I must admit, I was a bit surprised by John’s deep appreciation for Houston. True, I’ve only been there one time, last October, but I was not immediately wowed. The sprawl of the city and its vastness made it lose that city feel. As I drove around the downtown area, there were no people wandering the streets. One section of the city could be 10-15 miles from the other section. It’s just so BIG. To me, the city atmosphere was lost. I am returning to Houston in a few weeks with most of the GT staff. The annual NBTA convention, which we attend every year, is being held in the city in August. Houston in August — I can imagine there will be even less foot traffic than in October. During my last visit, I stayed in the up-and-coming CITYCENTRE section, and during my next visit, I and the rest of the staff, will be staying in the Galleria, at the Hotel Derek. Having a few more days in Houston and being with my colleagues may leave me with a better impression of the city. One thing I did notice about Houston, Houstonians are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever encountered.  Always a hello and a smile, or even time to stop for a quick conversation. The people were always willing to point you in the right direction or even show you the way themselves. I look forward to re-visiting Houston and experiencing more of its warm hospitality. I also hope to see and experience more of the city. — Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive