I'm coming to Texas from Australia in April 2014... 4 games in 6 nights! Advice?

[look_at_g_shred]

Don't do it!

[TE]

It's pouring AGAIN.

[xmas1997]

Looks like another one, Jerry, is coming.

[TE]

We're gonna flood like a mfker.

[xmas1997]

We're gonna flood like a mfker.

By the way, TE, sorry if I bashed you in earlier threads. We just have a difference in opinion is all and I reacted defensively when it appeared you guys were ganging up on me, I thought you were a another troll like them.
I still maintain that the whole team screwed the pooch regardless of how bad Manu or Pop or any other Spur was.
No offense was meant.

We need that rain here in S.A., we're getting some, but not near enough.

[TE]

By the way, TE, sorry if I bashed you in earlier threads. We just have a difference in opinion is all and I reacted defensively when it appeared you guys were ganging up on me, I thought you were a another troll like them.
I still maintain that the whole team screwed the pooch regardless of how bad Manu or Pop or any other Spur was.
No offense was meant.

We need that rain here in S.A., we're getting some, but not near enough.
We good then homie, I don't take sides with anybody. I'm a lone soldier.

Maybe we can all get together and drunken ourselves to Kumbaya.

[xmas1997]

We good then homie, I don't take sides with anybody. I'm a lone soldier.

Maybe we can all get together and drunken ourselves to Kumbaya.

:lmao
Thanks

[TE]

Hey Skull-1, has your place gotten flooded yet?

[Skull-1]

Hey Skull-1 (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=44046), has your place gotten flooded yet?


I don't think so. Not up to the door or anything like that.

[TE]

I don't think so. Not up to the door or anything like that.

Oh okay. There's parts of burg that I drive through that are inundated. It sure was dry weeks ago...now it feels like a totally different area. It hasn't looked this green in a long long while.

[Skull-1]

Oh okay. There's parts of burg that I drive through that are inundated. It sure was dry weeks ago...now it feels like a totally different area. It hasn't looked this green in a long long while.

The wind has been drying all my plants out. When I was a kid it rained all the time. Wtf?

[TE]

The wind has been drying all my plants out. When I was a kid it rained all the time. Wtf?

Nah I'm talking a few years. This place has been in a serious drought the last few years. I can't remember the last time it rained this much. Maybe when Dolly came by...

This rain is good for my trees tbh. My Peach and Avocado tree needed this.

[Skull-1]

Nah I'm talking a few years. This place has been in a serious drought the last few years. I can't remember the last time it rained this much. Maybe when Dolly came by...

This rain is good for my trees tbh. My Peach and Avocado tree needed this.


It has been dry for a decade really. Maybe more... My tangerines will be happy.

[hsxvvd]

Ok, so I've now booked my car rental, and I thought I'd bump the thread for some advice on driving in the Texas triangle. I'm staying/driving in all the downtown areas of Dallas, San Antonio and Houston... I know I'll be driving on the "wrong-side" of the road, and I've done this before in Canada and Hawaii, but nothing on the scale of these cities.

I've read that Dallas drivers are quite aggressive, and that Houston roads can be very difficult to navigate.

So, any driving advice would be welcome. Directions? Common "out of towner" mistakes? Cautions? Areas to avoid?

Thanks again in advance.

[bluebellmaniac]

Ok, so I've now booked my car rental, and I thought I'd bump the thread for some advice on driving in the Texas triangle. I'm staying/driving in all the downtown areas of Dallas, San Antonio and Houston... I know I'll be driving on the "wrong-side" of the road, and I've done this before in Canada and Hawaii, but nothing on the scale of these cities.

I've read that Dallas drivers are quite aggressive, and that Houston roads can be very difficult to navigate.

So, any driving advice would be welcome. Directions? Common "out of towner" mistakes? Cautions? Areas to avoid?

Thanks again in advance.
I assume you are doing these games:

4/10 @ Dallas-Thurs
4/11 Phoenix -Fri
4/14 @ Houston -Mon
4/16 Lakers -Wed

I assume you will fly into Dallas and spend the night after the game there. Driving to SA is just a matter of taking highway 35 (IH-35) south for about 4 hours. The trick will be getting through Austin, which is a parking lot on IH-35, especially on a Friday. I'd recommend taking the toll road (I think it is Toll Road 130, which you catch around Georgetown) to bypass the congestion and meet up with IH-35 south of Austin. SA has traffic issues, but not like the ones Austin has with IH-35.

Getting to the Houston game will be easy, take IH-10 east for about 3 hours. Getting back from Houston is just taking IH-10 west.

Each city is almost like its own state. Each has its own culture and flavor. In San Antonio, enjoy the Tex-Mex as much as possible, just try not to eat it downtown in the tourist areas (drinking margaritas is good everywhere however). Rosario's is near downtown and pretty good, so that would minimize driving. Los Barrios is another well known restaurant and both restaurants are excellent for visitors. San Antonio is 65% Hispanic, 25% white and the rest mostly Black and Asian.

Houston is a mix of Texas BBQ and Louisiana Cajun. Be sure to get some gumbo and jambalaya when over there. Houston is the most culturally diverse city in Texas with a mix of about 40% hispanic, 25% black, 25% white and the rest mostly asian. Seafood is also popular and if you get the chance, eat in one of the "Boat" restaurants like Captain Tom's (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/8/110934/restaurant/Cypress-Fairbanks/Captain-Toms-Seafood-Oyster-Houston), which has seafood and gumbo.

Dallas itself has about the same cultural mix as Houston, but it is surrounded by other cities that are much less diverse. Houston is far more spread out. I can't recommend much as far as what to eat since I haven't spent any real time in Dallas.

Between the Phoenix game and the Houston game you will have some time to kill. That Saturday or Sunday would be perfect for driving up to Austin, the capital of Texas. Like the other cities it too is quite distinct in its culture. Austin is Tex-Mex that has been "California-ized". Healthy Tex-Mex, if that is possible. They mix up crazy concoctions that are incredibly good. Austin is about 70 min drive going North from SA. You'll want to try Guerro's, which isn't far from downtown and where you'll have most of the sites to see (The Capital Building, The Univ of Texas, 6th Street). If you're in Austin, you gotta have a Margarita at the Hula Hut on Lake Austin.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth of recommendations. Have fun!

[rascal]

Why do people in San Antonio say IH-10 instead of just I-10 like most of the other country?

[bluebellmaniac]

Why do people in San Antonio say IH-10 instead of just I-10 like most of the other country?

That's just the local dialect. In California, they say "The 10".

[hsxvvd]

Thanks. The in-between each of the cities seems pretty straight forward, I've checked that out. But a play around on Google street view etc, and it's getting on and off these freeways that is going to freak me out. I'm sure I'll survive, but if your a local and you see and big white guy in a little rental car swerving across multiple lanes to make a turn... be kind.

[spurs10]

A lot of good advice from bluebellmaniac. I agree that visiting Austin would be fun. If you go to Guerro's make sure to go hear some music at the Continental Club across the street. It's a legendary spot. They are both on South Congress Ave. If you go north you'll run into the State Capital building. I also think the margaritas at Guerro's are some of the best. Rosario's and Mi Tieras in SA, with the former having the best food and the latter the atmosphere, are good spots close to downtown. Have a great time!!!

[look_at_g_shred]

I assume you are doing these games:

4/10 @ Dallas-Thurs
4/11 Phoenix -Fri
4/14 @ Houston -Mon
4/16 Lakers -Wed

I assume you will fly into Dallas and spend the night after the game there. Driving to SA is just a matter of taking highway 35 (IH-35) south for about 4 hours. The trick will be getting through Austin, which is a parking lot on IH-35, especially on a Friday. I'd recommend taking the toll road (I think it is Toll Road 130, which you catch around Georgetown) to bypass the congestion and meet up with IH-35 south of Austin. SA has traffic issues, but not like the ones Austin has with IH-35.

Getting to the Houston game will be easy, take IH-10 east for about 3 hours. Getting back from Houston is just taking IH-10 west.

Each city is almost like its own state. Each has its own culture and flavor. In San Antonio, enjoy the Tex-Mex as much as possible, just try not to eat it downtown in the tourist areas (drinking margaritas is good everywhere however). Rosario's is near downtown and pretty good, so that would minimize driving. Los Barrios is another well known restaurant and both restaurants are excellent for visitors. San Antonio is 65% Hispanic, 25% white and the rest mostly Black and Asian.

Houston is a mix of Texas BBQ and Louisiana Cajun. Be sure to get some gumbo and jambalaya when over there. Houston is the most culturally diverse city in Texas with a mix of about 40% hispanic, 25% black, 25% white and the rest mostly asian. Seafood is also popular and if you get the chance, eat in one of the "Boat" restaurants like Captain Tom's (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/8/110934/restaurant/Cypress-Fairbanks/Captain-Toms-Seafood-Oyster-Houston), which has seafood and gumbo.

Dallas itself has about the same cultural mix as Houston, but it is surrounded by other cities that are much less diverse. Houston is far more spread out. I can't recommend much as far as what to eat since I haven't spent any real time in Dallas.

Between the Phoenix game and the Houston game you will have some time to kill. That Saturday or Sunday would be perfect for driving up to Austin, the capital of Texas. Like the other cities it too is quite distinct in its culture. Austin is Tex-Mex that has been "California-ized". Healthy Tex-Mex, if that is possible. They mix up crazy concoctions that are incredibly good. Austin is about 70 min drive going North from SA. You'll want to try Guerro's, which isn't far from downtown and where you'll have most of the sites to see (The Capital Building, The Univ of Texas, 6th Street). If you're in Austin, you gotta have a Margarita at the Hula Hut on Lake Austin.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth of recommendations. Have fun!
:tu

[hsxvvd]

I'm missing that Laker game, I have to fly home to Australia and play the role of Easter Bunny.

[hsxvvd]

2 Weeks to go!

I'll be wearing a T-shirt with "Aussie Spur 14" on the back if you see me at the game, come say hello.

[hsxvvd]

I'm in Dallas!

Got myself new baseline ticket for tomorrow EE. So 5th row from the court. Spurs bench end.

Tips for the day in Dallas tomorrow?

[boutons_deux]

Welcome to TX!

[jkid12456]

hey how r the people there, texans and aussies very much the same

[hsxvvd]

Only just got here really... my expectation was that Texans would be a lot like Queenslanders. So far, not too far off.

But already awesome to be able to start up basketball conversation with strangers. In Australia that is just about impossible.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Dallas is great for fine dining if you're into that sort of thing.

[hsxvvd]

I'm traveling alone so the fine dining feels a bit weird.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I do it all the time tbh :lmao

[stewarth21]

I'm traveling alone so the fine dining feels a bit weird.

I just arrived back in Melbourne after my Spurs holiday, was at the Memphis game last Sunday and also saw games @ Lakers and Warriors. I spent 3 days in SA so anything you want to know.

One peice of advice, assuming you want to buy heaps of merchandise. Don't buy at AT&T as its expensive as hell, try and get to a Academy Sports store for t-shirts and general stuff. For jerseys just go to Champs or Lids at Rivercenter Mall.

[MI21]

I just arrived back in Melbourne after my Spurs holiday, was at the Memphis game last Sunday and also saw games @ Lakers and Warriors. I spent 3 days in SA so anything you want to know.

One peice of advice, assuming you want to buy heaps of merchandise. Don't buy at AT&T as its expensive as hell, try and get to a Academy Sports store for t-shirts and general stuff. For jerseys just go to Champs or Lids at Rivercenter Mall.

This guy!

[MI21]

I'm in Dallas!

Got myself new baseline ticket for tomorrow EE. So 5th row from the court. Spurs bench end.

Tips for the day in Dallas tomorrow?

Sounds like a blast, mate.

I'm heading over November/December this year - hopefully I can see the 5th trophy lined up in the AT&T.

How much were those tickets if you don't mind my asking?

[Skoobz]

Have a blast mate. I'm hoping to go over in a couple weeks.....last time I was i SA was the 99 finals and just let me say the texmex food in SA shits all over the Mexican food I had in Mexico!

on another note welcome stewarth.....been years since I've seen yr handle on that other dead ass site. I was the guy who made you a copy of the memorial game.

[Skoobz]

Surprised trey or mattyc never made it here

[Skoobz]

Hey MI, TDMVPDPOY said he used post on that other site and he was in on the pontel deal with us....do u know what his handle was there?

[Skoobz]

Hey mate, one thing I used to do was look in the paper for authorised ticket resellers and secure some higher level seats. Then turn up to collect them before the game and ask them what lower level tickets they have left as they will discount it quite considerably so they don't totally lose out on the premium tiks they haven't sold. As a guide I paid about 50% of what the lower level seat was worth. Good luck!

[MI21]

Hey MI, TDMVPDPOY said he used post on that other site and he was in on the pontel deal with us....do u know what his handle was there?

Shit, I would have no idea... I don't remember anyone repeatedly calling everyone a fkn wanker back then :lol

This thread is turning into an absolute flashback...

[stewarth21]

Mi21, been a long long time mate.

[stewarth21]

on another note welcome stewarth.....been years since I've seen yr handle on that other dead ass site. I was the guy who made you a copy of the memorial game.

Wow memories. Side note, I sat 2nd row and got to meet Sean Elliott at the Grizz game last week. Super nice guy.

[hsxvvd]

Sounds like a blast, mate.

I'm heading over November/December this year - hopefully I can see the 5th trophy lined up in the AT&T.

How much were those tickets if you don't mind my asking?

I had a ticket already I bought a long time ago up in the nose bleeds for the Dallas game that cost me AU$85, but I had the money and picked up this EE baseline for AU$260. Could have gotten AA directly behind the Spurs bench for AU$1000... And I went to buy them but were being sold as 2 seats... buying only 1 ticket limited my options

[hsxvvd]

Thanks. I'm already on my 2nd ticket for this game, and I have good seats already for the Suns and Rockets games.

[hsxvvd]

Sounds like a fun trip. I recommend hitting county line for some barbecue. In Dallas, I recommend chicken fried steak at black eyed pea. In Austin, I recommend a Mexican place called Hula Hut.

Had the chicken fried steak at the black eyed pea... great recommendation. But not sure if this tip was intending to be a joke. An extremely gay friendly restaurant...maybe it was just that part of town... either way food was great so no complaints here... thanks for the tip.

[thispego]

Black eyed pea??? :lmao

Hey don't forget to try Applebee's and Chili's too! :rollin

[hsxvvd]

Got loads of autographs. .. not Timmy :(

[MI21]

Mi21, been a long long time mate.

No kidding mate, hope you are keeping well.

[MI21]

Got loads of autographs. .. not Timmy :(

Happy you are getting to see Patty put in a good showing, tbh.

[hsxvvd]

Got Patty's autograph as well as Manu, Joseph, Diaw, Daye, Baynes, Ayes and Splitter.

Selfies with Patty and Tiago.

Patty, Splitter, Diaw and Joseph were brilliant with the fans.

Timmy signed a few but wouldn't mine. I yelled "I've travelled 16000km's and you wont come 50m (it was more like 5m)"... Even that didnt work.

On the game front... Patty was a machine... and to their credit the Mavs fans were very hospitable.

Now for the home game!

[Fpoonsie]

Timmy signed a few but wouldn't mine. I yelled "I've travelled 16000km's and you wont come 50m (it was more like 5m)"... Even that didnt work.


:wow I can't believe being a dick didn't work!

[hsxvvd]

It was posed more as a question... "won't you come 50m?"... don't think it was an insult and he looked up and I thought he was going to come across but there were a lot of other people trying to get his auto also. Those there "all spurs fans" didnt think it was "dickish"... but I'll try again in Houston.

[Fpoonsie]

It was posed more as a question... "won't you come 50m?"... don't think it was an insult and he looked up and I thought he was going to come across but there were a lot of other people trying to get his auto also. Those there "all spurs fans" didnt think it was "dickish"... but I'll try again in Houston.

Maybe try being less of an asshole in Houston.

[baseline bum]

:wow I can't believe being a dick didn't work!

:lol

[hsxvvd]

Maybe try being less of an asshole in Houston.

You might think about that advice for yourself if you plan on replying. Just sharing my experience of visiting the Spurs from Australia mate. Who's being the dick now?

[SupremeGuy]

I don't think you were being a dick necessarily, but for fuck's sake, get out of here with that metric shit when you're in the US! lol

[hsxvvd]

Haha... I was called out on that by the guy standing next to me.

It's a bitch trying to understand the sat nav too when she keeps telling me to turn in 2 miles... I've made countless mistakes because of that.

I drove from Dallas to San Antonio today and discovered that apparently speed limits are optional ;)

Barely any police either... heads up if you Texans ever come down under and drive we have police and speed cameras everywhere. In Victoria anyway.

My little rental Prius got a bit of a work out.

[DJR210]

Had the chicken fried steak at the black eyed pea... great recommendation. But not sure if this tip was intending to be a joke. An extremely gay friendly restaurant...maybe it was just that part of town... either way food was great so no complaints here... thanks for the tip.

:lmao How so?

[weeks]

Haha... I was called out on that by the guy standing next to me.

It's a bitch trying to understand the sat nav too when she keeps telling me to turn in 2 miles... I've made countless mistakes because of that.

I drove from Dallas to San Antonio today and discovered that apparently speed limits are optional ;)

Barely any police either... heads up if you Texans ever come down under and drive we have police and speed cameras everywhere. In Victoria anyway.

My little rental Prius got a bit of a work out.
sounds awful. hope you're enjoying your stay, one of the best things about the great plains is the ability to speed outrageously on the highway with little to no repercussions

[baseline bum]

I don't think you were being a dick necessarily, but for fuck's sake, get out of here with that metric shit when you're in the US! lol

Yep, we're real stubborn about using our 13th century English units here in the US. It's kind of funny that we use metric units like volts and amps for anything electric here though, since our knowledge of electricity comes from the 1800s when metrics started getting widespread use in Europe.

[baseline bum]

Shit, I should have asked you to bring a grip of Bundaberg Lemon Lime Bitters to Texas, hsxvvd. Best fucking soda ever.

[SupremeGuy]

Yep, we're real stubborn about using our 13th century English units here in the US. It's kind of funny that we use metric units like volts and amps for anything electric here though, since our knowledge of electricity comes from the 1800s when metrics started getting widespread use in Europe.http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/tumblr_m8gsntsLad1qipm4jo1_500.png

[hsxvvd]

Wow....not much else to say other than EVERY true blooded Spurs fan no matter where they live needs to see a game at AT&T and visit this town.

I imagine this is how religious types feel when they go to Mecca or Isreal or whatever their place might be.

[houston spurs fan]

Fat, and fatter women. That is all you have to choose from. SA is becoming notorius for this.

[TheWriter]

Fat, and fatter women. That is all you have to choose from. SA is becoming notorius for this.

I'd make a crack about Houston, but that's way too easy and just not fair. Poor Houston residents. :(

[TheWriter]

Wow....not much else to say other than EVERY true blooded Spurs fan no matter where they live needs to see a game at AT&T and visit this town.

I imagine this is how religious types feel when they go to Mecca or Isreal or whatever their place might be.

So how was your trip to SA?

BTW, if you were in the Pearl area tonight, you'd have spotted Marco Bellineli. He was there hanging out having dinner at a restaurant in the area from what a friend told me.

[baseline bum]

Wow....not much else to say other than EVERY true blooded Spurs fan no matter where they live needs to see a game at AT&T and visit this town.

I imagine this is how religious types feel when they go to Mecca or Isreal or whatever their place might be.

It's a pretty awesome place to catch a game. The Spurs previous two arenas had some really bad seats in them. For example, the Alamodome was designed as a football stadium, so seats were way farther back than in a standard basketball stadium. At Hemisfair Arena lower level seats were incredible as long as you weren't behind a support column, but upper level seats completely sucked because you had to look straight down practically and the angle made all the players look like fleas. What you really have to try sometime now is getting courtside seats. You wouldn't believe how athletic these guys really are when you're there on the floor and seeing just how high they jump, how fast they are, and how physical the game is when it's going on at eye level right in front of you. TV really doesn't capture it at all. Seeing David Robinson play from courtside seats is one of the most unforgettable things for me, because he was such a freak athletically.

[hsxvvd]

I was in the 5th Row baseline at the Dallas game. Bought better tickets before I left.

It was worth every cent and you're right. If Samual Dalembert looked like a freak I can only imagine Robinson in his prime. I was also amazed tlat the physicality that doesnt show on tv. The bumps on the cutters are hard.

I'm in row f at the Rockets gamr so they should be pretty good too.

The high seats at AT&T looked pretty steep too...they seemed to shoot straight up.

[benfti]

It was posed more as a question... "won't you come 50m?"... don't think it was an insult and he looked up and I thought he was going to come across but there were a lot of other people trying to get his auto also. Those there "all spurs fans" didnt think it was "dickish"... but I'll try again in Houston.
He might not know what a meter is?

[alamo50]

I still can't believe you flew all the way down there to miss the playoffs by less than a week mate.

[Fpoonsie]

I was in the 5th Row baseline at the Dallas game. Bought better tickets before I left.

It was worth every cent and you're right. If Samual Dalembert looked like a freak I can only imagine Robinson in his prime. I was also amazed tlat the physicality that doesnt show on tv. The bumps on the cutters are hard.

I'm in row f at the Rockets gamr so they should be pretty good too.

The high seats at AT&T looked pretty steep too...they seemed to shoot straight up.

Be sure to tell Timmy you'll murder his family if he doesn't come over and sign your didgeridoo.

[hsxvvd]

I still can't believe you flew all the way down there to miss the playoffs by less than a week mate.

I know. But I'm a school teacher and it's school holidays now.

I'll fly home and enjoy the playoff run even more now though.

[hsxvvd]

Be sure to tell Timmy you'll murder his family if he doesn't come over and sign your didgeridoo.

Didn't get a chance mate. But I got Bonner, Marco amd Manu to sign my ticket.

No threats needed.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Reading this is giving me awesome flashbacks of my trips in 2003 and 2007... I'm very envious! SA is a great town.

Where are you staying?

Make sure to check out the Riverwalk - it's a tourist trap, but a good one.

I'd make some other suggestions but I doubt you'd have time to get to them all.

[hsxvvd]

Reading this is giving me awesome flashbacks of my trips in 2003 and 2007... I'm very envious! SA is a great town.

Where are you staying?
Make sure to check out the Riverwalk - it's a tourist trap, but a good one.

I'd make some other suggestions but I doubt you'd have time to get to them all.

I'm in Houston now, just got back from the game. Fly home tomorrow.

3 games in 6 nights.

I saw the sights in San Antonio. .... I walked the river walk thinking about the pictures and video clips I watched of the championship celebrations.

I've also done a lot of eating...lol.... and for all the foodies who made suggestions. Here's my awards.
Best Breakfast - Original Market Dinner (Dallas)
Best Lunch - Kenny and Ziggy's (Houston)
Best Dinner - Mi Tierra (San Antonio)

[spurs10]

I'm in Houston now, just got back from the game. Fly home tomorrow.

3 games in 6 nights.

I saw the sights in San Antonio. .... I walked the river walk thinking about the pictures and video clips I watched of the championship celebrations.


I've also done a lot of eating...lol.... and for all the foodies who made suggestions. Here's my awards.
Best Breakfast - Original Market Dinner (Dallas)
Best Lunch - Kenny and Ziggy's (Houston)
Best Dinner - Mi Tierra (San Antonio) Glad you had a great time man. I bet it will be the perfect set up to enjoy the playoffs even more!! Go Spurs Go!!!:toast
:flag::flag::flag::flag::flag:

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm in Houston now, just got back from the game. Fly home tomorrow.

3 games in 6 nights.

I saw the sights in San Antonio. .... I walked the river walk thinking about the pictures and video clips I watched of the championship celebrations.

I've also done a lot of eating...lol.... and for all the foodies who made suggestions. Here's my awards.
Best Breakfast - Original Market Dinner (Dallas)
Best Lunch - Kenny and Ziggy's (Houston)
Best Dinner - Mi Tierra (San Antonio)

Excellent! Glad you've had a ball. It is the experience of a lifetime, isn't it? :D

[alamo50]

I know. But I'm a school teacher and it's school holidays now.

I'll fly home and enjoy the playoff run even more now though.

Gotcha.
Welcome to the club!
GO SPURS GO!