New Orleans (Days 35 to 38)
Day 35 - To New Orleans!
Day 36 - New Orleans! (Preservation Hall)
Day 37 - New Orleans! (Bonnie)
Day 38 - New Orleans! (Fly to Vancouver)
Day 35 - Thursday 4 September
Washington DC to New Orleans!
What a terrible night! I was in a small, 8 bunk room that was stuffy and smelly. the air conditioner had been turned off and the metal beds creaked all night. I only had a couple of hours of sleep. Everyone in the room was awake at 4am! I got up at 5:30am, had a quick breakfast and then made my way to Dulles airport. Lucky I did leave when I did because it took quite a while to get there.
My flight to New Orleans was via Atlanta. Delays meant that I didn't arrive at the hostel until about 2pm. I checked in and then went for a meal at a local bar. I had a cajun burger which was almost inedible!
Garden District and HI Marquette House - New Orleans! Click for bigger picture!
The hostel is located adjacent to the "garden district" not far from the city. It is a quiet area but apparently a bit dangerous at night.
I caught a street car into the French Quarter. After buying a couple of t-shirts and some socks (I hadn't washed for a few days) I walked around exploring the "Quarter". Bourbon Street was a bit tacky and a bit seedy but everyone seemed to be in party mode - even at this time of the day. Nearby streets were much nicer - lots of shops (art, jewelery, local produce, etc.) cafes and restaurants.
French Quarter - New Orleans! Click for bigger picture!
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Day 36 - Friday 5 September
New Orleans
I spent most of today in the French Quarter browsing in shops and galleries. First thing, I caught a street car to just past the circle and found an Internet shop. It was a bit expensive and a really slow connection so I only read messages rather than send any. Shortly afterwards, I had coffee and beignettes at a small cafe. For the first time in a while I read a newspaper and I caught up on all the news about Diana's death.
I made my way to the French Market and bought some t-shirts and a couple of small gifts. A little later I saw Steven Segal at Planet Hollywood. What a commotion!
Away from Bourbon Street the French Quarter is really charming - old buildings, narrow streets and lots of interesting shops and galleries selling unique jewellery, art, etc. I bought Susanne and my daughter Maia some small gifts.
French Quarter Shop - New Orleans! Click for bigger picture!
I arrived back at the hostel about 6pm - rather tired! A couple of girls from California were going to the Quarter to Preservation Hall to listen to some traditional jazz so I asked if I could accompany them. I so glad I did because it was fantastic! Preservation Hall is an old, small, dark stuffy, and rather grubby room into which about 50 people squeeze to listen to the group of the night. the performance only goes for about half an hour and I sat through two sessions. I was almost sitting on top of the band and the music was just great. They finished off with "When the Saints Come Marching In". I bought my son Fletcher a CD.
After the performance a group of us walked around Bourbon Street for a while and had a few drinks. Quite an experience! Quite a party! We called it a night about 11pm - really early by New Orleans standards.
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Day 37 - Saturday 6 September
New Orleans
Today I had arranged to meet Bonnie, a cyber friend from LaFayette not far from New Orleans. We had spent some time chatting on ICQ over the months before I left on my trip. Bonnie, her daughter Robyn and her friend arrived about 11am. They took me to Destrehan Plantation about a 30 min drive out of New Orleans. This is one of the oldest of the remaining plantation houses on the Mississippi. It was an interesting tour. A highlight was seeing the huge oak trees near the house - one of them was 180 years old. Spanish moss added to their unique character.
Plantation Home Oak Tree! Click for bigger picture!
We drove back to New Orleans through a thunderstorm. We went to the "River walk" a tourist mall full of shops and a food hall and surrounded by hotels, casinos and river boats. I got my first look at the mighty Mississippi
Mississippi River!
Click for bigger picture!
We had lunch and browsed around for a while. We then went for a drive around New Orleans. I enjoyed the tour and meeting Bonnie and Robyn, although I did find it a little strange meeting someone I had been cyber chatting to for quite a while. Getting to know someone through words on a screen is quite different meeting in person. I guess it was strange for Bonnie and Robyn too. They dropped me off at the hostel. It seemed such a short time.
I was really tired so I went straight to bed. I slept soundly for a couple of hours before heading down to the court yard. I met Darren from Perth and a group of us decided to to go the Bourbon Street (again!). It was the last night in New Orleans for many of us.
Well! this time it was party time for us. We had a ball! Street drinking, music, strip shows, and more drinking. One of the girls (no names) kept baring her breasts to collect necklaces of large colourful beads. It's a Mardi Gras tradition apparently! What made it even more surprising was that previously she appeared very quiet and reserved. She had wonderful breasts! No wonder she collected so many beads that she was weighed down so much she could hardly walk.
We finally made it back to the hostel after 3am - more like New Orleans hours!! We had waited for a street car for over an hour, finally giving up and catching a taxi.
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Day 38 - Sunday 7 September
New Orleans to Vancouver
This was a slack day! I slept in after the late night. After checking out I did some washing at Igor's Bar just around the corner and then caught a street car to the French Quarter for meal of Jambalaya. I made a bad choice as I think it had been made a day or two before. Yuk!
Street Car and Garden District Mansion! Click for bigger pictures!
I caught a street car back to the Garden District and walked around looking at some of the beautiful homes from the plantation era. I also found a nice coffee shop and I sat for a while and had a couple of coffees.
At about 4pm I made my way to the airport and took a 6:60pm flight to Vancouver via Salt Lake City. I arrived in Vancouver about 11pm and caught a taxi to the HI Jericho Beach Hostel.
Next: Vancouver & Victoria BC
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