Alarm went bright and early at 4am but both of us had been awake since 2... I don't know why I couldn't sleep.. but maybe it had something to do with leaving NYC and moving on to New Orleans. I love travelling, well being places but I'm not overly fussed on the actual getting there. All the rigmarole you go through at the airports etc.



I had ordered the Dial 7 car service for a 5.15am pickup, our flight was departing at 6.55, so half an hour drive to JFK and then an hour and a bit for check in, bag drop ( yes I know, wish we could have stuck to carry on but 7 kgs.. really??? ) and security. Well the first 3 things went to plan in fact we got on the security line at 10 to 6, an hour later we cleared security... our plane was boarded already. You know those pesky people that are on last...us!!!

Wasn't really our fault, I mean who knew security would take that long? The main problem was with Rodds' hip replacement he always "goes off" so has to be taken aside for a pat down, and with me I have 2 silver bangles that just don't come off, I could squeeze them off and bruise my hand and bend them all out of shape but usually the machine buzzes and they pat me down and all good to go.... this time there was no female security available to do it. I said to the guy I was happy for a man to but he said it's strictly female/female. Ok fine, whatever!!

So, as we were rushing to get on the plane we didn't stop to have breakfast as was the original plan... by the time they served snack I was feeling quite ill.



This time we flew Jetblue and it was a pretty good flight, no complaint, except one of the flight attendents was a little surly.. she must have been having a bad day... at 7am!! Ohhh or maybe she was pissed off that we were last on??!! One thing we were a little confused about was the screaming metal sound coming from under the seats... happened while taxiing down the runway and again on landing.. landing gear maybe?? A little unsettling to say the least. Reminds me I don't think I mentioned on our Delta flight to NYC from Vegas as the engines started there was smoke pouring out of one.. Rodd and I looked at each other and said "that's not normal"... some ladies in front of us called the attendant up and he just shrugged and explained to them it was perfectly normal, he did tell them what caused it but I could hear what it was. Normal??? Not in any plane I've ever been in!!!!



Finally.... In N.O.... taxi from the airport was $33 plus tip.. I gave him $40. That (unlike Vegas) is a set fare from airport to French Quarter. Checked in at Bienville House... say Bee Yin vil . Thank goodness we could get into our room as it was only around 10am and we were both so tired! A quick nap and then hunger drove us out for lunch.

We went to Red Gravy, which comes highly recommended by the good folks on TripAdvisor. I had meatballs and red gravy and Rodd had a bruschetta burger, both were really good but the weird thing was the menu said "with chips" and neither of us thought much about it until the meals came out with chips... you know like Smiths Crisps! We've run across this before and it still never ceases to amaze me... I mean who serves cold crunchy chips with a burger? Oh well it was yummy anyway.

Next we had to come back for a nap which we did, I woke around 2 and did some "blogging" and Rodd slept through til about 4... so of course nicely refreshed we were ready to go see what New Orleans had to offer.

We popped up the Harrah's ( the casino ) for about half an hour but quite frankly I didn't come to N.O to do that! Then we wandered up Canal St, the people..... soooo many people... like NYC but there everyone is in a hurry scurrying around....... here..... very laid back, just strolling, drink in hand.



We of course made it up to Bourbon St... that's one crazy place. So many great bars with fantastic music, we wandered in and out, listened to a few songs here and then moved onto there... along the way the Street is packed, the balconies lined with people throwing beads to the crowd.... but you have to beg them..do a little dance for them and catch their eye, quite often they want you to flash them, but I'm not that desperate for some of your beads man.. keep them!!! I ended up with quite a stash.



One of the places we went into the singer was asking where everyone came from, when we said Australia we got the royal welcome... he kept mentioning us and clapping us. The doorman, came rushing in with a book and says "guess what book I'm reading"... I thought "uh oh, what scam is this"... but he turns it around and proudly reveals the book "Australia", a travel guide. He opens it up and shows us all the things he's underlined... "I've been studying, I'm going to Australia".... good onya mate!!!



We went into Cafe Beignet ( pronounced ben yay ) and had a roast beef po-boy ( which is really just a hot dog roll with fillings ) and some cheese fries. Filled a spot and soaked up some alcohol!! Outside this place there were 3 people, in their 20's, and as we walked in they asked us to take a pic of them.. turned out they were all military... got a lot of respect for anyone in the armed services, it's a tough job. One of the girls told us she lost a cousin who was in the army last year.



At all the bars there were girls going around selling shots... of various things that still remain a mystery to me. We had a couple.. at one bar the girl stuck the ends of 2 shots in her mouth and insisted I drink from them while she held them in there... weird but OK... we're in N.O after all!!!

OMG where did the night go.. 1am... already!! Home and fall into bed, another fabulous day.