This was quite a day. And we saw parts of Houston that not many folks get to see.
Thanks to the connections of some of our Friendship Partners, we started the cold windy day at the Federal Reserve Bank. There we had a great behind the scenes tour of the bank.
We had a chance to hear stories about the operations of the Bank and how they work to manage the money supply for the country.
Afterwards we watched the carts of money being processed. Robotic forklifts moved the carts around and placed them into the second largest vault in the world. Pretty impressive.
The folks also handed everyone some sample money. Unfortunately, it was the money that had been removed and shredded because it was too worn out.
Due to the high security inside, we were not allowed to take pictures of the tour.
After all that fun, we had a nice lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and a chance to warm up.
We then made our way to City Hall and the Tourist Center. There we were treated to a movie about the city.
Next up was a guided tour of the underground tunnels in Houston. Underneath the city is an extensive system of tunnels connecting the buildings. Plus, in the tunnel are restaurants, banks, doctor’s offices, cleaners—a real full service city underground.
We made our way to two of the highest buildings in Houston for a breathtaking view of Houston and the surrounding area.
After all that walking around, we made it back though the tunnels and home. And we had only explored a small part of the miles of tunnels underground! Maybe next time we will visit some other sections.
It was great to see everyone, and thanks to our partners who arranged the tours and transportation.
And if you click here you can see some of the pictures from our tour.
See you next time,
International Cultural Exchange
