Hello there..... Now in Houston - Texas, land of cowyboys, rodeo's, guns and steak - so far have only sampled the steak, but a great one it was!!! Ex EY London crew - JC (Crouch), Sherman (Ian) plus the wifes/fiances took me out for a spanking meal, along with all the big wigs of this town... was rather posh and very yum! Had a bit of a mad rush to get there, John wasn't impressed with my one and only 'nice' outfit of ripped jeans and trendy t-shirt - the god damn jeans cost me 150bucks - they should let me in anywhere in them... luckily i managed to squeeze into a smart black pair of Pilar's trousers... Seen the sights of Houston in 1 day! Huge city - 'urban sprawl' as they say out here... have had lots of food, and lots of martinis.........still pilling on the pounds so excuse the chubby pics of me - i plan to lose it all in South America honest!! enjoying the munch too much right now...!!!! Loving it at John's - have my own room, own bathroom, internet access 24hrs, swimming pool, and being taken around in style... loving it, loving it, loving it... During stay with John i went over to San Antonio - saw the Alamo, Missions, Mexican market, but got pretty darn wet!!! All it did was RAIN.... was going to stay for 2 nights, but the accomodation was awful, had the choice of staying in town in what i think was a brothel (and STUNK), or out of town in a bad neighbourhood, and be the ONLY person in the hostel... refused to stay in the 'brothel/homeless hotel' and stayed in the hostel out of town - stayed for one night (amongst many cockroaches) and got outta there the next day - called John and asked to come back to good ole Houston... thankfully got back here, and loving it again, night of dinner, good red wine, and DVD's... lush........ Before Houston, i was in New Orleans for 4 days, and i'm pretty glad i only had 4 days there, a great city, MAD is the way to describe it - PARTY - PARTY - PARTY - JAZZ - BOURBON ST - CREOLE FOOD - PARTY - PARTY - PARTY - also VERY DANGEROUS - lots of crazy things happend whilst there, and lets just say i didn't feel too safe, was prob the most anxious i've been since being away...all was fine though (nothing happened directly to me!), and i had a wicked 4 days, ate really well, layers of spice, layers of fried food... went to amazing jazz clubs including the famous preservation hall (sat on floor in dark room, and was up close and personal with the 20yr old band), went to a plantation house 1hr away, they used to have 131 slaves - quite shocking to actually be there, and here how the family used to live!!!! Very beautiful house (Oak Alley), oak trees lining the pathway to the house, spectacular grounds all around... Best night out was at a venue out of town, met a guy in reception, knew him for all of 1min and we headed out together, went to the Maple Leaf club, and saw a really famous brass band that played until the wee hours - pretty much 2/3 of each instrument - the most amazing sound, great atmosphere, and true New Orleans - not just cheese (which is all you find on Bourbon St). Bourbon St was lots of fun though... drinking everywhere (allowed to drink on streets!), people hanging off the balcony's throwing out the purple, green and gold beads... real meat market though... yanks all around, being loud mouth drunks!!! You've gotta laugh at them though, one guy gave me 20bucks just cause i said i was English and he didn't belive me, so he said prove it and i'll give you 20bucks, so i did and voila... drinks all round... just sums up the American's really! Went on a cemetry and vodoo tour - so now know what to do with those vodoo dolls should anyone peve me off hee hee!!!! Very interesting, and it's not all evil, just some of it!!! Tour of cemetry was great - all above ground tombs, so pretty creepy! The Mardi Gras museum was an eye opener - just makes you think what it would be like to actually be there!!!! hummmmmm might have to do it one Feb! Going back in time some more was Chicago - THE BEST CITY I'VE BEEN TO YET! Amazing buildings, architecture just wicked, beaches (that are really lakes!), food that just tastes too damn good it's gotta be a crime... pizza pies just heaven! Jazz and Blues clubs that really send you back in time, museums/galleries galore (over 150!)... sampled the Jazz and Blues clubs EVERY NIGHT - met a lovely guy from Essex and he was into the music as much as me, so we hit the town, or should i say some dodgy neighbourhoods to enjoy the best the town had to offer.... saw the best acts around, and was up until 3/4am every day, and then out by 9am every morning to make the most the city had to offer... On the last night, me and 10 lads from the hostel went way out of town again (all my idea!) for a different night of Hip Hop slamming.... real '8 mile' stlye and was WICKED!!!!! The crowd were great, no bling bling attitude, everyone really talented, just trying to show off what they can do and get some recognition... fab night! Soaked up the museums, shops, restaurants by day - did a great city tour on a bike, and then went out with the guide to a baseball game - got great seats for a Sox games (cubs were sold out!), but the Sox was a whole different experience (or so i was told), full of die hard and lets say less 'well to do' fans - so loud mouth estate type people.... sorry not sounding snobby, but they were loons! Amused me the whole time... got some digital video fotage that i'll try and upload and share with you... Other hightlights in Chicago include a visit to the CBOT (Chicago board of trade), a great Art Deco building, had a wee tour, and got to watch the trade floor from an observation deck - JUST MANIC - that's the only way to describe it, god knows how it all actually works, but very interesting, something i've always wanted to go and see.... also spent a few hours (but really needed a whole day) at the Chicago Art Institute - was the best gallery i've ever been too, so many great paintings all under one roof, was in my element - Nan i thought of you the whole time, all your fav artists... promise we can do more in London when i'm home! Well i think that is it for now, you have more detail in my longgggggggggggggggg emails, which i'l try and shorten now i have this site... Loving my new camera, hope you enjoy the pics - when i'm finally home i'll scan all my other pics and upload!! Off to see Monty this friday, Trinidad here i come................. Ohhhhhhh and after 10 days in Trinidad, ron is coming to see me!!!! Yep he's coming out again, missing each other a lot, got lots to catch up on, so i'm going to stay put in Miami for a week before heading to South America... Missing you ALL very much - been homesick a bit lately, always thinking of you, keep the emails coming - you can also leave me messages on the message board. Love ya Cathx