Our first destination was along the wine route, to Fredricksburg. The place itself was very touristy but had a lively atmosphere; Suzanne and Marleyne did a wine sampling and chose a red Texas Wine (2009 Texas merlot) which matched our tastes (Germans like mellow red wine, Marleyne those with more tannine).  We met a Canadian couple from Winnipeg in the sampling room and they encouraged us to visit Luckenbach, just a few miles away.

 We had read about Luckenbach as a really special little place...and so we went! A couple of old wood buildings, lots of roosters (some of them perching in trees above our tables), and music by locals who seem to just drop by and sing for the fun of it. We spent a couple of hours there, drinking local brews - we particularly liked the Fat Tire brew!!!