Our first woman taxi driver is USA, and she had been driving for over 25 years, drove us to New Orleans train station from our hotel.   

Betty said she had been "blessed" as she had experienced no trouble in all those years and, so far, no woman had been shot! I am not sure what this really says about taxi drivers in New Orleans.   Betty spoke about her need to change her life so that she could als go on a holiday.  Betty's confession was that she "just like to go shopping and spend money and if she saved her money then she would have a holiday just like her friend she drove to the train station that morning".  In the 10 minutes it took us to get to the station, Betty kept telling us she needs to make some changes, she would really love to have an August off one year from driving taxis.  I gave her a 50% tip for the ride and suggested it be her first down payment for a holiday. I would like to dream that Betty gets her holiday one day.  

New Orleans train station was very basic. Two platforms, central seating area and Subway. Already there was a large line of folk lining up for the train north to Chicago, a 28 hour jouney, but we were only going for 8 hours as our destination was Memphis  Rob stood in queue and I went offvto Subway, a footlong club sandwich for us to enjoy on the train. It appeared that many others had the same plan as there were Subway bags everwhere.....perhaps food in thecdining car was expensive! Will check this out into the trip (currently blogging on the train and we are about to pull into Hammond).

 Standing in line we met a couple from Jackson, who graciously invited us home to their place for Southern hospitality and corn bread. In many ways I wish we could have said yes, but our hotel was booked in Memphis and time was at a premium.   The train left on time, 1.45pm. We had been allocated reserve seats in the last carriage in the top section. We were pleasantly surprised to see that our seats were clean, spaciously apart,  and with good window views. We got oursrlves settled and then enjoyed a Subway lunch, accompanied by some chocolate we had bought in the French Quarter earlier that day.   As we rolled out of New Orleans we both said how much we enjoyed our time, it certainly was worth coming south as it was so different to New York and Washington.    

The scenery between New Orleans and Hammond mainly consisted of wetlands and marshes, it was the same route we had travelled on our Tour, where either side of the train track there were water ways, green trees and bushes, and masses of bird life.  The longest bridge in the world was here in New Orleans, over 21 miles in length, as it spanned across the lakes, water ways and flood plains of the Mississippi River.  A low lying bridge that seemed to go on forvever, it was another sign of the ingenuity of people.   Just prior to Hammond water disappeared as roadways, houses,small towns, cows and trees emerged to form a new panaroma from my seat on Number 58 to Chicago. There appeared to be large sections of forested areas.   Brookhaven was a larger town with wide open green parks, stately double storeywooden colonial homes with decorated verandas, and a range of other dwellings and home and an enormous timber mill and yards.We had moved to the Observation car which had floor to ceiling windows and provided a panoramic views of the countryside.  it also had comfortable chairs and tables. Some had gathered here to play cards, whilst others were enjoying the social aspect of sharing drinks with friends  

At 5.30pm we had arrived at Jackson Mississippi,  not only a stop but also a designated smoker's stop as it was about a 20 minute stop. We got off to stretch our legs, take some photos and get fresh air. The couple who had invited us home for a meal, spotted us, and gave us a "Moon Pie" cake and a jar of salted peanuts - this is southern hospitality.  

I met "Jack" in the cafe on board the train. Jack who is wishing he was at college studying journalism and pining another life, is instead travelling the trains heating hot dogs and serving drinks.  Jack sees nothing romantic about his train job, it simply pays the bills and makes his parents happy because he is working and not wasting his life in the parties in New Orleans.   Jack is self aware "can't trust myself to keep out of trouble" seems to have resigned himself to working in a "moving box"! I wonder if Jack may just risk it and go to college and follow his passion?  

It is now8.50pm and there is just an hour to go to Memphis.  We decided to dine in the dining car as an Amtrak experince. I chose the healthy option which turned out to be steak with sauce, couscous and carrots, a side salad and a roll.  It was ok....but only just. Rob had vegetable pasta and green beans which looked a bit better. As the train rolled on its journey we shared our meal with Cassandra, a young woman from Chicago who had been visiting her family in New Orleans.  Cassandra had no knowledge of Australia, thought we were in Europe but had kangaroos, so we were able to fill her in a few more details! Cassandra worked as a bar attender at a steak house during the week and a nightclub on the weekends.  I was really surprised to hear she received only $8per hour for her shifts, but more surprised to hear she could receive $500 a night in tips.  She also said that Chicago was the most dangerous city in the USA to live because of the gangs and she was thinkjng of moving somwhere else to live with her child, although she had not yet decided where.  

It is now night, only lights from small towns, isolated houses and street lights, are breakingbup the darkness of the night.  Most in our carriage are asleep,  including Rob. I hope there is a taxi at Memphis to take us to our hotel tonight. I also hope our room is still available and not given over to someone else!

We got into Memphis at 10.30pm, caught a taxi to our hotel and our room was still available! A long day and now time for rest.