DALLAS COWBOY

Dallas was not what I had expected.  It was meant to be a fill in between New Orleans and Vegas and almost didn't happen.  I didn't arrive until quite late. Got to the hostel and Ivan wasn't even there to check me in so I just chilled on the couch and watched a movie, it was actually quite nice to just relax for a few hours.  I eventually got checked in then went and got something to eat.  I was in bed by about 11pm that night.  In the morning I had planned to go into Dallas for a looksee.  I ended up going in on the train with a kiwichick I just met at the same hostel, turns out she is currently living in the US.  It was good to explore Dallas with a fellow Kiwichick.  We went to the JFK Museum and stood at the same window that he was assassinated from, also saw the grassy knoll and saw the exact spot that he was shot, this is marked with a dirty big X on the road.  It was actually quite freaky being up there and looking out the exact window Oswald was on that horrible day.  The museum was quite  interesting even though I had already seen alot of what was there.  We then went and got some food as we were both starving, I had ribs and onion rings, the onion rings were massive!  5 of them took up an entire large plate, they were yummy but man it was so so so much food.  We took off and came across this awesome shop called "Wild Bills Western Store"  Renee was dead set about getting a pair of real cowboy boots and I was keen to go looking but didn't have any intention of buying any.  But I walk in and the first pair that I see I fall in love with, I had to buy them, I couldn't help myself.  They are AMAZING.  We walk out of there about an hour later really pleased with our purchases and head for the Longhorns.  This artwork was awesome.  There was about 20-30 bronze full size longhorn statues all being hearded down this hill in the middle of Dallas by 2 men on horses, it was a massive site and totally amazing, it was set in one of the routes that the cowboys used to use.  Walking in amongst these things actually was quite a weird feeling.  They were that big that sometimes I caught myself by surprise walking amongst them.  Before heading back we headed to a pub for a quick drink.  We were pretty keen to get back to the hostel as that night we were going to go to a Cowboy night complete with Country n Western dancing lessons and music.  I couldn't wait.  Carlos the dude from the hostel picked us all up and we went on down to the Red river to learn us some new moves and to ride a mechanical bull.  I had the best night, my dance partner was Angel from Mexico, he was lovely and we learnt some new moves after much practice, I thought I sucked at it but with Angels encouragement he said I did really well lol.   I rode the bull and man that was a funny experience, when I finally got on I was to scared to fall off as I was afraid the big horns were gonna stab me as I fell, I eventually thought it was OK and I wasn't gonna get hurt so just went flop on the ground, I couldn't get up from laughing to much, it was so funny, I thought I was gonna wet myself.  It wasn't to late a night as I had to be up at 3am to be at the airport for my flight to Vegas at 6.30am.  I was a little disappointed that the night had to end cause we all had the most amazing night.  Dallas much to my surprise was pretty cool and I was glad that I decided to call in on the wall to Vegas.  Definitely a good decision on my part :)  But now for Vegas in the morning, bring it on.