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Published: February 20th 2008
So, finally getting the blog going again (was far too lazy over Christmas to add the Africa entries - may get it done in April when i get back!). The second leg of the Rodyssey is a quick trip around North and Central America - not as extensive or probably exciting as last year, but ticks quite a lot of places I´ve always wanted to see.
Flew out on Januray 17th to Austin, Texas via Chicago. First hint that the US weather wouldn´t be quite as I expected it was when I was grounded in Chicago for the night due to some serious sub-freezing temperatures which had me thinking I might not have packed appropriately for this time of year. Got down to Austin on Friday and had a cool weekend there with Andy which largely consisted of sitting in bars for a big sporting weekend - Munsters magnificent victory over Wasps, the NFL championship games and another feeble Liverpool league game. Austin´s quite a cool town (for the US and especially Texas), apparently there´s a big music scene there too, maybe check that out next time!
On Tuesday took the long greyhound trip to New Orleans (or Nawlins
as the locals know it). Spent 4 nights here, in the build up to Carnival and Mardi Gras. Really cool town, totally unique to anywhere else in the US. Spent most of the time hanging around the French Quarter - though Bourbon Street was a lot tackier than I expected and the jazz clubs were few and far between, I still managed to hear quite a lot of pretty decent music. The food is also amazing, Creole spices, po-boys, mmmmm. The parades were just kicking off as I left, looks like a really crazy time there, will have to go back for Mardi Gras some day.
After Nawlins, went right back west again on another long (overnight this time) bus ride to San Antonio, Texas. Againa surprisingly cool Texas city. The obvious attraction is visiting the Alamo, a military defeat they´re really proud of as it led to Texan independence from Mexico (less emphasised is their annexation by the US a mere ten years later). The other cool part of San Antonio is the Riverwalk, which is a pedestrianised area along the San Antonio River one level down from the streets and is full of restaurants (and the odd
bar, it still being America), a really nice area to walk along and hang out. Also the first time I had some warmth and sunshine on the trip. Nothing terribly exciting but more than I was expecting of Texas!! Next up - keep going further west.....
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Cathy WalshTobin
non-member comment
Done that!
Roddy, a gang of us went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras about 11 years ago. It was amazing. Sodom and Gomorrath for sure! I kept waiting for the sky to open and the smiting to begin - maybe it's just the Irish catholic in me! Can't beat a steaming hot bowl of jambalaya though.