A BBQ Fuelled Christmas 🎄

A light green stucco wall with 'i love you so much.' written in red cursive spray paint. Outside Jo's Coffee in Austin, Texas.

For the first two years of the COVID19 pandemic Australia isolated itself from the world, so I had only ever met my partner’s family over Zoom. For Christmas 2022 we headed to Austin and spent time with them, the first time she’d seen them for about 4 years.

We had great fun walking around Austin seeing the sights, visited the capitol, went two stepping at Sagebrush, saw a couple of bands at The Far Out Lounge & Stage, went go-carting at the Circuit of the Americas, drank coffee at Two Hands, Jo’s, and Cosmic Garage, ate Bagels from Big City Bagels and Subs, and had a great Christmas eating, drinking, playing games, and hanging out.

Oh, and we braved that insane cold snap that saw the temperature drop about 40º in two hours.

We ate BBQ. A lot of BBQ. Rudy’s was my favourite.

Close up of a box of brisket and ribs from Rudy's in Austin, sitting on a stone bench top, with cups of sies in the background.Rudy’s BBQ Brisket & Ribs Close up of a box of brisket and ribs from Rudy's in Austin, sitting on a stone bench top, with cups of sies in the background.Rudy’s BBQ Brisket & Sausage

And checked out some local vistas.

A view out over Lake Austin from The Oasis, a small boat leaving a trail as it zips across the water.Lake Austin A view of the Pennybacker (360) Brdige from atop the surrounding bluff, looking out over the river and surrounds.Pennybacker Bridge A view of downtown and the old rail bridge, from the shore of Town Lake.Downtown & Rail Bridge At Reimers, looking across the water and rocky shore of a river toward the forest.Reimers

It was fantastic. Great food, great music, great people, and best of all, I gained a whole new family. Three new sisters, their partners, and my partner’s parents.

I can’t wait to visit them all again. ♥️

Ryan Booker @ryanbooker