East Austin
2 days prior to the road trip…
Public transportation here is elusive. Trains run about once an hour, and there are buses somewhere out there too, also running about once an hour. scooters are available, though. Credit cards are taken away in the cafes, only to be brought back with receipts to sign—a bit of a throwback to the past. Mobile phone stores are also few and far between. I haven't come across any shops selling water or other essentials on the way. I definitely need to check out the downtown area. At least a cup of coffee finally improves the situation, even if it's $4 for a weak shit brew.
I warmly thought of the guy from the immigration control yesterday—he pronounced my name correctly, unlike most English speakers, smiled warmly, and said "welcome" - all in just under five minutes. That was nice.