GRUENE

Driving along my favorite part of I-35 corridor, one can understand that change is the only constant. The last time I was here is over a decade ago. My favorite stretch of the corridor used to be between Austin and San Antonio.



Today, I-35 is a strip of awfully busy commercial developments.
Aha, that explains the new 85mph tollway!
Where is little Buda, where is little Kyle?
 Change is good we say.

The problem is that I'm looking for a comforting                                                           feeling just to realize that it is hard to find once you pass Town Lake in Austin.
Wait a minute,even Town Lake is not Town Lake anymore. It's Lady Bird Lake. Excusez-moi Madame, I would have prefered your name on top of another library at UT, next to LBJ's
I want my memories back!!!

Then comes the mirage of GRUENE!

Finally an intact spot, not really a mirage. Does it have to be a historic place to preserve itself?????

 In fact, it is one of my favorite spots in Texas, loaded with terrific memories mostly of my kids' childhood and my mom visiting.

I love Gruene  with its few antique shops, old houses, natural look and of course its Gristmill Restaurant. I also  like it because of its location, an hour south of Austin or thirty minutes north of San Antonio. That meant convenience for me when I used to look for a special outing. Gruene is a mini reminder of Fredericksburg, another beautiful German town, outside the corridor, about an hour and a half north west of San Antonio.

 I love Gruene even more right now. It has not been hit by change so it allowed me to find myself again back in time (just 13 years ago.)