Hello everyone,

Well after a very early start in Memphis to visit graceland, we boarded our 13 man sardine can on wheels and began our 7 hour drive to New Orleans. I have finally realised that by the end of his trip I will be able to withstand any smelly or cramped vehicle on this planet, it's really starting to smell and the purchase of fabreeze will be made at the next walmart. So me and nikki crammed ourselves into the back seats of the mini bus and set our selves up for the drive. After 4 hours of driving we stopped for fuel in the middle of know where! Literally a gas pump on the side of a road surrounded by nothing or no one! I never thought I would say is I actually miss England roads because they are smooth! Coming into New Orleans is a 15km raised road above the bayou swamp lands, which feels like you are being driven over a 15km cattle grid! But it is worth it to see the view of the swamp lands, open water lakes and fishing boats.

As you pull into New Orleans it was most defiantly a culture shock to anywhere I have ever been! After story's of crime, mugging's and gun crime I was most defiantly scared! The road pulls round in front of the saints american football stadium, a gold tall oval closed roof structure which doesn't really fit in with the boarded up houses, shops and petrol stations which line the roads into the city.

We pulled up to our hostel which was spit into three blocks, the guys and girls in different rooms. The dorms are like small houses small kitchen area, bathroom and three sleeping rooms. After we all unpacked and showered all 13 of us and the guide walked into the fresh quarter which reminded me of the tight streets of Spain or France. Three story town houses with shops and bars below them. We all went for food at oceana, a sea food restaurant as seen on gordan ramseys kitchen nightmares. The food was amazing, all fresh sea food and pasta's. I had a mixed sea food platter with fried oysters, shrimps, prawns and crab cakes, nikki had a fried oyster po boy (crusty roll filled with oyster) both with chips. A local specialality is the hurrican cocktail made of rum rum and more rum which we both had to wash the dinner down.

We then stayed in the French quarter for the rst of the night, the main street (bourbon street) was very similar to Ibiza. Road lined with bars playing jazz, blues and swing, adult gentlemens clubs and nightclubs with promotion staff trying to get you there bars. It was a great night dancing to live jazz bands with the group. Also you could buy a drink in one bar and ask for it to go, they would put it in a plastic cup and you could walk into any place with it. So after alot of dancing, hand grenades and hurricanes we safely got home to bed.

We got up early and headed back into the French quarter to have alook at the town in the day and it's completely different. With the bar's closed all the shops open selling the jewellery, art and all kinds of locally made products. The Mississippi runs alone the edge of the French quarter, the river front view is incredible with large bridges, ships and barges filling the skyline. We wondered around the french market before grabbing a muffalata, a thick filled roll with fresh meat, cheese and olive pickle and heading back to the hostel.

The afternoon was filled with a swamp air boat ride around the bayou swamp lands. Nine of us boarded a v8 chevy powered fan boat and explored the swamps. We were given ear defenders from the fan noise which was so loud you could hardly think. The open river estuary was filled with over hanging trees, reeds and small channels to explore. The ride was brilliant seeing a number of alligators swmming right up to the boat fighting for marsh mellows ( they are colour blind and can only see White or black). He guide told us the biggest he had seen/caught was 13ft 6"!! that could eat me no problem. After an hour we stopped in a secluded spot and the guide reach below to bring out a baby alligator which we could hold. It was about 18" long but could still fight hard, we had to hold it tight around the neck so it would bite fingers. The whole swamp tour was brilliant and perfectly timed as just before the tour started a storm whether warning came in with 60mph winds, lighting and rain. As we pulled back into the dock, we could see the dark clouds in the distance with fork lightening and thunder. By the time we were back at he hostel the heavens had opened and lightening was striking all around. Awesome to watch from a distance, never seen lightening like it!

Most people decided to have a night in tonight to do washing and sort bags ect as for the next 6 nights we are back in the tents on campsites, going to miss the bed so much.

We are up tomorrow and on the bus for 7 and heading on the the next destination.

From New Orleans with love

Nikki and Ben