Days 17 & 18 - Orlando to New Orleans

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Day 17 – Wednesday – Orlando, Florida

Today's theme was NASA and we visited the Kennedy Space Centre...where they do all the shuttle launches from. It seemed to be right up John & Dean's alley - they had a ball!!!

For once we were actually in luck, and the Shuttle Launch Simulator that wasnt due to be open to the public for another few weeks was in testing mode - so we were able to be NASA guinea pigs hehehe.

On the flip side, we were unlucky enough to be able to see the transportation of one of the shuttles and all it's pieces (18 million tons worth) roll on down the crawler way in to position for a launch in a few weeks time. Ah well.

They had lots of interesting videos and displays re the launches, and the moon walks and we were also able to see them working on parts of the International Space Station.

Oh and guess what....we got to see two real live gators as we took the busses from one section to a next.

Later in the afternoon we cracked on and drove a few hours to Tallahasse just to make the next day's drive to New Orleans not quite so long.


"Dean's Details" – To infinity and beyond!! How cool was it that I got to Beta test NASA software?!!!



Day 18 – Thursday – New Orleans, Louisiana

WOW, well we made it to New Orleans!! The slightly sad thing is that we made it in by about 2ish I think, and then proceeded to sleep a few hours (well Dean & I did anwyays!). Oh well, we did pull it together, and we headed out for our authentic meal, and then a Ghost/History tour through the French Quarter.

I think i'm yet to fully make up my mind about this little ol' city!!! The French quarter is just beautiful (we're staying on Bourbon Street too YAY!) and wowwwww talk about atmoshere. Just walking down the street is an experience. But there also seemed to be a fairly predominant sleaziness to it too that I guess I wasnt expecting. Oh well, i'll keep you posted!!!!

Oh - and on our way in, without even looking for it (you cant miss it) we were able to see some of the destuction of Hurricaine Katrina. I guess the word is that so much of the devestation was caused by the floods after the levys that broke, but sheesh - there are just so many buildlings that have had their rooves and sides blown off that I guess people just


"Dean's Details" – New Orleans has to be seen to be believed

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Photos

Houston, we have a problem
Dean & I pretending to be space men!

Space Shuttle
One of the space shuttles that we got to walk inside of...big huh?

Deano
Checking out the space ball thingy

NASA Building
This is the vehicle assembly building where they put all the components together before wheeling it out to the launch pad. The 3rd largest building in the world! See the stripes on the flag? A bus could drive down one of them without touching the sides it's that big!

Launch Pad
And in the distance we were able to see Atlantis on the pad

DaS
Being idiots

Mars Rover
Dean trying his luck at commandeering on eof the Mars rovers

Apollo Rocket
Big huh?

Mmm Gumbo
At our first New Orleans restaurant. Ok so none of us actually HAD gumbo...but John did have Jumbalaya (or however it's spelt!) and Jen, Dean & I all had some chicken that was stuffed with crawfish. MMmm

Ooo Spooky
On our ghost tour