Road to Memphis – 6.7.2012 – USA Travel Journal

Posted in Journalling, Travel, Writing by CraftDiv4

6.7.12

Well today we set off to leave New Orleans and head towards Memphis. I had it all planned out. First I had to make a little detour and find Bon Jovi Blvd. Well I set the GPS and thought we were on the right track. I had checked in the morning before leaving so I knew exactly how long it would take. Well Macca (GPS) decided he wasn’t into directing us in the right direction and sent us on a wild goose chase. We literally drove around in a huge circle back to where we had come from 2 days earlier. Dave was getting so pissed. So out come the trusty phone and maps from google. Turns out we were literally 5 mins from our destination and Macca was telling us we were still 25 mins away..

We eventually found it and I got to take my pic and look at the homes that Jon and his foundation built after Hurricane Katrina. All I could think about was how I could manage to maybe borrow the sign indefinately without being noticeable. Also how cool would it be to have that for an address??? I just want to say that my man is the best in the world and I love him more everyday. Thanks for taking me there , even though you were heard to say ‘ All this for a fucking rock star”..

So we are now in a little place called Winnfield and will continue on to Memphis in the morning. We didn’t really stop at much along the way, as we needed to make up time for all the bloody farting around in Louisiana.

We decided to go into the restaurant that is next to the motel for something to eat and I really wanted a cup of tea. I asked the waitress for a hot tea with milk. She looked at me as though I had asked her to chop her head off. Seriously do I speak a different language. She told me she had never been asked for a hot tea. I then slowly had to explain what to bring me. Well she got the tea bag and cup of hot water right, but then proceeded to bring me the biggest glass of milk to put in my tea….mmmm Dave and I just cracked up. When I told her I only needed enough to place in the cup, she took it away and brought back a smaller cup but still too much for the tea….poor girl, she really didn’t have a clue. Might be that she speaks a different language to me??

Anyway must catch up with my kids.

See you all soon from Tennessee.

xxxx

3Nov2015

New Orleans – 5.7.2012 – USA Travel Journal

Posted in Journalling, Travel, Writing by CraftDiv4

Well today we set off for our swamp tour. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Just had visions of big gators attacking the boat.

We had set the gps to find the place and had to be there at 9.30am. Well we made it by the skin of our teeth. It was 9.30 on the dot, but luckily they still let us pay and join the boat. My stupid gps (macca) took us the long way round.

Anyway we got on the boat with the others and our Capt Troy. He was very cool guy and was a bundle of knowledge. He told us about the gators and then proceeded to throw marshmellows out to them. They actually know all of the gators by name and who is who. He told us about the swamp, plants and other animals that habitate in there. It was very cool.

He took us to one of the gators. Her name was Cindy. She is 11ft long and at the moment she has a belly full of eggs. But she was so lazy that she didn’t move a muscle when we approached with the boat. Troy tried to offer her a hotdog on a stick but he said that you practically had to put it in her mouth, to which my wonderful husband responds ‘ she is like most women, won’t eat it unless its put in her mouth’ I instictively slapped him.

Troy asked us where we were all from. When it got to us, Dave replied Down Under…there were lots of strange looks came our way, we then explained from Australia, which in returned I replied ‘ we have really big crocodiles…man eaters!!! Troy agreed. Dave then proceeded to say that they would definately eat his “Black Arse”….I was like ‘ oh no you didn’t!!! This man of mine truely needs a filter!!!

As we continued on our tour, there were a family from Kansas. They had obviously never heard an Australian speak, as this woman turned to me and said *southern African American accent* You speak funny, where y’all from?? I cracked up…I speak funny!!! This family where a scream. They reminded my of those women on Springer or Oprah when they are excited. They were entertainment plus.

Troy then took us up to a tree which had a snake in it. They freaked out. They started saying they were allergic to snakes. Troy was cracking up…said they must be allergic to the swamp. Dave thought at this stage that it would be a great joke to pick up a piece of rope (used to tie boat up) and place it on one of the women…she just about jumped out the boat….everyone was in fits of laughter…her not so much. I did tell her that she had permission to whoop some American arse on him 🙂

As we were heading back to finish the tour, Troy told us that we had to pick up something from one of the other captains. He then said it contained a spider…at which point I was saying “oh no way” ..you can keep that fuckin shit right on the other boat…Troy replied ” well you were happy for my black arse to be eaten!!. Turns out it was a baby gator. He was about 2yrs old. He had been reared by the guys that run the tours. He had been handled from a baby. He was so cute and so quiet. Didn’t even try to snap fingers. But it was so funny when he pissed on one of the men on the boat. Troy said he doesn’t like men & that he peed on men all the time.

We had a great time and I would suggest this to any one who may visit New Orleans in the near future. We used Cajun Encounters.

After leaving the tour, we then went to find a place to stay for the night, this time a little out from the main centre and a little cheaper. We spent the arvo chillaxing and then we went to check out Bourbon St and go on our Vampire tour.

Bourbon St was a blast. New Orleans is definitely one of the places I have liked the most. Party Central. It reminds me of Kuta, Bali. There were certainly plenty of sights to see…mmmm .

We moved on to our Vampire tour at 8.30pm. We started outside the Cathedral. Well I wish they had written in the brochure that we would be taken on a historical walk/talk tour. I could of read it in a brochure. Unfortunately nothing untoward happened on our tour. Nothing out of the ordinary, but the information was very interesting. Vampires real or not??? Something to ponder. My feet are very sore, as we walked for miles and got very disorientated…felt like we walked in circles.

I am a little sad to leave here tomorrow, but I know that I have many more wonderful things to do and see. Can’t wait for Nashville and Memphis.

Well time to call it a night.

xxx

3Nov2015

New Orleans – 4.7.2012 – USA Travel Journal

Posted in Journalling, Travel, Writing by CraftDiv4

4th of July

Today we set off from Lafayette to head to New Orleans. We took our time as we knew that it wasn’t going to take us long to get there. We only stopped for food and drink, as most of the shops were closed today for the holiday.

I did manage to take Dave kicking and screaming into another Hobby Lobby shop. He couldn’t believe the prices either. He was such a great trolley pusher!!! Got some insane bargains. They had 50% off albums and some stickers. So looks like his suitcase is getting filled up too. I’m sure the excess luggage is going to be a killer.

We have now booked into a place for the night after spending the afternoon/evening in the French Quarter. I have never seen so many one way streets in my life and only big enough to get the car down. Would hate to be driving a bus etc. It so busy too. Loving the feel of New Orleans. Very popular area I think. Looking forward to checking it out some more tomorrow.

one of the street performers

While on our travels, we stopped at one of the stores and we are now signed up for a swamp tour and a vampire tour. This could be interesting. Dave is looking forward to the swamp tour, me not so much, but I am going to drag him along to the vampire tour. So we’re even. We are going to check out Bourbon Street too!!

After looking around the French Quarter we decided to go and get a place on the riverfront. There were thousands of people lining the riverfront. They had 2 barges and they let off fireworks simultaneously. It was so cool. It was great to see. Getting out of the parking lot not so great.