Having visited New Orleans just a week ago, I have to say that Vegas should really pass the 'sin city' moniker to New Orleans. Vegas appears tame and orderly compared to the excess and debauchery around the French Quarter in New Orleans. Yes Vegas is still over the top, trashy and superficial but dare I say it, seems classier! I am staying at the Planet Hollywood casino/hotel and my room is spectacular especially the view across the hotel pools and across the road to the Bellagio fountain. The premium that I paid is certainly justified as it's not often you get to enjoy luxury like this. The bathroom itself is larger than some of the hotel rooms that I have stayed in during this trip. However I would not recommend this hotel to older folk looking ... read more

Thought I would get up early and have a walk around before it got 2 hot but the plan kind of backfired when - 1. it was already hot and 2. nothing was open yet ! Must be a side effect of having big boozy nights and being unable to get up before noon the next morning. The French Market was only starting to set up and the sidewalks of the French Quarter were being hosed down - not a pleasant place to be when you consider the booze, vomit and urine that would be prevalent late at night. It seems that all the people that were awake had made their way to Cafe Du Monde as there was a line along the sidewalk and this place has plenty of seats and tables! As much as ... read more

I have never been anymore relaxed in my life I don't think. Wake up, go the beach, get some sun, find some breakfast, take a nap, get a late lunch, relax a little more, find some dinner, and then hang out. My favourite past time in Miami would be people watching. There are some funky folks here in Miami, I would love to blame the hot weather or excessive sun but there has to be some real underlying issues here. Even just sitting outside my hotel on the verandah reveals heaps of wierdos walking past or across the road in the park. I will be off to New Orleans tomorrow, back to busy sight seeing ! ... read more

My last day in NYC was pretty quiet, did a little shopping and picked up a few bits and pieces for my old man. Tried to find a pair of black leather boots along 5th Ave and didn't find anything at all. Actually made my up to 72nd street in the Upper West Side and found Gray's Papaya which is the hotdog shop that Anthony Bourdain recommends for a late night eat. It was $4.50 for 2 small hotdogs with a decent sized papaya drink which was actually very refreshing. That was my highlight for the day in NYC. I was to fly in Miami at 1pm Monday and got the hotel to organise a town car pickup to take me to JFK. I wasn't willing to catch the subway all the way out to JFK ... read more

I managed to tick off some more boxes from my NYC to-do list today. I have been doing some real tame things and trying not to get too smashed each night as I know I won't have the energy to make it through these long days of sight seeing. In the city that never sleeps I have been trying to get a decent amount of sleep each night, mind you I don't really have a choice - struggling to keep the eyes open after midnight! First stop today was a stroll around the Greenwich Village area which is full of boutique stores, cafes and restaurants. There are heaps of little bars around as well and you have to love the whole cafe and bar scene here in Manhattan and I guess with this concentration of people ... read more