Arrived in New Orleans, met two guys from brighton called Andy & Simon, all trying to find the marquette hostel. wearrived at the bed bug infested rusty smelly wierd place, luckily the ngiht before a lady in Nashville warned us about the Marquette and told us to stay at the india house so we booked 3 nights there after staying in the Marquette.. *shudders*

Next day arrived at India House hostel, was much nicer &with a pool! that night popped out for some fried chicken, on the way home we got distracted and followed a walking jazz band parade, got handed beaded necklaces and bumped into andy and simon! Had a few hand grenades (New Orleans strongest drink) Heard some authentic country music complete with a man plaing the steel vest and spoons..? After that went to a wicked soul and blues bar, had a goodun :)

25th- Walked around the french Quater, saw jackson square, bought some gumbo! (yumyum) and listened to the jazz band at the expensive restaurant downstairs, sat on a balcony, reeeal nice!

26th - walked around french quarter tried 'beignous?' at cafe du mont. Also tried Jambalaya (porky goodness) Back at the hostel 'Westcostas' were a french brass band, funky jazzy and kinda rapping with trombones - really good!We hit BourBon street again with a guy from Falmouth! and 3 Jordans, and another Hugh! Hugh was naughty and climbed on a digger, which is "a felany" Got back to hostel had Typhoo tea and deep political chats..

27th - Hung around by the pool, nice and hot! Played Trivial persuit, got the bus to Austin.. connecting bus got cancelled so had a 6 hour wait in Houston at stupid o'clock! Chatted to a guy who lived on the edge of the swamps. He liked to tell stories about murdering Alligators and the wierd stuff they eat. He thought we were wierd for not eating squirrles lols..On to Austin!