Saturday, June 16, 2007

Saturday Trip to Dallas Downtown

By Wayne and Jason

- Left West Irving station at 12:09 pm (
Eastbound to Union Station)

-Short walk from Station to site of JFK shooting passing old Dallas courthouse.





























- No need to pay $10 to experience the JFK memorial. Go on a Saturday to be entertained by conspiracy theorists on the streets. They want to sell you their magazines or newspapers, but if you have patience, you can learn a lot through just listening to their well-rehearsed speeches. Visit the bookstore at the back of the museum.
Great photos and informative books plus a short video to view.

- A live web cam is in the southeast window on the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, where an assassin is alleged to have fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy. Wayne called parents in South Africa for them to view live shots > http://www.earthcam.com/jfk/

- Walked to Reunion Tower through Union Station. $2 up to observation floor – see 360 degree few of Dallas.


































- Walked around Hyatt
Hotel (Connected to Reunion Tower)

- 2:22 pm train back to West Irving Station

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Day Trip to Fort Worth, Texas

I’ve been in Dallas for 7 years but have never taken the TRE to downtown Fort Worth… until today.

My day looked like this…

- Parked at West Irving Station
- Purchased day pass ($4.50 for use on all DFW trains and buses)
- 10:24 AM train to Fort Worth
- Arrived at ITC station at 11 AM
- Bus 2 to Museum of Science and History (Great place for kids)
- Watched 45 minute IMAX presentation
- Planetarium presentation
- Lunch at museum (Bring packed lunch next time)
- Brisk walk through Cowgirl Museum (Recommended you have female companionship ;-)
- Bus 2 to Sundance Square
- Awesome Barnes and Nobles in Sundance Square – perused “The Travel Book” by Lonely Planet. Great book that gives a short synopsis of every country. Wonderful photos!
- Walked back to main train station (Collected train and bus schedules for my next trip)
- Arrived back in Irving at 5:20 PM

The day brought back great memories of my time in China. Public transportation became a way of life in China. You don’t have to worry about gas prices, speeding tickets, and the cost of car insurance. The American (South African) way is to always be behind the wheel of a car – to feel in control. Driving may get you there a little faster, but think of the things you can do while riding a train or bus - catch up on the Economist, read a good book, and safely flip through your list of daily podcasts.

Go public next time – I dare you!