Houston, Big and Exciting

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"A good vacation is over when you begin to yearn for your work."~Morris Fishbein

The Candlewood Suites was first hard to find because you had to turn from East Alabama Street, travel up the street, and then turn by a construction site near some university that had nightly classes.

The rooms had one large armchair, one bed, a mini kitchen with a microwave and fridge, and a huge bathroom. For $100 a night, we stayed about a week as Hurricane Katrina passed over my hometown in southeast Louisiana.

The Suites had a lovely environment. The staff showed you around their city, drawing maps and repeating the directions until they were embedded in our heads. They also threw a barbecue party the Friday before we left!

The Sunday Buffet brings in the church crowds, as it promises eggs and all things breakfast from 10 in the morning to 3pm. It was about $13.95 a person, but the buffet was well worth it.

"America is an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people."~Gloria Steinem

Fuddruckers is the music-lover's all-American restaurant. World-famous hamburgers, cheesecake topped with raspberry sauce, salads, and other foods beckon the appetites of many. Basically, you order your food, take a seat, and it is brought to you.

Now, the reason why I say it's a music lover's kind of place is that the booths are decorated with four rock legends. One of them was Elvis Presley, with pictures of his life, and the others included the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. I sat under Elvis. Who can resist being the King for at least a night's meal?

Fuddruckers is also a family place where kids can ring a bell to let the staff know they've enjoyed their meals.

Cafe Adobe was introduced to me by my older cousin, a native of Houston, five years ago. Every time I go to Houston, I always beg and plead to go here.

I can't remember what the street was other than to continue up W. Alabama until you see a two-story house with millions of plants swamping it. A parking lot next-door is convenient for parking.

Cafe Adobe is uniquely a Mexican best. You exit from the back and enter an indoor conservatory with a fountain. On the fountain's rim are stone turtles that people can admire while they dine. The next room is a traditional den inside a hacienda with a bar, a fireplace, and Mexican heirlooms.

There was a line that you stood in and told the person what you wanted. After that, you found a crimson room with black leather booths, tables, and religious saint candles. Religious pictures decorated the walls. Also, some restaurants have small cards to remember your order's number, but here, they have a rubber ducky, toy soldier, and other toys. I thought that was too cute!

There's a joke about these dumbling, pardon the term "redneck," friends named Boudreaux and Thibodeaux who get into all kinds of trouble like falling off horses and other things. So, with this background knowledge we decided to try out this restaurant not too far from the Candlewoood Suites.

The Home of the Monster Shrimp is the quintessence of Louisiana-style Cajun restaurants. Come on... alligator heads, Dixie Beer, even trout on the walls? That reminds me of my hometown. I tried the red beans and rice and it was capital S-P-I-C-Y. There was also pasta, burgers, taco seafood, and a kids' menu. This is the best place to find monster shrimp and authentic Cajun food.

I thought this had to be some strange Texan thing, but I saw these small restaurant chains appear in Louisiana, so that ruled out that. Whataburger must get it's name for people saying "What a burger!" A regular kids' burger is the equivalent to a McDonald's or Burger King adult meal!

The restaurant has large hamburger patties. I must say, I was full off of a kid's meal and I'm known to order a McDonald's #2, no onions. This is a place I'd just bring a lot of people to come see because they wouldn't believe it. The movie where Cedric the Entertainer and Lil' Bow Wow go to a family reunion and stop at a restaurant with these HUGE hamburgers comes to mind.

Cafe Express is like a to-go order. You order and you go. Inside the restaurant are Carribbean-style colors and design that send the mind into a relaxing atmosphere.

There are salads, burgers, sandwiches, grilled and roasted; pastas, soups, and a menu for the kiddies. Desserts, sides, wine, and coffee can also be found in this tropical paradise.

I'm not into the hip teen places, so I had a guide who was "hip" with the teen fashion to show me around. She brought me into Wet Seal, a fashionable store with furniture, clothes, and books. Urban Outfitters was another store that had some semblance to Wet Seal. One thing I do know about the teen place is my love, Hot Topic, a goth/punk/emu/prep place. Fairies, bands, T-shirts, shoes, clothes, perfume, postcards, necklaces, earrings, and posters can be bought here. I have my little sister interested in the store, as she loves anything Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice) and Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).

I also pulled her into an oil painting store, which, by her yawning and moaning, she didn't share my love of.