Dec 25/26 Gaylord Texan

Remember the cheaper gas I was going to get in Texas, well it ain’t so, same as Oklahoma. So, we turn into the Gaylord, cars, trucks, SUV’s everywhere you look. Traffic backed up getting to the front door, 1,500 guests and 15,000 people going through the exhibit, ICE!. Surprisingly it went smoothly for each 20 cars unloading and either valley or self drive to park. Check-in smooth, room nice – never know what you get when you get a free night. We spent time walking the four and a half acres of atrium to get the layout. Texas-sized leather chaired lobby, many relaxing chairs where we people watched for hours on end. Ponytail ferns, many other types of ferns also, dessert succulents, magnolia trees, long and short leave ficus, poinsettias of every color.

A great looking poinsettia tree, plants along all the pathways in the atrium. Beneath our window area is an old looking live oak, the name plate states it is a $250,000 replica of the Treaty Oak where land boundary’s were drawn under. The original is in a park in Austin and had been damaged by pesticide poisoning by a distraught lover jilted by his wife, he got ten years in jail for that. Ross Perot paid many dollars to remove dirt, shelter with trees and mist every 30 minutes. Hanging from the roof area in the main atrium are large ornaments ten foot across, in the other atrium sky blue lights hanging down with bulbs 2 foot long that give the impression of snowflakes falling,

in the other atrium spiral wrapping paper looking curls curling downwards. The trees are wringed with lights; the paths are lined with lights in the ground. Everywhere you see people, some look like 4 generations and on down. A lady sat on our bench and she had lost her husband 4 years ago and was here on tour from Albuquerque, appeared lonely but loved to talk with us. A couple sets of twin girls dressed in same type outfits; even a couple times we spotted girls dressed like her American doll she was carrying.

My favorite item was the toy solider, a young man on stilts; you should see the reaction of the kids. Some cry, some crunch back toward their parent and some with the big smile and a handshake. He stops for pictures and salutes for them. No hand out for money just a swish off to the next child. There is an elf who twists balloons for the kids, they walk away with smile.

We thought to take in the presentation of ICE! It was a Christmas setting by Charles Schulz’s Charlie Brown and Gang, The ticket included a blue parka. We opted for a leather coat and I a sport coat. 40 Chinese ice carvers came over and worked 30 days on the layout. They carved out many Peanuts gang ice sculptures. It is kept at 17 degrees with fans blowing throughout. Many arches and tunnels are used along the path, and at the end is a manger setting all in ice not colored like the rest of the display, therefore made it hard to photo.

The Christmas tree seemed like a good photo op for us.

Found that Christmas day there were no open tables at any restaurant in the facility. Decided to eat a buffet toward noon and not worry about evening meal. It was a shame, as the Italian restaurant had a veal chop on the menu. On our anniversary day, the 24^th, we met friends of ours. Here is the short story. Before we left home I thought about the boss I had at Hubbard, he spent 20 some years working in Ft. Worth. I sent and email and Julie answered, saying that they were going to be in Ft Worth and planned on bringing family to the Gaylord on the afternoon of the 24^th. Coincidence, well at least timely and great to have happen. We met the family, daughter and twin lovely 3 year old grandchildren. It is fun to watch the gleam in their eyes at the Christmas activities. Did I mention, Steve and Julie live in St Marys Georgia?  That evening we ate at the Old Hickory Steak House on the property. Having eaten a buffet for breakfast and lunch, we opted for just steak and a split of au gratin potatoes for our 44th wedding anniversary. Shirleen a fillet with a cabernet and I a malbec wine with a Sendero Chile rub (sweet spicy) on a New York strip, (simply delicious for me).

I looked up the chili and did not find it, not sure what they meant but that was how it was spelled on the menu with the. Well we could not pass up desert, a chocolate soufflé with a white crème sauce in the center.

We started with the buffet we considered when we heard about the closeout on restaurant seating. Here is a first, I tipped the waiter as usual, +15, got to the entry/exit and he comes running down after me. He waves the bill, I thought I forgot to sign, no I noticed I had. Then I thought I may have tipped to little and he was after me, no he said the tip was included. It so flustered me I crossed it out, I should have split the difference with him for being so honest. His English was not very good, his name tag said he was from Mexico City, just like being in New Ulm with their accent hard to understand once and a while. HaHa.

This is a wine bottle tree by the Old Hickory. 

 Nice wreath ice sculpture.