The Balcony, Bikes, and Bargain-Hunting

Today was a beautiful day. I laid on the balcony for about an hour and read a book textbook. We had leftover spaghetti for lunch and watched Wife Swap and then borrowed the condo's bicycles and rode for over an hour up and down the coast. The breeze was a little chilly, but the view was beautiful. We took occasional stops where the sand was deep and soft, or to read memorials and take pictures. We definitely looked like vacationers in our shorts and t-shirts with our cameras, while the locals sped-walk past in their jackets and sock hats. We stopped at Bargain Beachwear, a souvenir shop advertising sunglasses two for $5 and t-shirts three for $10. It was your typical beach souvenir store, full of raunchy bumper-stickers, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and key chains. I was looking for a bargain on some sweet new shades and an FBI shirt or hat for a friend, and I didn't get either (of course only the junky and raunchy souvenirs are anything like three for $10 or two for $5), but I did get something else -- two something elses actually -- skirts for Africa. Yes, cute frumpy missionary dresses for my trip to Mozambique in something like 64 days (sixty-four). They're... interesting.. and strangely perfect. They are below the knee, cool and breezy, reversible, will match a few different shirts, AND AND AND two for $18. Yes! What a bargain!

Here are a few of the pictures so far::

Yesterday's rough waters

Bethany, Jessie, and I on our first floor patio

Palm tree!!

Flagship Hotel built on ocean pier, destroyed by Hurricane Ike

Jessie on our bike ride

Houses in Galveston

More to come tomorrow!!