New Orleans II

Today, after having breakfast in our hotel, we decided to go to a swampland near the city to see the local wildlife (including alligators). For this purpose, we visited the Jean Lafitte National Park, wich had paths over the swamp where you could see the animals and plants of the terrain.

As we reached the place, the first impression was seeing a flock of gray vultures in the road, so close to us that we could stay out the car and take pictures. After arriving in the visitor's center, the guard gave to Matías a brochure so he could complete it when he saw especific animals and trees in the swamp. I grabed the camera and I took pictures of every animal species we saw; this includes many types of drafonflies, lizards, frogs, crickets, spiders and birds. We could even take photos of an alligator just in front of us!

We had to dug often because huge spiders had made their cobweb near our heads, but also be quiet to see as much wildlife as we could. We had also to wear long pants and spray ourselves with mosquito-repellent and sunscreanin order to prevent being stung and sunburnt. The humidity was so high that we sweat a lot during the visit, good we brought some water in the car.

After the visit, we ate at Dooky Chase, a famous restaurant where many celebrities (including Obama, Bush and the Pope Benedict XVI) have dinned. We took the buffet as lunch, but the meal I best liked was the gumbo soup and the dessert, wich was a peach cobbler.

After eating, we went again to the city center to see a market with stands selling handmade products. We strolled around the riverfront and went to Bourbon street again, and then we bought some fruit and bread to dinner.

New Orleans I

Today we tried again to go to the beach, but it was still duble-red flag, so ee drove after eating breakfast to Lousiana. We passed throu Alabama and Mississippi, and then finally reached New Orleans. The trip was exhausting, so we went eating lunch just after arrive. This time we did in Willie Mae's, known for serving America's best fried chicken. Although it wasn't refined, the meal tasted very good.

We went to our hotel room to relax a bit to then go to the city center. The city has a multi-cultural background; it was founded by the french and administered by the spanish in the 18th century. That makes it the most european city in the U.S., as well as the most african and caribbean as well. The french quartier (actually built by spaniards) is a very nice neighbourhood full of housew with wrought iron balconies and gardens, with a mixture of spanish and french style and jazz musicians playing in the streets. The street signs were in both english and french, but they were some conmemorative plates that showed the old spanish name.

When we strolled in the riverfront, we saw a steamboat with live music departing to make a tour in the Mississippi river. When we wanted to go back, a very long train avoided us to cross and it took 10 minutes to pass. Later, we saw the famous Café du monde and their beignets, and then we bought a couple of souvenirs to our fridge in a shop.

When we came back to the french quartier, we noticed they were shooting a film in one of the pubs in the street with bars, called the Bourbon street. The ambient was great, every pub had jazz music and blues; you have to be there to capt how it is.

Finally, we ate diner at the room and we planned what to do tomorrow.

Valdemar