Norman, Oklahoma - Murals and Tacos
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
I forget to be a tourist in my own city sometimes; eating at the same favorite restaurants or opting to take the fastest route instead of the scenic one. But when I'm itching for a road trip and can't take one I'm reminded again that Oklahoma City and the surrounding area has a lot to offer. There's also the added bonus of being able to talk a friend into spending the afternoon exploring.
Marisa lives a few blocks from downtown Norman, close to Oklahoma University, and within easy walking distance of The Mont which is wonderful because they have awesome cheese fries. She's also always up for an afternoon spent walking around and seeing what her city has to offer.
Norman has a small town feel, maybe because of the collage, it seems that a lot of collage towns feel the same, but I always think of it as part of Oklahoma City for some reason. Mostly because Oklahoma City is huge and has engulfed all the surrounded communities over time. It's like a giant growing amoeba. But I was excited when Marisa suggested checking out the new murals being painted downtown and happy to spend an afternoon exploring a familiar place.
We stopped for tacos and drinks at Pepe Delgados. I completely forgot to take a photo of the food, it was too good to pause that long, and I don't seem to have the knack of taking food photos. But trust me, if you haven't been you need to go. The tacos were amazing, the queso wonderful, and the spicy cucumber margarita is a must.
Afterwards we wandered down the alleys on either side of main street, where the walls have been covered in murals. I think every back alley and any bare wall should have a mural. I want cities to be covered in art, drenched in color, beautiful things brought into the edges of our lives; silly and wondrous, poignant and meaningful, public art is a necessity. I'm a huge advocate of art in public spaces and bare walls are the perfect place to start.
If you get a chance you need to add this to your list of places to visit.
