More New Orleans

Our second day in New Orlens started with another cab ride into town.  This time our cab driver was Egyptian - educated in New York and driving cabs in New Orleans!  Said he had to get out of New York after 9/11 because everyone looked at him and thought he was a terrorist, and he couldn't get work.  He told us about how hard it is putting his daughter through a private school so that she can make something of hereself here in the US. Seems like things are the same the world over.

After a great breakfast at Dots Diner just down the street from our RV park, we again toured through the streets of The French Quarter in town, window shopping, gazing and gawking.  There were again lots of street performers to watch and listen to, but the clubs were much quieter than the night before. Still plenty of people, and even one being carted off in an ambulance, looking very much the worse for his night on the town, The streets are still busy, but much more subdued.

We caught the tram along the river front to the French markets - a huge market complex selling things like are sold the world over in markets, but with a distinct Cajun twist.  The food smelled (and tased) delicious.  Trinkets were purchased by a few of the party for sharing when we get home.

We booked onto the paddle steamer Natchez for a river cruise in the evening, with a good buffet dinner served.  The cruise was entertaining and informative, and we enjoyed the sights and the history of the river port as described by the narrator.  Even almost ten years on, Hurricane Katrina is never far away in peoples thoughts as the city is dicsussed.  It certainly did a lot of damage, but it also has now brought a sense of renewal in some of the older areas, so perhaps some good has come from the bad.

Another really entertaining cab ride home - this time by another Pakistani, who landed in New Orleans following his wife's family who had moved here twenty years ago.  He was a really funny guy.  He entertained us with tales of his four children, all doing well except one who is a "mess up".

With New Orleans sorted, we headed for Memphis the following morning.  A later start meant that we would spend most of the day trvavelling, but our schedule does not really allow too much time to sit and ponder.  We need to keep moving.  It is now Monday, and the RV needs to be returned to Fort Worth on Saturday morning.  There is still Memphis to visit, where we anticipate spending two nights, and then a long drive to Dallas/Fort Worth to finish off.  We have heard of a good stopover point near Little Rock, Arkansas called Hot Springs, where there are springs (dah!) and lakes, so we may get in a little R & R before we finish this leg of the trip.  Lets hope so.

Cheers.