Saturday - I flew to 'New Orleans' today from 'San Diego'. The flight was not too bad, although I did have to transfer in 'Denver'. I arrrived at 3pm Central Time and made my way to my hostel on the airport shuttle ($13). "India House Hostel" was $17 a night and in a good location. It is real southern style hostel with little wooden "Creole" shaks at the back and all painted in the blue and green "Creole" style. I was shown around by Louise (Manchester) and met her mate Zoe (Colchester) in the kitchen. After unpacking I then took the trolley ($1.25) into the city centre, as I was in need of food. When I got back to the hostel Louise and Zoe were heading into the "French Quarter" for a night out with a group from the hostel and invited me along, it turned out that they were also going to be in my dormroom. We all took a taxi onto "Frenchman St" and by all accounts had a great evening. The street was full of lots of little bars with live jazz trios and alternative jazz bands. All the rooms were dark and smokey with deep toned vocalists providing the music. In the more modern bar that we went to the lead trumpeter dragged me up onto the stage and made me dance, now due to the vodka in my hand I was able to put on an ok show! We arrived back at the hostel at 4.30am and I was knackered having been up a full 24h! It was a wierd taxi back too, the taxi driver started to sing karaoke and made us join in! Sunday - I had a lie-in in the morning and then Loiuse and I went off to explore, Zoe was working. We walked into the downtown area, along "Canal St", which only took 30mins - it takes 15mins on the trolley. Then we got the free ferry out to "Algiers" where the original 'New Orleans' began. We were warned it was really dangerous and rough (due to the housing projects) so only wandered around the block before heading back to the ferry. It was nice to see though with some very quaint houses and streets. After getting the ferry back we looked around "Riverwalk" shops, a huge shopping mall with all kinds of chain and local shops, before taking the trolley back to the hostel. it is really hard to do much during the day as it is very very hot (35C) and humid. In the evening we met up with Zoe and all went down to "Coops" - a very nice pub located on "Decater St" in the "French Quarter". It had good value Creole fare and I decided upon the traditional "Po-Boy" - a very big sandwich filled with lots of chicken and salad and spices. Monday - We left the hostel and took the trolley down to the "French Quarter". Zoe and Louise went job hunting and I did some sightseeing in the "French Quarter". I started at "Jackson Square" and wandered around the tiny streets, with the stunning cast iron decorated balconies and flowers. It was all so pretty and quaint. There were lots of musicians and artists entertaining as I walked. We then all met up and went to "The Erin Rose" a local Irish bar where the girls had managed to get a job interview thing. we stayed there for 2h and managed to have a few beers and come out with no jobs! After that we went to the foodcourt at "Riverwalk" mall and grabbed a bite to eat. In the eveing we headed out with most of the hostel to "Frenchman St" and "The Spotted Cat" jazz bar! It was great, the band played funky jazz and at one point an old guy in the corner just piped up playing the trumpet. Superb evening, which ended with Tomasso dancing with a pole in one of the jazz bars while we were all outside laughing! Tuesday - I had a real realaxing day today as me Louise and Zoe just hung out the hostel and chatted by the pool, in the very hot weather. We then went down to the "Robert" supermarket and grabbed lots of stuff and made a huge pasta dish with bread and salad - delicious!! Then in the evening a whole group of us went out to "Bourbon St" (where the Madi Gras is normally held). We went into lots of bars and eventually ended up in the gay club where we watched a drag show which was quality. Got back at 5am again. Wednesday - After 2h30 sleep I got up to meet my tour bus to the Plantation and Swamp (Bayou) tour. Our first stop was the "Laura" plantation. It is no longer a working sugar cane plantation but many of the building still exist. It was really interesting to see what I had studied concerning slavery and the deep south. Next up we went to "Oak Valley" plantation. The main house was magnificant; an oak tree lined path guided you up to the white veranda of the impressive mansion. We had a 30mins tour of the mansion and saw the posh style that the rich afforded in the 1800s. I then got a bite to eat before taking the bus back to 'New Orleans' to meet my other tour. We took the new minibus to the "Honey Island Swamp" passing Bayou, marshes and the "Mississippi river". All the "Creole" and "Cajan" houses were built right on the edge of the river and had legs to stand on. At the swamp we took a little boat and rode down the river into the deep swamp and bayou. I saw aligators and lots of plant and birdlife. It was really humid too, mind not as many mosquitos as i thought! I got back to the hostel at 8pm and soon after we headed out to "Bourbon St" to chill out at a jazz club. Thursday - I began a cleaning job at the hostel today, for 2h work you got free accommodaton for the night. Then when Louise and Zoe finished on reception we headed into town; Zoe for an interview at a Mexican restaurant and me and Louise to meet a man about a job in McDonalds. He wanted to employ us to help park cars at the "Saints" NFL game, but due to the dodgy nature of his "bodyguard" we declined! Then we went to Amtrak to book my ticket to 'Chicago'. In the evening we got a few beers in at the hostel and chilled out watching films and chatting - got to bed at 7.30am! Friday - Quiet day today. Was up to do my cleaning then Zoe and I headed into town, she went to work and I just had a wander around the city walking to the river to see the steamers (it was expensive to ride on one) and also rode the "St Charles Streetcar" - the oldest in the city. When at the hostel I met Louise and went and got food and beer. We had Fajita for dinner and then we (Zoe, me, Topher, Louise, Jo) all sat and watched TV, drank and chatted, a quiet last night. Saturday - Up at 10am to pack and catch my train at 1.15pm to 'Chicago'. Its a 19h overnight trip, and I arrive at 9am on Sunday.