I have no idea why I love Galveston, TX so much. Really. It is so NOT a California beach town... no real waves, the water is dirty, debris on the shore and lots of jellyfish in the surf.
All that aside, it smells so salty, the wind blows spray in my face... Ahhhh. The sun burning my skin while the kids kick up sand into my contacts... Peace. Love. Serenity.
After spending the last two years of Saturdays at the shop and not having been in Galveston since my Dad was here in March of 2007, I have been feeling the pull, the lure of sand and salt water tugging... no wait, PULLING & DRAGGING me towards the Gulf of Mexico. After my health scare, I KNEW I needed to something for ME that I enjoy, that I need, and I needed to take the girls down to Galveston to check it out and get some sun.
So yesterday, we piled into the Isuzu and made tracks to the beach.
Perfection. Could not have asked for a better day.
We saw total destruction, things standing in the middle of destruction. We saw rebuilding, fixing and brand new growth. Many of our favorite things were still in place, like Mr. Shark (AKA Ole Rusty Butt) who sits across from the seawall right on Seawall Blvd. He was a bit beat up, but still standing all mighty with his surf board.
I have to say, I am in love with Galveston's strength and integrity to come back and rebuild. After Ike, there were literally no beaches. The water came up to the seawall. Now, after 5 months of sand dumping, tourists, locals have a beach to take the kids to, run dog on... It is simply amazing to see Galvestonians work so hard... all day, all night to deliver sand to the beaches. And other things too. Like all the houses.... So many abandoned, demolished. Then we drive on another street and there are houses being fixed, painted. I snapped a couple pictures of houses that at first glance are just so cute, but when you look at the picture, you will notice little things: the corner of the roof, a dead palm tree, slats missing from a shutter, or the entire shutter missing from the home..... but only on one widow. Oh so random.
I am so happy to see Galveston rebuilding and jumping back after such devastation. I am proud of them also.
The water came up to over 9 feet into the Strand District. It was not water coming up and over the seawall, but instead, when the storm surge came into the ship channel, it was shoved up the backside of Galveston Island and onto the streets and shops along the Strand. I got a few pictures of where the waterline was. Hard to imagine the Strand submerged, even for just a few hours. I congratulate the shop/restaurant owners for their strength and love for what they do to rebuild, repaint and reopen.
I was able to speak to a few of the Strand's shop owners. This was the first weekend they had seen a lot of people shopping and hanging out (spending money), other than Mardi Gras weekend. I giggled every time I saw the basket or section with the signs that read, "50% off Ike damaged T-shirts", LOL
Anyhow, I will stop my rambling (I had a lot to say, and still do) and let you get on with the pictures. There are many, so go get your cup 'o joe, LOL
Make sure you get to the ones with the FABULOUS Victorian Architecture. The attention to details, the paint, the choice of colors. It is simply amazing if you let yourself believe.
Enjoy. :0)
All that aside, it smells so salty, the wind blows spray in my face... Ahhhh. The sun burning my skin while the kids kick up sand into my contacts... Peace. Love. Serenity.
After spending the last two years of Saturdays at the shop and not having been in Galveston since my Dad was here in March of 2007, I have been feeling the pull, the lure of sand and salt water tugging... no wait, PULLING & DRAGGING me towards the Gulf of Mexico. After my health scare, I KNEW I needed to something for ME that I enjoy, that I need, and I needed to take the girls down to Galveston to check it out and get some sun.
So yesterday, we piled into the Isuzu and made tracks to the beach.
Perfection. Could not have asked for a better day.
We saw total destruction, things standing in the middle of destruction. We saw rebuilding, fixing and brand new growth. Many of our favorite things were still in place, like Mr. Shark (AKA Ole Rusty Butt) who sits across from the seawall right on Seawall Blvd. He was a bit beat up, but still standing all mighty with his surf board.
I have to say, I am in love with Galveston's strength and integrity to come back and rebuild. After Ike, there were literally no beaches. The water came up to the seawall. Now, after 5 months of sand dumping, tourists, locals have a beach to take the kids to, run dog on... It is simply amazing to see Galvestonians work so hard... all day, all night to deliver sand to the beaches. And other things too. Like all the houses.... So many abandoned, demolished. Then we drive on another street and there are houses being fixed, painted. I snapped a couple pictures of houses that at first glance are just so cute, but when you look at the picture, you will notice little things: the corner of the roof, a dead palm tree, slats missing from a shutter, or the entire shutter missing from the home..... but only on one widow. Oh so random.
I am so happy to see Galveston rebuilding and jumping back after such devastation. I am proud of them also.
The water came up to over 9 feet into the Strand District. It was not water coming up and over the seawall, but instead, when the storm surge came into the ship channel, it was shoved up the backside of Galveston Island and onto the streets and shops along the Strand. I got a few pictures of where the waterline was. Hard to imagine the Strand submerged, even for just a few hours. I congratulate the shop/restaurant owners for their strength and love for what they do to rebuild, repaint and reopen.
I was able to speak to a few of the Strand's shop owners. This was the first weekend they had seen a lot of people shopping and hanging out (spending money), other than Mardi Gras weekend. I giggled every time I saw the basket or section with the signs that read, "50% off Ike damaged T-shirts", LOL
Anyhow, I will stop my rambling (I had a lot to say, and still do) and let you get on with the pictures. There are many, so go get your cup 'o joe, LOL
Make sure you get to the ones with the FABULOUS Victorian Architecture. The attention to details, the paint, the choice of colors. It is simply amazing if you let yourself believe.
Enjoy. :0)
Loved the Galveston photos, and am glad to hear that you are feeling well again.
ReplyDeleteMy history with Galveston dates back to the Great Storm of 1900, because my grandmother lived through it!!! My mom spent lots of time there as a young woman; then I went there with my family as a child and teenager. I continued the tradition with my daughters, and now my grandchildren have visited there. WOW-they are the 5th generation....and so it goes