---
title: 'Day 7: Rockets'
date: 2010-05-01T11:36:29+02:00
Tags: []
Categories: []
---

## Smurfs, Swamps and Space


We are laying lazily in the grass at the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas. Let me share with you how we got here.

This morning we got up at around 7:45, had breakfast at the Comfort Inn at New Orleans int'l airport, filled up the car with gas, and headed west on 10. This is one helluva long straight road, one might argue a 100 mile bridge, because the whole thing is a 4 lane freeway on poles crossing a huge swamp.

Along the way we noticed that our trusty rusty Strumpf had decided to leave us. Not to worry though, I grabbed a new one and stuck it in the old smurf-juice. It obviously did not like its new spot on the windshield because it flew off within a few minutes. Paul then did it again and that smurf is still there.

I suggested to take a look at the Nasa spacecenter in Houston so we drove there, arriving at about 3pm. We were a bit worried that it would be closed because today is Labor day and all, so we called. We got a nice voicemail system asking us to call back on Monday... oops, but then we decided to just come take a look at the exterior.

We were in luck though, because it was open after all! The space center was okay i guess, but i had expected more - the Smithsonian was a little bit more elaborate and the coolest vehicles (quite a few capsules) were the real thing, ie the stuff that was actually used, but then again, those were all borrowed from the Smithsonian. This made us wonder why though .. isn't Nasa the original owner of the capsules and space vehicles? Apparently not. Then we also took a tour, which led us to mission control, where IIS was being tracked over Australia, and we saw live streams from it on a big screen, which was very cool.

We also went to the rocket park, where a Saturn V rocket was on display, and several rocket engines. Those were kind of awesome :) so I am very happy that we decided to drive a few miles (70mi or so) more to take the scenic I-10. Yaay texas.

Location : [2nd St, Houston, TX 77058](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2nd%20St,%20Houston,%20TX%2077058]

**Posted by Pim van Pelt at 2:47 PM** 

## OMG: steak and cheesecake

It is around 9pm and we are at Morton the steakhouse in downtown Houston. After the NASA tour we did today, we decided to go for a real steak in the city en route up north to Dallas.

Morton has a varying set of reviews on the internet, but as far as the bad ones go: fuck 'em. Why the strong language? Because I am the one who has been devouring a "le cigare volant" 2006 from the Napa valley, all by my wonderful self so I am excused.

Paul had a smoked pacific salmon while I competed with a tuna tartare. We both tried the other's dish and interestingly: we both prefered our own! But mine was better ;-)

Then on to the main course, the entree: a double cut filet mignon for me, and a similarly sized filet mignon on the bone for Paul. Mine was truely excellent, with peppercorn-brandy sauce on the side. His was a bit chilly, because he ordered it cooked rare... oh well. It really was wonderful meat though and we both enjoyed it very much.

Then for desert - Paul had ordered the apple pie beforehand because it took 40min to prepare. It is delicious he is telling me. I did not plan on ordering, until they showed me a piece of new york cheese cake. Sorry carbs... you'll have to wait! But OMG, it it delicious too. Not too sweet, very delicate, and Paul is trying it now too... yes, he likes it too.

Good news, while I am blogging live from Morton's: because Paul was not entirely happy with his cold steak, he got his applepie on the house from a concerned Michael who heard it from Chris, the maitre d'.

I will say that this is the best dinner I have had so far in the United States.  Morton The Steakhouse in Houston is the best. Thank you!

Location : [800-898 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77002](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=800-898%20McKinney%20St,%20Houston,%20TX%2077002)

**Posted by Pim van Pelt at 7:08 PM**

