Corpus Christi and Me: CC native goes tourist

Three beguiling bottlenose dolphins —D.J., Shadow and Kai—reign as the undisputed stars of the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. Their daily performances in the large outdoor tank captivate the diverse international crowd seated in the stadium surrounding the water.  Even though members of the crowd speak several languages, the collective “oohs” and “ahhs” need no translation.
Inside the sprawling marine center, my childlike excitement and wonder continue as I peer into the 125,000-gallon Islands of Steel tank, which recreates the habitat under an offshore drilling platform. Giant stingrays slowly flap their winglike fins and glide through the water. In a huge floor-to-ceiling aquarium, a nurse shark (named Hans) darts between steel pylons and an evasive moray eel peeks out from a pile of rocks. Nearby, in an exhibit that’s dark except for a few spotlights, luminescent jellyfish trail long tentacles and appear to float in sync like they’re dancing an underwater ballet.
I’m in Corpus Christi playing tourist in my hometown. Now that I live in Austin, I view the city with a fresh perspective when I return for a visit. It’s particularly gratifying to see all the attractions that weren’t there when I was growing up—the aquarium, public art along the bayfront, art museums, new sports venues, the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay.
Now Corpus Christi is a destination in its own right, regardless of whether you visit Padre Island, the world-famous barrier island just across the Laguna Madre. On my visit I rediscover favorite haunts, such as the historic seawall and the T-heads and L-head — man-made permanent piers now housing restaurants, bait shops, a yacht club, and marina slips. I still love to stop by early in the morning and buy fresh shrimp right off the boats.
As a visitor, I’m also learning things I never knew while growing up here.

See the full article in the June 2009 issue.

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