I found it rather fitting that the first thing I saw in the Austin airport was a ColdFusion error on the baggage carosel's screen—a good intro to SXSW, I guess. Walking out of the airport I was greeted with 70 degree weather and humidity, a nice change of pace from the 20 degrees I left behind this morning.
On my way to downtown from the airport I passed several tire shops, two piñata stores, countless "all you can eat breakfast" restaurants, a Planned Parenthood, at least two bars and one sign telling me about Austin's #1 gentlemen's club. Interesting landscape, to say the least.
The hotel is decent and my view is pretty nice. I'm right on the lake and my room is on the 7th floor directly above it. Two big windows to drink in all that green water... and the bridge with traffic... and the power lines. Okay, so it's not glamorous, but it's better than staring at a brick wall. And at least the internet access is fast (but it ain't cheap!).
Now it's time to make my way over to the convention center and check in and then find some food. The rest of Blue Flavor arrives a little later in the day, so I'm on my own for a bit. Downtown Austin, here I come.