leuchtkind

Leaving Texas behind me I head to New Orleans, Louisiana. Most people associate New Orleans with Mardi Gras (alcohol, beads, party), Hurricane (the drink), Hurricane (Katrina), and good food, and, well, they are right! I arrive there in the morning and make it to the India House Hostel - great people, a pool, and one dollar breakfast. Also it is not dangerous to walk around the area - at daytime. The first stroll is towards downtown and through the French Quarter, in the direction of the famous Cafe du monde. Famous for its baignets (Frieds pieces of dough with massive amounts of sugar) and cafe au lait, it is a major tourist destination. Reminding me of Langos (just without the garlic) it is not as amazing as advertized, yet makes a good breakfast for a day ... read more

On my way to Texas I decide to make a little detour to Hot Springs, Arkansas. A little town, whose center wraps itself around 50 square miles of forest and hills that is Hot Springs National Forest. The name comes from the towns main attraction, the hot springs that have been used in the town's baths for over a hundred years. Back in the late 19th century the wealthy from all over the country would come here to relax in the hot waters. Why is the water so hot and healthy? It is rainwater that is absorbed into the rock and hence dissolves minerals as it percolates downward. The increasingly warmer rock heats up the water at a rate of about 4 degrees F every 300 feet. Hot Springs mountain is where the faults and joints ... read more

Arriving in Memphis I meet my newest couchsurfing host, Carolina. She picks me up from the station and takes me to her studio apartment. The next day is filled with downtown Memphis. Well, that was the plan. What I didn't take into account was the heat. On the other hand, sitting in a Memphis bar is not the worst thing in the world - be it night or day. Later the visit to the Civil Rights museum, situated in the hotel that bore witness of Martin Luther King's death, blows my mind. Amazingly done and so big and interesting that three hours are not nearly enough to get through it. After a pulled pork sandwich Carolina and me head towards the downtown bars for some music and drinks. Graceland is definitely Memphis' biggest attraction and Elvis ... read more

Back on the road, the journey continues to Chicago. Skyscrapers instead of lakes, stores instead of fields, the city girl is back in the city... Following the Bible's architectural walking tour and enjoying some coffee in the park, the day goes by. As dinner time approaches I make my way to the hostel, expecting a noodles-with-whatever-is-in-the-free-food-shelf dinner. Yet, just as I put the water on the stove a lady comes up to me asking if I was here for the free dinner. Telling her that I wasn't she asks me if I wanted to get free dinner. Well, obviously you don't say no to that! Hence I find myself at a table with local kids who participate in a program (what exactely they do I am still not sure of). My "pay" is answering questions about ... read more

The next reunion occurs , when Amanda picks me up. Not only was she one of my closest friends when in MI, but she also still has my year book. So, when we chill out at her house later on to look at the "old" pictures, I make a scary discovery: Two thirds of all the people I went to school with are now one or more of the following: Married, divorced, have children, own a house, engaged, or serving in the military. Growing up here sure is a lot different. While at Amanda and Keith's house, my Wii skills improve as well as my Austrian cooking skills. Unfortunately one can't really hang out outside of the house, as the smell of the Amish' cattle that live next door is overwhelming (and not in a good ... read more