Exploring Austin (83 photos)

[Boris]

Great shots

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by John R

It would be great if one of the Austin photographers could go stand in the middle of South Congress and take a current photo from the same location as Rob's shot above. I would like to see the comparison.

I don't have a current (as of this month) photo, but I do have one from about four months ago taken from roughly the same spot, but zoomed in a little more than his.



photo by rob_1412, May 1981


photo by LoneStarMike October 20, 2008

And Rob - a big thanks for posting the link to that thread of your 1981 train trip! Those 1981 shots of Austin were great! Funny thing - I'm going from Austin to Dallas next Friday (March 6) to visit my family. (I was just there two months ago) Anyway, I usually just fly on Southwest, but one of the Fort Worth forumers (Atomic Glee) recently took the Texas Eagle from Fort Worth to Austin and posted some of the photos awhile back. After reading his thread, I decided "I" wanted to go on the Texas Eagle, so that's what I'm doing. (Plus Amtrak's all-in price was $38.00 roundtrip and it would have cost me $117.50 on Southwest.) Seeing your train photos have me more excited than ever.

If you guys didn't do so, you really should click on Rob's link to his train trip. There are a lot more photos from Austin and even a couple from Dallas and Fort Worth.

[Robert Pence]

I'm happy that you enjoyed the old shots. It was a good trip and I still have good memories from it, including an afternoon at Hippie Hollow

Austin is a beautiful city, and the changes have been dramatic. This thread has me thinking about maybe making a visit in the spring.

[priller]

This was recently, from forum member Mopacs. Not quite the same angle, but pretty close.

[priller]

At interesting, looking at the old maps, that the main rail lines are still there.

[holladay]

Birth of a new capital.

[Displaced_Austinite]

Question about the large, colorful guitars...

I'm going to be coming home to Austin with my girlfriend for her spring break, and I was hoping that we could go around town trying to find these cool guitars. She likes doing that kind of thing, but last time I talked to my mom she said they were gone? Are any of them still around?

[tgbAustinite]

Originally Posted by Displaced_Austinite

Question about the large, colorful guitars...

I'm going to be coming home to Austin with my girlfriend for her spring break, and I was hoping that we could go around town trying to find these cool guitars. She likes doing that kind of thing, but last time I talked to my mom she said they were gone? Are any of them still around?

about a year ago or so they were auctioned off for charity. but, as of late, there have been more appearing around downtown. i recall seeing a few on congress & on 6th st.

[Displaced_Austinite]

Cool I'll be on the look out for them then.

[LeoZ]

I did hear that a number of them were auctioned off, but you can still find several; I don't know if they're survivors of the sell or if there are more appearing though. I know for a fact that a neat one called Vibrancy is on Congress, I wanna say between 3rd and 4th or so. I mean they are still there, you just gotta look for them, which i guess gives you an excellent opportunity to walk around downtown.

[LoneStarMike]

There were a bunch on display at the airport in the baggage claim area for the holidays.

[diskojoe]

great thread. you went to taco express. that is my favorite place to eat in austin. and i think last time i wne there the pulled in about $300 in 20 minutes, $15 of it was mine and worth every penny. man those tacos are SOOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!!

i loved the old vs new comparison of congress too.

[ue]

Austin certainly looks funky. There seems to be some cool little buildings (& big) too. Id definitely wanna make it down to Texas oneday.

[Dan Denson]

This thread is just a year old and the downtown area looks so much different now, with the new highrises.