.
I came away with the overall sense of Austin as a city full of color – colorful characters, a colorful past, and a colorful approach to living. Just like a big gumball machine.
Austin Visitors Center, 209 E 6th Street, http://www.austinovertures.com/