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Terror at the “Urban Oasis”

Okay, last time, I was talking about the Fort Worth Water Gardens, and how I thought that no one, no one at all, should go there because it is blatantly unsafe--particularly, though not exclusively, if you have children.


And now I’m going to get to our actual visit.


As I said, we had just finished our lunch. We got into our car and maneuvered our way to the Convention Center. To my amazement, I even found a parking space on the street without a whole lot of difficulty.


We crossed the street and found ourselves in the Water Gardens area. This proved to be a maze-like place of hills, passageways, and stone walls. I took a picture of Martha next to a sort of sign and small fountain near the entry way (see below). But what surprised us was that we didn’t see any evidence of the fountains themselves. You couldn’t see them or hear them. As far as we could see, there was only concrete and stone. And it was very hot. (So much for the “refreshing urban oasis” story.)



About the photos:

First, the run up to the “urban oasis” of the Water Gardens. Doesn’t this look cool and refreshing? No? You’re right. It doesn’t

Second, again, the entrance to the Water Gardens area. This *does* look refreshing. But...don’t let it fool you.

Third, and finally, a picture which has nothing to do with the story, but I just happen to like it. Here’s the two of us on the beach at Port Aransas back in 2020. This really *was* cool and refreshing.



We moved into the maze and followed a pathway. We saw on either side of us more walls, and, on top of the walls, greenery--brushes, shrubs, and so on. It was then, too, that I realized there were people all around us. I mean, homeless people -- the “unhoused,” -- living in the greenbelts or near them. You would see them between the shrubs and the branches, shadowy figures moving about.


We continued on our way. We came, then, to the “quiet pool.” This was the fountain that was supposed to the be the quiet, serene, calming one. You were supposed to be able to sit beside them and contemplate the waters, and come away refreshed and made calm.


Except, you couldn’t. It was down in a kind of pit circled by high walls. To get to the quiet pool you had to go down ramps or stairs--which, by the way, also had high walls, so the passages had a claustrophobic feel to them. It was a bit like going underground.


But that didn’t matter, really, because of course Martha and I have those little mobility problems that I mentioned before. Which meant there was no way on God’s green earth, or off it, that we were going to walk down those ramps or stairs. And we didn’t see an elevator anywhere. So the “quiet” pool might have been quiet or it could have been as a loud as a brass band on steroids for all it was worth to us. We simply weren’t getting access to it.


So, we continued on in search of the “aerated pool.” This is a large pool-fountain with a number of sprinklers. These create a mist that cools the area. It was *the* oasis of the larger Water Gardens and would have been delightful on a hot day like the one we were experiencing. So, we were eager to find it...


Except...


It was broken. For some reason the aerated pool wasn’t in operation. There was no delightful mist...no cooling effect...no relief from the summer heat. There was just an empty, concrete and stone shell...dry as a bone...with pipes and spouts bare to the world and awaiting some sort of attention from plumbers.


Okay, that’s two down. So we headed out to find “The Active Pool.” Actually, that was the one we were really eager to see. The pictures of it on the web and in social media were amazing. They looked beautiful. Breath-taking!


So we hurried on in search of the Grand Prize.


And, turning a corner, passing a wall...we found it.


And we were, very shortly, aghast.


More to come.






Copyright©2025 Michael Jay Tucker


Care to help out?


I provide these blog postings for free. That’s fine and I’m happy to do so. But, long ago and far away, I was told that if you give away your material, that means you don’t really think it has any value.


So, to get beyond that, I’ve decided to make it possible for you to leave me a “tip” for my posts.


If you like what I write or the videos I produce, and feel you could make a small contribution to support my efforts, please go here:



That will take you to a Gumroad page where you’ll have the option of leaving me a few pence by way of encouragement.


Again, I don’t mind if you don’t. I just want to provide you with the option so that I won’t feel quite so much like I’m just tossing my works into the wind.


Either way, thanks hugely for dropping by the blog :-)


~mjt


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Walking To Wimberley

Welcome to Wimberley, Texas—where the cypress trees lean over lazy rivers, the cowboy boots are ten feet tall (and painted like rainbows), and the coffee shops echo with guitars and gossip.

In Walking to Wimberley, Michael Jay Tucker invites you to join him on a meandering, thoughtful, and often hilarious journey through one of Texas’s most charming Hill Country towns. Based on his popular blog entries, this collection of travel essays explores Wimberley’s art, history, music, and mystery—with the dry wit of a seasoned traveler and the wide-eyed wonder of a first-time visitor.

 

Whether he’s hunting for the perfect taco, pondering the existential meaning of oversized footwear, or just trying to find parking on market day, Tucker brings Wimberley to life with style, warmth, and just a hint of mischief.

Come for the scenery. Stay for the stories. Bring your boots.

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