Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Dallas Vacation

We decided to visit Dallas on the Memorial Day Weekend. Though we are living here for a long time, we never been to Dallas. Unfortunately, we chose the wrong time. It is the season for torrential rain, lightning, thunderstorm, and Tornado. Our host warned us about the weather condition but insisted we visit them. So we went. 

For people who live in USA for many years, when we mention “Dallas”, 3 things come to their mind ahead of anything else. 

President Kennedy’s assassination spot.
Dallas – Long running American prime time television serial – 1978 to 1991 and 2012 to 2014. Dallas Cowboys Football Team. (American Football and not soccer) 

So, in spite of bad weather, we visited these three places. 

It was 12:30 pm in Dealey Plaza, Dallas on Friday, November 22, 1963, the young 46 year old, President of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy was assassinated, He was fatally shot while traveling in a presidential motorcade along with his wife, and the Texas Governor, and his wife. Not just the people in USA but the whole world wept. He was genuinely mourned by millions of Indians. 

Retired Indian Army Colonel Anil Athale wrote: 

Many of my generation remember vividly how then American President John F Kennedy had become one of the most popular figures in India -- so much so that most paan shops, (the true barometer of public opinion in India) routinely had Kennedy's photograph alongside the familiar one of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. 

Col. Athale’s article titled “The Untold Story: How Kennedy came to India's aid in 1962”. Here is the link. 

The 6th floor of Dealey Plaza (from where the shots were fired) has now been turned into a Kennedy Museum.

                             PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGES FOR A LARGER VERSION

                                                   Few seconds before his death


                                            Presidential motorcade came on this road

                                            Exact location where the bullet hit Kennedy

View from the 7th floor window of the Dealey Plaza from where he was shot.
The white car in the photo is the exact place the Kennedy's motorcade was.

Then we visited Southfork Ranch. This is where part of Dallas episodes were shot. It is located near Plano, Texas. Now this Ranch is a big tourist attraction, made famous because of the TV Serial Dallas. The ranch is about 200 square miles. The mansion in the ranch is about 5,900 square feet. 

The main character is John Ross “J.R.” Ewing, Jr. This character was portrayed by actor Larry Hagman. According to Wikipedia, JR is depicted as a covetous, egocentric, manipulative and amoral oil baron with psychopathic tendencies, who is constantly plotting subterfuges to plunder his foes and their wealth. He was a big wheeler-dealer. 

JR is considered one of television’s most popular characters. JR’s punch lines in the series (ala Rajni Kanth punch lines in the movies) are very famous in USA. Stay tuned for a separate post on that.


                                                          John Ross (JR) Ewing

                                                             Ewing Family Mansion

                                                   Ewing Family Wedding Chappell

                                                                JR's Dining Table

                                                                  JR's Jacuzzi

                               Epitaph on JR's Tombstone: The Only Deal He Ever Lost

Finally we visited the Dallas Cowboys Football Stadium. I am so happy this stadium is named as AT&T Stadium, named after the telecommunication giant AT&T. Yayyy. Go AT&T Go. AT&T pays about $20 million a year to the team for the naming rights. 

Unfortunately, the day we visited was bad weather. The stadium was closed for the tourists. So took a picture from outside. Dallas Cowboys is nicknamed as America’s Team. I am not that fond of Dallas Cowboys. (I am going to hear a nasty comment from a certain Dallas Cowboys fan.) When we have San Francisco 49ers who needs Dallas Cowboys.

In order to be fair, I have to mention Cowboys appeared in 8 Super Bowls, won 5, and lost 3. 49ers appeared in 6 Super Bowls, won 5, and lost 1.


Some people think Dallas is part of South. Some don’t. It is debatable whether Dallas belongs to South or not. But their pronunciation is very different from other parts of USA. For example: 

Retell the story - It is not pronounced Retell the story. It is pronounced “retail” the story. Cambridge – It is not pronounced “Came-bridge”. It is pronounced “cam-bridge”.

33 comments:

  1. Why Go AT&T Go?

    I always say Go SF 49ers Go. Please go far, far away and never come back SF 49ers.

    JR Ewing
    The second biggest Dallas Cowboys Fan


    I never forget those who do me a favor, and I never forget those who don't!

    Hey JR, are we related?
    What? We're not even the same species.

    There are three rules in life.
    Don't forgive and never forget;
    Do unto others before they do unto you;
    and third and most importantly, keep your eye on your friends, because your enemies will take care of themselves!

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    1. Thanks for your comments JR. Why you asked “Why Go AT&T GO”? Here is the answer. You will never understand the meaning of “loyalty” JR. AT&T is the only employer in my life and the best company to work for in the whole wide world, me think. That is why “Go AT&T Go”.

      Sure, SF 49ers will go as far away until they win their 100th Super Bowl. Dallas Cowboys can stay wherever they are fighting for a wild card berth for ever.

      I love your punch lines. I was going to write a post on that. May be I will borrow your lines from this comment. with your permission. Thanks JR.

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  2. Your ways of writting is very simple SG. I love to read your blog post...

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    1. Thanks for your complements Vineeta. I always try to write as if I am having a conversion with someone in my living room.

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  3. LOL @ The only deal he ever lost. Nice caption, wonder he created it himself.

    It looks like a fair amount of distance -- between the 7th floor and the moving car. Bad luck the shooter didn't miss.

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. As the saying goes, actor Larry Hagman (who played the part of JR) suggested this line before his own death. In Kennedy's assassination, fair amount of distance is not a problem. The killer used an infantry rifle with an attached telescopic sight.

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  4. I remembered the scene in the 'Day of the Jackal'...maybe unrelevant!

    My grandmother cried a lot as if she lost someone known to her. I had been to my native place for my school holidays at that time. I didn't know much about the American President, but just a familiar name. She was an ardent reader of newspapers and used to hear news everyday in the afternoon from our old Murphy radio. I remember her being very happy when Yuri Gagarin reached moon...memories, you kindled, SG!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Yes, I have heard lot of people cried in India on hearing President Kennedy's assassination. According to the article I have linked in this post, Kennedy sent the American troops to India to help fight the Chinese during the 1962 Chinese aggression.

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  5. Yay! I was also here... But long before... Tragic place... Proves that anything can go wrong... Didnt you go to Reunion Tower?

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    1. Thanks for your comments Satya. Yes, I know you were there. I have read your post. In fact, while passing through Plano (on our way to Southfork Ranch) I was remembering you.

      Unfortunately we could not go to Reunion Tower. It was so close to Dealey Plaza. We had planned to go. The moment we had finished with Dealey plazz, it started to rain and thunderstorm. So we dropped the idea. Will sure visit there next time.

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    2. I really wish that you get an opportunity to visit that... Try to go for sunset... Or sunset... It will be an amazing experience!

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  6. a very interesting and an informative post! thanks for sharing the awesome shots and the article link!

    :)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Ankita. Yup, that article link is very interesting. Gives a lot of "background" stuff we didn't know about.

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  7. Nice pictures. Looks like an interesting yet tragic place at the same time. Wish to visit US someday.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Harini. When you pass through California, please let us know. Will be happy to be your host.

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  8. This post actually felt like I was on tour of Dallas with the perfect picture support!
    Good job.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Ph... I am glad you liked this post.

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  9. I enjoyed reading this post on Dallas. Got to know so much and that too in a personalized way...do keep visiting more places and writing!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sanand. Long time No see. What happened? Must be very busy at work. I am glad you liked this post.

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  10. On the JFK, i have seen his assassination video multiple times just because he seemed down-to-earth and Mrs Kennedy a pretty lady who carried herself so well.

    Anyway, nice to read about other 2 attractions too...i am in NJ, so not sure if i will ever get to visit Dallas!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Alok. I hope you visit Dallas one of these days..

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  11. Now I feel like I have to visit Dallas.

    That said, after watching all the photos, I am not really sure if JR is a fictional character or a real person. I know I can google, but that will take the fun in discussing :-)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Karunesh. JR is a fictional character in the long running prime time American TV serial, Dallas.

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  12. Enjoyed this Dallas Travelogue and amazing pics too especially JFK's assassination details.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Shilpa. I am glad you liked this post.

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  13. Whoa! So, Dallas - a mix of history, television tidbits and sports, what more can one ask for?! :D Wonderful post this, SG!
    The part about then US president Kennedy and the Indian link fascinates me most! Loved the pictures.

    And glad you didn't get caught in a tornado or thunderstorm! :)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Roh. Glad you liked this post. Thank God the tornado did not land in our vicinity.

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  14. A really fascinating post and the photos are wonderful.

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  15. Lovely snaps.
    I have to admit that U.S knows how to monetize, preserve, popularize and maintain tourist places. I wish Indians imbibed this quality, instead of imbibing hamburgers and live-ins.
    I visited Dnyaneshwar's Alandi recently - the place where 16 year old Dnyaneshwar withdrew from life after penning the simplified form of Bhagavad Gita. A place with so much emotional, historical and philosophical importance should have been protected like the gem it is.
    Alas! (to rhyme with your Dallas!)

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  16. Very interesting SG!! Kennedy was before my time but yes, he was a man to be remembered. Beautiful snaps. Hope you had a lovely vacation.

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  17. very interesting post
    thanks for the link to the untold story

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  18. Thank you for this info in details,only a superficial knowledge I had. Interesting article and beautiful p.graphs.

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  19. loved the Epitaph on JR's tomb. That says a lot about him. Thanks for taking us on virtual tour :)

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