Day 13: Arlington, TX

Total Miles 3004
Total States: 9

Well, I got back to Arlington last night (no point in sticking around Austin for another night just to fight traffic in the morning. This tipped my trip odo just over 3000 miles in the last two weeks. Not bad. My cousins have the next 4 days planned out for me it seems. That involves a lot of playing with legos, jumping on the trampoline (after sunset!!), and other events that you will get to hear of as they happen.

Today, I saw the most cash I have ever seen in my life. By a few hundred million dollars. We took a little excursion to the Fort Worth Bureau of Printing and Engraving, which is one of only two places that US currency is printed. Their security is pretty crazy, and the whole visitor area is in overhead catwalks that don't ever connect to the floor. No, they don't hand out free samples at the end.

Besides a pretty interesting visitor center that had a lot of history and info on the security features and stuff, there was about a 45 minute tour through the overhead walkways. It is quite amazing seeing pallet on pallet of solid money. Literally tons. Turns out they use some of the printing machines produced at the Heidelberger Druck, a factory I toured while I was in Germany last summer. I mention it briefly in my post from last summer here. Anyhow, The printing presses were a bit more exciting spinning off hundred dollar bills.

That night, we watched Cars, the Pixar film. I've been wanting to see it for a while, and it lived up to its humorous reputation. It is also one of the most quoted movies around here with the kids! (behind only Star wars)

PS. It seems BMW is a much too boring name for my car. My cousins have decided its name should be Benedict Maximillianus Wilhelm (B.M.W.). Hmm. Any other suggestions?