My recent adventure took me to Dallas, a city I had never explored. The warmth and friendliness of the people, wide streets, and endless sky want me to go back again and walk the tarmac with some badass cowboy boots.

Everywhere I went, I met genuine helpfulness, interest, and smiles. During my three-day stay, one of the highlights was an early morning walk along the Katy Trail. If you know me, you might smile as I walk everywhere daily. If you watch a travel program with me, I might shout, “Oohhhh, I have walked there.” So the Katy trail surrounded by nature and old Texan steel was the perfect morning for me.

The Katy Trail is an iconic path built on an old Union Pacific Railroad built by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, which established the network in 1865. Privately funded and supported by the community, it's maintained by the Friends of the Katy Trail organisation. Their efforts ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy this beautiful, natural trail. Beautifully curated with nature and art installations, this trail is a green oasis within a hot, concrete city. Locals use it to exercise, walk, meet friends, and have a great time.

As the sun rises and my legs warm up with the day's first steps, I am using the time to reflect. The true joy of these walks is connecting with locals and engaging in conversations. I always make it a point to ask for their recommendations on favourite activities, restaurants, and places to visit. This interaction, experiencing a place through the eyes of a local, is my way of discovering new places. I have stumbled upon the most incredible spots by being open and seeking a friendly conversation.

Don't be shy. Just ask a local.

One fantastic dinner recommendation came from a local who pointed me to José on Lovers, a restaurant full of delicious Mexican dishes and flavors. The restaurant has a great feel and vibe and is by far my favourite restaurant in Dallas.

Here I am at José on Lovers, a restaurant I also saw on Netflix's Taco Chronicles. The food was beyond incredible, but what truly stood out was the kindness and friendliness of the people. The chef, Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, even brought out freshly made tortillas for me to take home to my family, knowing how excited I was to experience their passion for creating fantastic food at home again.

I'm returning home with delicious vacuum-sealed tortillas, which I'll use to make fish tacos. I've been to Austin a few times, but Dallas feels different. I enjoyed people's "can-do, let's do it" attitude.

I'll be back to explore more of the outskirts and spend time in the rural areas with cowboys, cattle, and horses away from the long, stretched roads. Despite being a huge fan of walking, Dallas challenged even me with its sheer size and sprawling distances, burning my Nike soles down to the ground.

I ended my trip to Dallas in the Merrit Coffee shop in Deep Ellum before returning to the Airport.

PS - When did you last go out in full rain and walk through your neighbourhood? I was caught in a tendentious rain with raindrops as huge as eggs. Being outside and taking pictures was fun, but I was also cold and, at some point, grumpy.

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