This morning we wake to find our rooms are in the direct line of fire from the fifth floor window of the book depositary from where the fateful shots were fired that assassinated President Kennedy – we are in the midst of history. So we have a morning of immersing ourselves in the story. We walk across Dealy Plaza, climb the grassy knoll, and stand on the “x marks the spot” where the President’s car was when the shots hit him. Then round the museum which was done really well and told the story from him arriving at Dallas Love Field, right through to the shooting of the main suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby. It was quite chilling to look through the window where the shots were fired and see straight on to that x where Kennedy was hit. They have kept this the spot in the museum exactly as it was on the day of the assassination with the original flooring and all the boxes of school books and the open window from where he was shot. But even more chilling was glancing a little further and seeing right into each of our hotel room windows....
The mystery of who was behind the shooting still is really unsolved and the museum leaves you still asking the question – but I guess that’s Dallas for you, we still don’t know for certain who shot JR here....
But having had our fill (and really enjoying) the Kennedy history, we move on to another great historical landmark, and probably more important in the development of mankind, especially here in the US where retail is worshipped, the original Nieman Marcus store – six floors of designer heaven. There is no one in it – based here in Downtown, the store assistants tell you that when they made their way to work ten years ago they took their life in their hands. Things have calmed down somewhat since then, and young professionals are starting to move back to the city, but not fast enough. Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as it is called is a huge sprawling area with no real centre. It’s a giant spaghetti of roads like you’ve never seen before, all edged with malls and fast food outlets. Outer Dallas is where everyone lives – Plano in the North (near Southfork where we were yesterday) is a good example, in 1960 there were 1000 residents, now there are over 250,000 (and 70 shopping malls....) – and this pattern has been repeated in a huge ring around the two cities. Leaving of course Neiman Marcus alone in Downtown – there are no other shops. But we think the store have a sentimental attachment to this site as it was where it all started so have stayed here, and of course Sue Ellen will still get her gowns for the Oil Baron’s ball here..... Gill decided against a rather grand green evening frock in the sale a snip at $3500, but Ant managed to do a service to his credit card with a purchase – of some Nudie jeans. But we discover an even greater temple to retail is just north of the city in North Park, so off we go in a taxi – as there is no public transport to speak of. But too Gill’s credit she does spot a bus stop do get bus and train back.
The North Park mall was great, full of Dallas’ beautiful people, we shopped!! We loved the shop assistants aksing us if they could open a room for us – i.e. start loading the changing rooms for us as we collected even more to try!! Barney’s was our favourite.
The mystery of who was behind the shooting still is really unsolved and the museum leaves you still asking the question – but I guess that’s Dallas for you, we still don’t know for certain who shot JR here....
But having had our fill (and really enjoying) the Kennedy history, we move on to another great historical landmark, and probably more important in the development of mankind, especially here in the US where retail is worshipped, the original Nieman Marcus store – six floors of designer heaven. There is no one in it – based here in Downtown, the store assistants tell you that when they made their way to work ten years ago they took their life in their hands. Things have calmed down somewhat since then, and young professionals are starting to move back to the city, but not fast enough. Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as it is called is a huge sprawling area with no real centre. It’s a giant spaghetti of roads like you’ve never seen before, all edged with malls and fast food outlets. Outer Dallas is where everyone lives – Plano in the North (near Southfork where we were yesterday) is a good example, in 1960 there were 1000 residents, now there are over 250,000 (and 70 shopping malls....) – and this pattern has been repeated in a huge ring around the two cities. Leaving of course Neiman Marcus alone in Downtown – there are no other shops. But we think the store have a sentimental attachment to this site as it was where it all started so have stayed here, and of course Sue Ellen will still get her gowns for the Oil Baron’s ball here..... Gill decided against a rather grand green evening frock in the sale a snip at $3500, but Ant managed to do a service to his credit card with a purchase – of some Nudie jeans. But we discover an even greater temple to retail is just north of the city in North Park, so off we go in a taxi – as there is no public transport to speak of. But too Gill’s credit she does spot a bus stop do get bus and train back.
The North Park mall was great, full of Dallas’ beautiful people, we shopped!! We loved the shop assistants aksing us if they could open a room for us – i.e. start loading the changing rooms for us as we collected even more to try!! Barney’s was our favourite.
