When I went to the State Capitol, it was because it was one of the top things to do in Austin. I don’t know how in the world I forgot that THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WENDY FREAKING DAVIS DID HER FILIBUSTER!
She’s the one who inspired my whole dressing like a different inspiring woman every year for the Rock ‘n’ Roll LA Marathon! She was the first inspiring woman I ran as (and I ran in those pink running shoes she wore).
Funnily enough, when the tour guide took us to the room, and I asked if that was indeed the room, she said that they weren’t allowed to use the word filibuster or tell us which desk was Wendy Davis’ (even though thankfully, a nice person working there did indeed tell me).
Aaaaaanyway, so I took the little tour and felt inspired in the room of Wendy Davis.
The tour is very short. So, then I walked around the rest by myself…
I saw a secret tour group get to go up to the dome (which was roped off to the rest of us). I don’t know how they got that honor. But now I want to too – haha!
I actually tried to sneak up with them, but the person at the rear of the tour group was not having it.
One thing I thought was interesting about the Capitol was that every time there’s a new governor, they rotate all the pictures (even with ones up to the top floor), so everybody can stay in order and the newest governor can be downstairs at the end… This makes total sense. I mean, how else would they do it? But it was just interesting to me.
Then, I went to the cafeteria place downstairs. (It kind of reminded me of the one by the Senate.) It felt like there was a lot of Texas-y Texas food – meat, fat, cheese. It felt a lil’ “‘Merica” up in there.
But I had a delicious meat-free taco salad. Mmmmmm.
I also met a nice man who regaled me with stories of working for the government down there.
Goodness, I love meeting strangers (and eating in cafeterias).