I have a confession to make.  My entire life I’ve always pronounced Galveston; Gavelston.  I don’t know what it is but I have the hardest time putting the “l” before the “v.”  I feel like poor ‘ol George W. trying to give a speech on nuclear energy.  It never comes out just right.

On Saturday of our little Galveston trip we took a historic tour.  We met Bobby Sanderson (a 4th generation Galvestonian) at the visitor’s center for a two-hour tour.  He runs the Galveston Island Historic Tour and is a self-proclaimed expert on all things old on the island.  I have to admit that he was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide.  He took us on a tour of historic homes and tree sculptures.  In 2008 hurricane Ike ripped the island a new one and destroyed homes, trees, businesses, you name it.  At the time we wondered if the island was going to recover.  Those Galvestonians made lemonade out of those lemons and have come back with a bang.  There are new businesses catering to tourists along the sea wall and when a historic hotel on the pier was damaged beyond repair they tore that down and are about to open a new amusement park on the pier complete with roller coasters, ferris wheel and a Bubba Gump Shrimp.  Things are looking up for Galveston. (more…)