When I was out exploring the city I came upon a music festival. First annual Treme festival - food, booths, and music. This was a neighborhood event with streets blocked off. I intended to stay for an hour or so and move on to something else. The music was so good I did not want to leave. I found a very nice spot amongst a few locals and within a few minutes we were chatting like neighbors. There really is nothing like live music. I got my New Orleans...

Mardi Gras World is one of the places where they make the floats and props, as they call the decorations, for Mardi Gras. One side faces the Mississippi River which was my first good view of the mighty river. For a small fee you can walk through the factory and see the float props, floats, costumes, eat some king cake and take pictures. Each parade has at least 15 floats. The floats in the warehouse were from Harry Connick Jr's krewe (spelled correctly). ...

We got into New Orleans in the early morning. New Orleans is a big station so there were cabs waiting outside. I hailed a cab but the cabby found out the people next to me were going further and took my stuff out and left me there. This did not seem to bode well. The next cabby took me to my hotel and I gave him a larger than earned tip just out of gratitude. The hotel in the early morning, still dark, did not look that great and no window to the outsid...

All of the trains were on time except the one leaving San Antonio. We did not know it at the time but the train had some kind of electrical problem and was delayed while repairs were done. It was interesting to see how different people handled the delay. I just waited it out. I am not on a strict timeline so just took it in stride. One guy literally stomped his feet, I named him Blondie, and shouted he would never take the train again!! All I could think...

I met a wonderful couple who live in Yuma. Retired teachers with several grandchildren and a great Dane. We discussed everything kids, grandkids, aches and pains, and family. One of those couples you just know have always loved and taken care of each other. They discussed a sister who was an alcoholic. The sister had three sons but they had become tired of the chronic drinking and they were estranged. They brought her to Yuma and got her in a rehab. ...