I feel I should write a little bit about new Orleans before I sit for a couple of days on the computer and write about the time I had in Chicago. So I apologise now if you were anticipating something Grand.

I would also like to point out that all the time that I have been adding these last few entries I've been in other cities. For example tonight I am sat in a hostel In Irving Dallas in a thunder storm.

On that note I need to turn off the computer...

Seriously though. New Orleans was amazing. We arrived in the morning after a day on the train (good old Amtrak). Our trip was hilarious, we met Batchelor party man Ian who was off to give his school mate a filthy send off, Truck driver Jeremy a Alabama boy by heart, who was trecking down to see his friend for the evening *and to buy us both wine, while we waited for a draw bridge to be fixed. We were also greated by the bible belt, who were on a trip with their church to the town just outside.

The AAE bourbon hostel picked us up and we got settled in. Two Sincinatti Girls Chesleigh and Lisa invited us out for drinks after a quick trip to Wallmart...

(right am going to update this in a minute...we have large thunder storm warnings and hail the size of golf balls...

This update should be intitled weather warnings! We were having a few drinks on Magazine street with Ch&Lisa a few shots of Apple sauce later (goldschlager apple liquor and pineapple juice) we went to leave the bar and walked out on two foot of water. We were told not to worry about the Tornado watch...hilarous for NOLA right. So we wade through the water to Lisa's 4x4 which luckily just skimmed the top of the water and we drove like crazies back the two miles from the hostel, walking was not an option. CH&L took photos as their car was just making it through the water. They had to park up on the side walk to keep out of the flood.

The next day left Colum a little worse for ware. CH&L and Rachel, Colum and I went out to the 9th quarter to see some of the over ground grave yards hit by the storm and the areas being re-built. Ch was one of the volunteers a few years ago, so she showed us some of the houses that she built and where some of the land was being bought back! Its an impressive amount of work that has been done by the projects, houses are being bought back and land is being renovated across the plains! The overground grave yards on the other hand are surreal, we went to one near the projects which were slightly flooded from the night before, interesting to put it all into perspective. A surreal area to visit.

The afternoon consisted with a little shopping. Rachel and I took to the streets, she was feeling a little sore, after falling out of the top bunk the night before and scaring the s*** out of us! But we went up to Cafe Du Monde in the centre after a cute Tram ride into Canal street and the French Quater. (we were trying to be extra careful as NOLA is renound for its crime and murder rates, especially amongst tourists) A Beneyes later and the strongest coffee the world over, I bought some postcards and we headed back...New Orleans is still in Mardi gras season so there were people out on the streets drinking and collecting beads for Saturday night. Our evening started with a few beers in the hostel and Rachel and I took Gaz out to a local food get up to try Gumbo, Jambalaya and the pork. Joe's was decided on and we had a 25 minute wait before we were called in. The J was great, a spicy paella with sausage and shrimp...and the pork was out of this world! We were offered free drinks because they needed the table (who is to refuse that aye). Wandering passed a closed Wallmart we headed back to the hostel for a crazy game of ENG vs U.S.A poole game. Poor old Gaz was left with me for a partner, and as most of you will know, I am useless! However the first game went well, second not so much, but as soon as I got an audience I pulled it out of the bag winning the game with the last 4 shots. GENIOUS.

On meeting some more Brits at the hostel the evening plans were pretty much organised. COlum decided to take on the city today after feeling rough as beans the day before. We walked around the French Quatre and checked out the sea front and the local dinining. Its a fabulous atmosphere, people thronging around the busy streets. Drinking everywhere, everyone in total party mood. Each bar has different music coming out of all the street corners and people playing in all the roads and parks. We went across the ferry to Algiers to be dissapointed, but it was free so not too much lost. The view of the Mississippi was impressive but the breeze took away from the fun... So we decided that Hurricane cocktails were the way forward. At Paddy Obriens their famous hurricane rum cocktails, we took to the river side and chowed down these life changing drinks...this helped Colums illness no end... tee hee. We walked back along the river to get some dinner and then head out with the guys.

Gaz, Gav, Jamie, Colum, Brent and myself headed out to Bourbon st after a few beers to sample the true NOLA night life. It was quite possibly the funniest night of my life. In typical fashion, I was making friends in the ladies loo's stealing peoples beads...telling everyone how much I loved them, gate crashing the queue for beer and dancing like a complete hoe-bag! Trina you would have been proud! We met up with the hostel manager and I showed down with a hoe-down in this lil hip-hop bar...COlum was horrified, and mum you would have been too, I looked like such a white girl. It was hilarious! WE stayed up on the balconies while throwing beads down into the crowds! *if girls flash they get given these necklaces... (rest assured there was non of that from me!) Colum had the best night of all, but I am not at liberties to divulge.

We over slept and nearly missed the bus to Dallas...luckily we didnt...but we slept on the back row luck a pair of drunkards with our blow up pillows and cheese/ham sarnies...that is the end of NOLA...we met some amazing people! Thanks guys, will be facebooking you soon!