It has become a habit of my boyfriend and I to travel to places that make Austin extraordinary. Some of these things are the wonderful museums that pay homage to the art, history, and culture that is Austin, Texas. Of course, the tributes inevitably comes with some of the natural part of Austin that still reflect a time before colonization and civilization. Last week, While visiting the Mexican American Cultural Center, we decided to take the trail that extends at the back of the museum. The day was lovely and I decided to take a closer look at the environment unfolding before me. The trees and shrubs didn’t seem to mind the strange life of runners and pet owners since there was so much natural life blooming on either side of the trail. The trees provided shade for those out on a stroll, while the trees themselves bathed and raced for the sunlight. It was a little hidden paradise behind a big modern building, praised for its unique architecture. However, what struck me the most was the architecture of the land. The way that every plant co-inhabited the place – twisting and turning, growing in the most unexpected places – never seizes to amaze me. So much wildlife means there must be a water source. Lady Bird Lake, an extension of the Colorado River, is home to many other organisms beyond my imagination, is what gives these plants the biggest connection of all. As I got closer and closer to the water, I was at peace. Any stress that I had lessened immediately and I became enthralled by this main source of life. The scent of water traveled by wind and came across me like the smell of freshly baked bread. The sound of animation was everywhere. People were happy and enjoying the commodity of the lake. Squirrels ran about, in search for food and perhaps curiosity of the hubbub. Birds were jolly – a resting flock of cormorants squawking in the center of the river, and surrounding trees exuded songs by the birds that call it home. My favorite part of the lake was when I walked across one of the kayaking decks and had a view of the city. I could see across the river which reflected onto the water and was the most pastoral part of the lake. To my right I saw a bridge, the urban life. To my left, the cormorants bathing and adventurers kayaking on the river. It was one of the best scenes of Austin which incorporated almost everything on the surface of the city.
A city is not just bustling cars and nice architecture. In the words of Aldo Leopold, “men are only fellow-voyagers with other creatures in the odyssey of evolution. This knowledge should have given us, by this time, a sense of kinship with fellow-creatures; a wish to live and let live; a sense of wonder over the magnitude and duration of the biotic enterprise”. I love Austin because it is intertwined with native Texas and energetic city life. Whenever I am stressed I can always find a hidden place that allows me to be in tune with the natural world. At the beginning of my adventure I had my mind on other things. It wasn’t until I was absorbed in the beauty of the environment that my stressful thoughts loosened and I realized how caught up I was. This adventure helped me realize that the best peace is the one found in nature.