Hey Y'all!

So the overnighter in the greyhound to New 'Orlans' (how they say it) wasn't too bad...we are becoming trailer trash and getting in with the locals!

Driving to the hostel was weird as you saw all of the devastation from Katrina, and that was the 'good' side of town. Few buildings had windows, you could see the water marks about 3ft up on buildings and houses were wonky from the damage.

The hostel was nice...just a shame about the people...full of writers and musicians who were 'finding themselves' and a guy that freaked out when we said to go to NY...he couldn't visit cities due to his drug problem! We avoided them!

We went into the French Quarter most days (the only nice part with normal people!) we did have to walk through the 'hood' to get there...loads of guys with long white t-shirts...we all know what that means....gang members! The quarter is lovely...loads of tacky shops (we were quite well behaved), bars and food places, including Cafe du Monde, which is opened 24 hours and sells 3 Beignets (square french doughnuts) for $1.50...we found our heaven!! Decator Street backs onto Mississippi so we had a wander down that and to the French Market...again lots of junk...again in our paradise!

The night life rocks! We had been told Bourbon Street was sleazy, we didn't realise how bad until we got there... "Topless and Bottomless" and "Female Impersonators" were the classics! We went to loads of bars with live music which was great, then to Pat O Briens for their famous Hurricane cocktail. Jen managed two sips, Denise drank the whole lot...oh dear! Food stop number 1. We proceeded to go to about 8 different bars where we met the most unattractive men ever! As can be seen in the pic (Denise did tell him he was old enough to be her dad) and Jenna got a really attractive Mexican (must have weighed 20 stone!) Nice! So calling it a day we had food stop number 2...these food places rock! And back to bed!

Next night we went to Frenchman Street (where the locals hang out) and watched a Jazz band. the dude was playing a washboard...when did that count as an instrument?! So we wandered to Cafe du Monde for more food...yes we are getting fat!

New Orleans rocks....the French Quarter was great and the bars make it what it is!