Galveston June 2009 Update

There have been a few questions about whether or not Galveston is "tourist ready" for this summer, so I thought that I would answer them here in a post. The links below are of my previous posts which have pictures for you to look at and my observations from those times.
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http://appelquilling.blogspot.com/2009/04/red-and-turqouise-card-and-galveston.html
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http://appelquilling.blogspot.com/2009/02/febuary-2009-update-on-galveston-texas.html
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The pictures posted in the above posts are from February and April 2009 (scroll down past red card info) and show that there are indeed beaches to play on! Galveston has been busily repairing and bring sand in by the truck loads to make the beaches summer ready. We were down in Galveston about a month and half ago and were on the beach with many other people having fun. There are some places in Galveston that are still in need of repair but a lot of the island is up and running again.
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Rebuilding takes time and the city has done an amazing job of repair. The hotels on the seawall are open with some undergoing renovation and are closed. The Flagship was severely damaged and may not be repaired and is closed. You will have to call the individual hotels/motels for their status. Here is a link to a blog that tells some of the hurdles that Galveston has to face after Ike: http://blogs.chron.com/galveston/2009/03/texas_islanders_hold_out_hope.html
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When we visited the Strand there were many business rebuilding and restocking and would soon be open, and are probably by now. Maybe 40 - 50%? Others have not yet started the repair. Landscaping took a hard hit by the surge of seawater and is being replaced or waiting to regrow so someplaces are not that "green" yet. The clean-up is ongoing and each time we visit the debris is less and more repairs/rebuilding has taken place. It definitely isn't the war zone that it was right after the storm, but it isn't 100% either.
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Does it look like it did? No. Is it 100%, No. Do you want to see REAL TIME - click on this link for web cams of different places on the island including the beach: http://www.galveston.com/webcams/ .
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If you want visit Galveston to have fun at the beach, or go to Moody Gardens (http://www.moodygardens.com/), or Schliterbahn (sp?) you will have fun, just don't let your expectations be that of pre-Ike or of a 5 star resort town. The beaches are there and waiting for you! The island and it's people could use your tourists dollars to get back on it's feet. They are working hard to get back to the business of tourism and fun in the sun! It just takes time, money and people! We have been down there several times since the storm and will again throughout the summer and will keep you updated. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT GALVESTON PLEASE EMAIL ME AT THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR or here is the email: APPELQUILLINGGARDEN@YAHOO.COM . I will try my best to get you an answer. Thanks for having such an intrest in Galveston!
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Shalom,
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Sonya
Comments are always welcome!