Texas was an unexpected joy. Whatever beliefs I had going in were shattered at every turn, at least around Austin.

The landscapes reminded me of home. I would have been convinced that I was driving around Alberta had it not been for the countless taquerias and over-sized gas stations lining the highway. Further to the Northwest, I was taken back to the Mediterranean. It reminded me of Albania, I half expected to see a centuries-old monastery around the next bend.

The locals are some of the friendliest and most genuine people I’ve ever met. They’re honest and blunt, but heartwarmingly soft and kind.

This trip was relaxing and restorative. It surprised me, and it unveiled things that shifted my perspective.

From the brilliance of the night sky at Spider Mountain and the pre-dawn calm of Lady Bird Lake, to the stunning food, jawdropping hospitality, and the wild convergence of throwback hipsterism and futuristic technology — Texas is fun.