I am typing this offline as I wait to board my flight going back to England here at gate B34 at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Checking in and security were as hassle-free than the rest of my other boarding experience for this trip. Thank God for Sunday travellers!

Dallas is the only city in the US that I’ve been to twice. Granted that the first time was only an overnight experience, I still witnessed the friendly and warm smiles of the Southerners. This time, I stayed longer. I was then able to see Downtown Dallas and the historic West End.

Retracing back the steps I took, I first set foot (except at the airport and my friend’s flat, of course!) to grab a bite to eat at Chipotle, a fastfood Mexican restaurant and my, the burrito I ordered was BIG! Then it was off to Neiman Marcus over at Main St in Downtown Dallas. Went browsing around Manolo Blahnik, Prada and Christian Louboutin shoes. Almost asked for a pair of Manolo pumps but now I sigh relief that I didn’t. Why? Well, because the store only accepts American Express and the Neiman Marcus account cards! When I got my Stella McCartney eau de parfum, I had to withdraw cash. I’m definitely not a cash shopper! So, after getting the right amount of money to pay off the perfume and the body cream, I stepped out. Well, okay, I did wander around the clothes but with a different frame of mind because I won’t definitely be purchasing any.

So, where does one go to Downtown after Neiman Marcus?

When you’re alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown…

…Everythings waiting for you!

Beats me! I didn’t know! I walked down the Main St until I got to the Bank of America building where I went to the underground. Nope, it’s nothing like London’s Underground. It is a way to go from one building to another in Downtown Dallas without having to struggle with the traffic above ground plus it is where you could grab a quick bite to eat or sit down at Starbucks with your latte. Actually, it is where the Dallas office folk get their lunches. There are small gift and card shops, too, as well as convenience stores where you could get some grocery items. It was a labyrinth for me because I didn’t know where or which building I was under so I surfaced to see where I’m actually going.

I finally found Day Spa – where I treated myself a mani-pedi treatment plus eyebrow shaping. The pedicure included a peppermint foot soak and I decided there and then that I’ve never spent any day better than that moment. It was during the pedicure that they convinced me to get my eyebrows shaped. The manicure treatment included a paraffin wax dipping. I asked Nina, the lady who was attending to me, if I could keep the wax shape of my hands! Unfortunately, I cannot. So, she continued to paint my nails with this crimson red that when lined up with the rest of the nail polishes, I wouldn’t have probably picked it out. In fact, I didn’t. Anyway, on the nail station next to mine sat Sharlowe – a lady who was one of the lead characters on the musical HAIR SPRAY. The show was in town and she was telling everyone at the spa about it. I asked her if I would still be able to get tickets for Friday night. She said I might but wasn’t really sure. I also asked her if they were taking the show to London’s West End. She said that they have finished casting and they are now rehearsing for a November opening. Well, I suppose I will just have to catch that one in London then.

It was still early for me to go and meet my friend where he works so I looked for a Starbucks. I was actually shocked to find that it was shut! So instead, I went to the Press Room Grill Bar. It was St Patrick’s day so there were already people about who were on their 2nd or 3rd pints. Someone offered me one but I politely refused. I just drank coffee but I also ordered some fried calamari – they were okay, I’ve definitely tasted better but it did it for me after all the walking that I’ve done that day. By 530PM, I was at the Energy Plaza building to meet my friend.

The rest of my day one included a trip to Circuit City to return the wireless router and the power adapter I bought during my last trip here. Then we went to my friend’s colleague’s apartment for pizza and NBA. The LA Lakers and the Miami Heat were playing. It was an interesting game since Shaquille O’Neal used to play for the Lakers but now he’s with the Heats. And there is this rivalry between him and Kobe Bryant. Phew! It has been a long time since I involved myself with basketball. Since I’ve lived in Europe, basketball had taken a back seat to football. But I still know my NBA teams, just don’t know who’s playing for who anymore. Oh, the Miami Heats won, by the way.

Day two… my objective was to see the Historic West End district. I didn’t realise that I was almost there the previous day if I had gone to walk on from the Bank of America building. Oh well.

When my friend dropped me off near the JFK memorial, he was pointing out to me the X MARK where JFK was assassinated. I still didn’t to see it. Nor did I realise if I had been at the theatre where the assassin was suppose to have been.

Whoa… boarding the plane… will pause here for a while…

(Paused at 20 March 2005, 14:30 CST)

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