The family got a chance to get away for a few days last week. Due to our busy schedules and the upcoming school year of our daughter, the farthest we could drive to was Galveston. I should say that in the time we had I could have happily driven to Colorado and back as a vacation to me is actually more like an endurance test to most people. My wife however actually likes to have restful vacations and so I have adapted somewhat successfully to that idea.

Galveston is certainly IMO the most interesting of all the coastal cities and towns in Texas. Certainly after the Cook Islands, Tahiti, and some of the other islands of the south pacific, the Texas beach now pales in comparison. So for me it is the company of the family and shooting scenes that no one is actually paying me for.

The most interesting parts of Galveston for me was the Strand and downtown areas. The city has quite a past having been at one time one of the three largest towns in Texas and the post that much of the shipping came into Texas through. Being wiped out in the worst natural disaster in US history, the hurricane of 1900 did deal it a setback that resulted in it now being a vacation retreat for many Houstonians. The disaster is chronicled in a great book I read several years ago - Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History for those who wish to learn more.

Something I found interesting about the city was the number of bars. Bars, bars. and more bars dot the island. I could have spent several day shooting them and perhaps I will go back for just that reason sometime. Here’s an example of one of my favorites.

I also loved the Strand area, the older and most touristed part of the city. Both at day and at night.

I’ll post some shots from Moody Gardens when I have more time. I hope you enjoyed this.