Cross Country Road Trip- USA

Travel time: August 2007  |  by Christina E.

Louisiana: New Orleans

Our first impression of New Orleans?

Well, we didn't know whether to love it or hate it.

We weren't sure if we were in the ghetto, or if the decrepitness was the result of Hurricane Katrina. However, after meeting the locals and several really cool people at the hostel we were staying at, we decided it wasn't such a bad place after all. In fact, it became one of our favorite destinations visited on this trip.

Peeps milling about Canal St.

Peeps milling about Canal St.

The town ride

The town ride

Downtown, New Orleans

Downtown, New Orleans

Carondelet to Bourbon St

Carondelet to Bourbon St

These Mango Mango signs were EVERYWHERE

These Mango Mango signs were EVERYWHERE

French Quarter

French Quarter

We saw these all over the French Quarter

We saw these all over the French Quarter

Effects of Katrina

Effects of Katrina

Like the annoyingly catchy song 'Hey bebe'

Like the annoyingly catchy song 'Hey bebe'

This is one giant baby

This is one giant baby

After circling around Canal Street and debating whether or not to stay at the India Hostel (the area looked a bit ghetto), we decided to inquire at Day's Inn. Apparently, Day's Inn was all booked up so in a way, we were left with little choice but to stay at the hostel after all. It turned out to be the best decision we have made so far.

Past hostelers

Past hostelers

Our shanty for the evening

Our shanty for the evening

"The Bayou"

"The Bayou"

The non-working ceiling fan

The non-working ceiling fan

Wall art

Wall art

The rickety steps leading to our room

The rickety steps leading to our room

Our room (on the right)

Our room (on the right)

After unpacking and changing into my bikini, Jen joined me out on the pool deck where we met some hostelers from Denmark and Austria. We also met Cookie-- a fragile-looking but sassy young person whom introduced herself by saying "Hi, I'm Cookie and I'm a transvestite. What about you guys?" She mentioned it all so casually in a sentence, as if she were telling us her favorite color.

She was definitely chill so we hung out talking to her a bit and listened to her advice before heading into Bourbon St. After my swim, we went back to our room to get ready for the evening and as I reached to unlock the padlock on our hostel room, what do you know, I get pierced by... a rusty nail.

So, I'm freaking out because at this point, I can't really remember the last time I've had a tetanus shot. I knew I must've had one recently because I needed it either for my job or travels to Peru. I kept thinking about whether or not I should go to the hospital to get one just in case.

In the end, I decided against it. It turned out to be a small scratch, I had already poured tons of alcohol and peroxide onto it and I did remember that I had gotten my tetanus not too long ago. Still, it was scary thinking about it.

Swimming in the very green and warm pool

Swimming in the very green and warm pool

At the street car stop

At the street car stop

Waiting miserably for the street car to come

Waiting miserably for the street car to come

At around 9pm, we decide to take the street car into Bourbon St. We waited for what seemed like an hour, so we gave up and decided to drive our car instead. As we are leaving, we see the cable car arriving. Ugh. So, we get out of our car, and of course the street car has already left. We saw another one heading in the opposite direction and decided to take that one instead.

We are the only passengers

We are the only passengers

We take the scenic route...past some tombstones

We take the scenic route...past some tombstones

I'm steering the street car

I'm steering the street car

Oops, we're going the wrong way!

Oops, we're going the wrong way!

Back to the cemetery we go...

Back to the cemetery we go...

I am banished to my chair once again

I am banished to my chair once again

Vintage

Vintage

Finally we get to Bourbon Street and man, it is ALIVE. Live bands and music just blaring everywhere. People are drinking on the streets and yummy food smells all over the place. There are also a lot of street waste gutter smells as well. Vendors pulling you this way and that trying to get you into their nightclubs or strip clubs. Jen and I decided to roam around and snap some pictures before finding a place to eat.

These kids are talented

These kids are talented

Everything in this bar is red

Everything in this bar is red

Cowboys are HOT, especially one-armed ones

Cowboys are HOT, especially one-armed ones

Authentic croc heads

Authentic croc heads

You don't wanna mess with Jen

You don't wanna mess with Jen

He rightfully earned his beads

He rightfully earned his beads

I should buy this for my future husband

I should buy this for my future husband

This guy looks guilty

This guy looks guilty

Jen attracts the guys from down south

Jen attracts the guys from down south

Gotta be the coolest intersection

Gotta be the coolest intersection

I love Bourbon St

I love Bourbon St

Live jazz

Live jazz

Proof we were here

Proof we were here

The gay district-- there's like only 3 bars!

The gay district-- there's like only 3 bars!

Finally, we decided to stop by someplace and eat. However, all the restaurants we went to were already closing! It wasn't even 11pm yet. There was however, one restaurant that remained open. We were starving so we hoped the food there would be good.

Go here when everything else closes

Go here when everything else closes

Jen orders the etoufee, jambalaya and red beans trio

Jen orders the etoufee, jambalaya and red beans trio

I order fried catfish, shrimp and oysters!

I order fried catfish, shrimp and oysters!

Our compliments to the chef!

Our compliments to the chef!

After our cool little show, Jen and I took the taxi back to our hostel. When we arrived, there were a group of people hangin' out on the porch so we decided to join them for a little more fun.

Where it's at

Where it's at

The loveable and hilarious...Cookie!

The loveable and hilarious...Cookie!

Where all the kids hang out

Where all the kids hang out

These guys were definitely interesting

These guys were definitely interesting

Hot mamas

Hot mamas

Beer Bitch

Beer Bitch

Somewhere around 3am, we got Christoph to own up to us (on video) that he is in fact, a beer bitch and proud of it. (A beer bitch by the way, is someone that goes and gets people beer all night long at their every wish and demand for alcohol)

Beer Bitch Video

Jen's turn

Jen's turn

Muah! (Beer Bitch is impatient and wants to try on the wig too)

Muah! (Beer Bitch is impatient and wants to try on the wig too)

Hubba hubba

Hubba hubba

Zip zip...he still doesn't get it

Zip zip...he still doesn't get it

Jen & Ugo...so hot!

Jen & Ugo...so hot!

Right around 3am, a newcomer joins our group. His name is Mike. Cookie asks this disheveled traveler "Where are you from?"
"North Carolina" he says.

"Oh, my brother's living there right now" I remark. And with those words, he walks over, sits down next to me, and a new friendship is forged.

Anyhow, we instantly click and the topic comes to his motorcycle. He asks if I want to go for a ride. Oh, hell yea, I say, and off we go into the night.

Mike and I

Mike and I

We ride onto the bridge overlooking the Mississippi River

We ride onto the bridge overlooking the Mississippi River

Safety first

Safety first

Anyhow, we ended up getting back around 5:00am and Jen and I decide to shower and nap because we have a 19 hour drive to New York the next day. Mike and I exchange good-byes, I give him my info and off everyone goes to sleep. We would find out the next day that later that morning, Beer Bitch's friend, George, tries to jump over the picket fence in his flip flops and ends up shattering his foot. Smart.

Our legacy to the India Hostel

Our legacy to the India Hostel

what happens off-hours

what happens off-hours

zzzzzz

zzzzzz

The next morning, Jen and I decided to skip the Swamp Tours for much needed sleep. We ended up waking around noon and as I walked out from our hostel room, there he was, Mike, just chillin' in the courtyard. We chatted for a bit and he let me go finish brushing my teeth and gettin' my stuff ready.

After Jen and I were all packed up and checked out, Mike helped us with our stuff and even threw out some of the trash in our car. What a southern gentleman! I cannot get over the hospitality here in the south. What a huge turn-on.

Jen and I said our good-byes to everyone and Mike and I hugged with the promise of him visiting Los Angeles very shortly. Jen and I drove back into the French Quarter to have some lunch, do a bit of shopping and take some more pictures before leaving for our long drive to New York.

At the French Quarter

At the French Quarter

Bourbon St during the day

Bourbon St during the day

Highly recommended restaurant

Highly recommended restaurant

Jen and I decided to stop in at the Red Fish Grill for lunch. It was very moderately priced for really good food. It was a perfect ending to a perfect trip.

We're gonna miss the good ol' southern eats

We're gonna miss the good ol' southern eats

We both like to eat just the middle!

We both like to eat just the middle!

My shrimp etoufee-- laden with tons of calories, no doubt

My shrimp etoufee-- laden with tons of calories, no doubt

Jen's red fish with homemade corn bread

Jen's red fish with homemade corn bread

Jazz Kings

Jazz Kings

© Christina E., 2007
You are here : Overview The Americas United States New Orleans
The trip
 
Description:
The cross country road trip that has failed to materialize for 3 years but finally, fulfilled in the year of 2007. Two (crazy) girls set out one early Tuesday morning and in their journey's wake, meet transvestites, cute boys, get bitten by mosquitoes, get pierced with rusty nails and squirted in the eye with 'porn sausage', hang with bums and riffraffs at Union Station....
Details:
Start of journey: Aug 07, 2007
Duration: 11 days
End of journey: Aug 17, 2007
Travelled countries: United States
The Author
 
Christina E. is an active author on break-fresh-ground. since 17 years.
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