I sit on the stoop of my East Austin Airbnb, listening to the neighborhood birds. I’ve got a copy of Mary Oliver’s Devotions, a book I picked up at a two-story bookstore in downtown Austin called Book People (Austin's largest independent bookstore! Made me pine for The Tattered Cover). I find it interesting this book is arranged newest poems first, oldest poems last. I start at the first poem on the last page, wanting to engage with Mary Oliver chronologically.

The first poem I open to, Morning in a New Land, starts,

“In tree still dripping night some nameless birds

Woke, shook out their arrow wings, and sang

Slowly like finches sifting through a dream.”

The reason I’m outside on the stoop is to listen to these crazy birds. Most of them are grackles, the loudest birds I’ve ever heard, the most talkative. They seem to live in a tree in a house across the street flying to and from it frequently. They are very busy birds.

I decide to take a walk around the neighborhood, drawn in by the colorful houses and the promise of murals. I find a little free library and grab a gorgeous, hardcover Lonely Planet book that tells tales of epic hikes. While I do bring it back to the Airbnb with me, it doesn’t make it into my suitcase to come all the way home. I remind myself I am not someone who is likely to take an epic hike, preferring a more mundane version.

The Airbnb has no books at all (travesty!) so I also leave behind my copy of The Thirteenth Tale. I had loaned it to my travel companion for this trip, Tony, and he carted it in his suitcase to return to me. It is one of my all-time faves and I struggle leaving it behind, but I know I can buy a new copy and I tell myself it is better to share the story than hog it.

Tony was with me for the first few days of the trip. We eat*, drink** and spend hours watching for bats***. We engage with an interactive art exhibit and the botanic gardens**** and listen to jazz in a basement club***** while drinking stout old-fashioneds. We walk, we walk, we walk. We go on a hunt for pickle beer******, trying four places before stumbling upon it at Trader Joe's.

On my days alone, I visit art museums. Three of them*******. I relish having the time to pay attention to the art, instead of zooming through as I normally do. I eat more******** and I walk more. I don’t do any honky-tonkin’ which means another trip to Austin is certainly in my future. 

The first day we are there, I am completely overwhelmed by the city-ness of it all. So many people, long waits at restaurants, the city smells, the cost of drinks. I wonder if I'm broken for cities. The second day, I feel better, more acclimated. It is a good reminder to me to remember to find things to do besides eating and drinking. Wander through neighborhoods even if they aren't Instagram worthy. Take in the outdoor spaces the city has to offer. Be ok with a night in watching New Girl on the host's Netflix.

Just be. It's a good day to have a good day. Nobody cares if you're miserable so you might as well be happy. Etc., etc.

All places we ventured are recommended!

*

Picnik (the best server ever, Amanda!)

Fluff Meringues and More (Perisian tea cake!)

Joann's Fine Foods (super cute diner vibe and yummy mex food!)

Counter Cafe (finally, some TX based hot sauce!)

Rockstar Bagels (Vegan salmon and lox!)

Love Supreme (Elote sweet corn 'ribs' and plant based chicken wings!)

Velvet Taco (Nashville hot tofu tacos!)

Yummi Joy (all their ice cream is vegan!)

Haymaker (veggie burger on texas toast! yes!)

**

Hotel San Jose (delicious yet tiny and expensive froze and pina coladas!)

***

The g.d bats never showed!

****

Wonderspaces

Zilker Botanical Gardens

*****

The Elephant Room

******

Best Maid Sour Pickle Beer

*******

The Museum of the Weird

Mexic-Arte Museum

Blanton Museum of Art

********

Lou's (cutest outdoor space!)

Phoebe's Diner (MIGAS! YES, PLEASE!)

Special shout out to the H-E-B grocery chain for having take-out vegan pizzas in their pizza shop!