But First, Dallas

Sagan dropped us off at RDU. We had not flown in years, which made today especially exciting.

Landed in Dallas. The best surprise was no surprises.

First forgotten thing: Rain jackets.

Julie had a bourbon (or two) in the Hilton restaurant, and is very happy. We figure we get Daylight Savings twice (once for DST and once for Central time). So we get 2 hours and lose a day on our flight.

Spent a couple of hours in the Dallas Arboretum on Sunday morning. The Arboretum sits on the shore of White Rock Lake, and was full of young ladies in vibrant dresses having their photos taken. We were able to stretch our legs and relax.

Met with Lee and Erika Barlow for lunch at the original Campisi’s. Campisi’s is a former speak easy and a hang out for mobsters (and mobster wannabes like Jack Ruby). Anthony had a terrific lasagna, smothered with smoked mozzarella.

Fun Fact: Campisi’s is intentionally dark, with red lighting. It takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust when you first walk in. This allowed mobsters to escape through the back door without being seen, when the police walked in.

Campisi’s had an alias, the Egyptian Restaurant, to make it seem more exotic..

Lee and Erika also took us to historic Dealey Plaza, where John F, Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November, 1963. We saw the infamous Grassy Knoll, where a second gunman may have taken the shot that killed JFK.

We also visited the Sixth Floor Museum located in the Dallas Book Depository. We stood near spot where Lee Harvey Oswald “allegedly” shot JFK. Julie was moved to tears when reading the step by step account of the Kennedy assignation, especially the accounts of Jackie’s devotion immediately after.

Lee and Erika dropped us off at DFW for our trip.