July 7 2010 - Yummy!!!!!

Good morrning everyone,

After sleeping in this morning I checked out, stored my bags at reception and took the street car to go eat the beignets I had heard so much and dreamed about :)


street car on canal street

I got off at the last stop, which is the river front. I walked along the Mississippi river, found the Hard Rock Cafe, got my T-Shirt and walked on to the Café du monde.



It's really famous, everybody knows it. Luckily I found an empty table in the more than busy place. All they serve here is beignets and different kinds of coffee and hot chocolate. Here's their menu:



I decided to go for the classics. Beignets and Café au Lait



It was heavenly good!!!!

After that, I kept walking and discovering the beautiful buildings in this city and the countless cafes. In everone a (usually) Jazz band is playing and some people are even dancing on the street. It really feels like the whole city is a big party, I can't even imagine what it looks like on Mardi Gras! Anyway, here some pics:


The French Market


They sell these masks everywhere. If I got it right they have something to do with mardis gras.


Jackson Square





Now tell me these houses are not gorgeous!

And then probably the most famous Street of the city:



That's what it actually looks like



Doesn't look awesome hmm. It's full of bars and strip clubs :) I bet you can have fun here at night. I mean New Orleans is famous for it right? Unfortunately I really was to tired to experience it yesterday and I'm leaving already again tonight. But hey, that gives me a reason to come back right :)

Here's the second well-known street



Canal Street. Apparently this is the widest street there is. All others that are so side are usually called Avenues. Canal Street has lanes for cars in both directions and as you can see to lanes for the street cars in the middle.

Later I went back to the hostel to get my stuff and go to the greyhound and take the bus to Charlotte. I'm not really looking forweard to this city. I read that it is just a business city and there's not rally a lot to do there. So I already looked up the closest Starbucks and I guess that's where I'll spend my hours and hours of layover! That's it for now

xoxo

July 6 2010 - Laissez les bon temps rouler - Let the good times role! Welcome to New Orleans!

Hello there

I got to Biloxi this morning at 6am. My bus to New Orleans wasn't leaving 'till 30pm this afternoon. Outside it was rainy and grey. Not good for a beach town.
I was here for the Hard Rock Cafe of course but I didn't want to go out and look for it at 6 in the mroning in the rain.
I turned on my computer and suprisingly found a very good internet connection. So I got to surf. watch some TV Shows and skype.
I was around 10 when the rain had finally more or less stopped, so I got my stuff together and headed outside. The first thing I saw? This:



Can't recognize it? No I didn't mean the horrible weather. Here's a close up:



Jup, the Hard Rock Cafe was basically right there. The special thing about this Hard Rock is that it is not only a Cafe it also includes a Hard Rock Hotel and a Hard Rock Casino. It's three for the price of one!

I went in there and discovered that it was also kind of a mall with a starbucks. I got Coffee sat down for a while and then strolled through the little shops before it was time to go catch the next Greyhound.

The bus was an hour late (when are they ever on time???). We took the highway along the gulf of mexico, at least for a while. From the bus, no oil could be seen.

When I finally got to New Orleans it was 7 instead of 5.30. Now I had to find the hostel. Google at told me that it was 43 minutes to walk. i find that google exaggerates most of the time and let me tell you, it was wrong again this time. It took me 1 hour to walk to this place!!!! I was dead when I got there I swear. Anyway, I thought that with that walk, I had earned the beignets I would eat in the morrning at the Café du monde.

I finally got checked and was looking forweard to a shower and my bed. I chatted with my new roommates for a bit (two sisters from Australia and a girl from Newport RI) then I took that shower and it made me feel like a whole new person :)

After that I threw the clothes I had on on the bus and my blanket that had been lying around in not sooo nice places into the washing maschine. Before going to bed, I tried on the shoes I had bought with Sunshine again, just for fun :) I still love them¨!!! I was in bed by 11pm.

Good night

xoxo

July 5 2010 - No Starbucks, no McDonald, where to find WiFi in breathtaking Savannah???

Hey there,

Before getting to Savannah I had to transfere twice. First in Tallahasse and then in Jacksonville (Twilight connection! :)) In Tallahasse, after reboarding the bus, a guy told me that the book I was reading was really good. I'm reading a Nora Roberts book right now and I consider this as chicklit so I was suprised to hear he had read it.

On the bus I sat behind the driver who started to talk to me. When he heard that I was doing night trips all the time he told me to always try to sit next to somebody that looks normal and try to sit in the front.... I told him that I had been traveling for a while and that I kind of knew how to behave but that I was thankful for the advice, he was a really nice busdriver compared to the one we had before.

The one on the last ride was very strict. If somebody laught, hopp he took his mikrophone and told them so shut up. And one time he wanted to make an announcement but that he would only say something if everybody was quiet (It's like school :)) I kind of understand that. However, the only person making noise was a baby crying. He literally waited 10 minutes till the kid was quiet to speak!

Anyway, back to the guy how told me my book was good.
So at the next transfere in Jacksonville he was standing in front of me in the line to board. We still had some time to kill so he started talking. He told me he was in the army and that it was stupid but that he was doing it to save money to get his book published. So I asked him if he had really written a book.
Yes he had, it's a 400 page fantasy novel where he explains that all these creatures like elves and dragons really excisted and that humans killed them all and that therefore humanity had lost all it's magical powers blablablabla all I was doing was nodding ans saying "oh that's interesting" and "Oh i hope u get it published" anyway.

I got to Savannah early in the morning. The cow at the ticket counter told me that she couldn't keep my bag with her because of safty reasons and that the lockers had also been removed because of safty! So I had to hit the city with all my luggage.

Savannah is really pretty, it's full of squares that are in the middle of the streets. Basically it's a city full of little parks. One of them is where they shot the benche scene from the Forest Gump Movie. It has a wierd name that I can't even pronounce, maybe you can




Isn't it beautiful? And parks like that really are everywhere, every two blocks you can go sit down in the green.

I had read in the guide book that the air in Savannah had a special scent. I didn't really believe that but it is true. It's a heavy parfume kind of smell, but good. I don't know, it's really hard to describe.

Anyway Savannah is awesome it's ful of history (slavery, civel war etc.) and has all these beautiful mansions. Walking around makes you feel like you just stept out of Gone with the Wind



This house, the Davenport house, is considered one of the most fascinating when it comes to it's architecture (as far as I remember), obviously they mean the inside cause I don't find it really spectaculare from the outside.



Personally, I would take this one anyday!

Then there is also the historic river street that, of course, runs along the Savannah river. The cotton exchange was here and now it's full of little restaurants and souvenir places. Following this street I got to City Market, a cute place that is packed with tourists how visit the many galleries there and have lunch in one of the countless restaurants.


river street


the beginning of city market

After walking around for three houers I decided it was time to go back, enough of carrying all that stuff with me. So I went back to the bus station. I had actually planned to take the 6.30pm bus to Biloxi (changing again in Jacksonville, Talahasse and Mobile)but I found out that there was a 1.20pm bus to Jacksonville so I took this one and would wait there for the bus to Talahasse)

So I got on the bus and a guy asked if he could sit next to me which I thought was wierd because there were a lot of free benches left to sit on. But what was I supposed to say, and anyway, it was only a 2 hour ride. However, this guy was really wierd. I don't know where he had his hands but I definitly couldn't see them. Luckily, ten minutes into the trip the bus driver took an emergency stop because apparently something was wrong with the bus. I took theis opportunity to change seats. The girls that now sat behind me told me that he had been on a bus with them before and that he was being touchy and way to talky. Anyway, the trip went on and after another emergency stop we made it to Jacksonville without further incidents.

I got into line to get my ticket to Biloxi. The lady told me that if I didn't want to hang out at the station just two streets down there was a place called Atlanta Landing (I don't really remember the name but it was definitly something that included landing). I heard the other agent explaining the same thing to the girl next to me (remember what I said about eavesdropping a couple posts ago?) so I asked her if she wanted to go together, I had also heard that she was going to take the same bus as me so it worked out perfectly.

At this landing place, there are a lot of different restaurants. Monica, the girl's name, split up. She went to get something to eat and I went to starbucks and we would meet there again. In all of Savannah I could not find a Starbucks or a Mcdonald to go online so I was happy to be able to check my eMail here.

Back at the bus station we still had 'bout an hour and a half to kill. It went by really fast though, we talked about travelling and this and that. Then it was time to board and I was on my way to Biloxi and the next Hard Rock Cafe. I must say I'm happy that I get to sleep in a real bed again for a night tomorrow and finally shower and wash my hair. So that's it for now

xoxo

July 4 2010 - How to get to the Hard Rock Café?????

Alrighty, here we go again, hello everyone

The bus ride to Fort Walton Beach, hmmm, what can I say, it was interesting. No to seats, I had to share all the way :( The two rows before me were filled with 4 black ladies. When we had our stop at around 11pm they decided to cross the street to get something to eat. Unfortunately, the KFC was closed already. So they tried Taco Bell. The guy there apparently told them that he could not serve them because somebody had gotten shot. What??? If somebody had been shot, why hadn't we heard anything, why was there no police or no ambulance and why was he still standing at the counter? Something was definitly wrong with his story! That's what the ladies though too. They were outraged when they got back on the bus.
One kept saying: he's lucky I'm not a very hungry pregnant lady!
The other one said at least 20 times: I'm gonna call my boo! (If it wasn't for Usher and Alicia I wouldn't hav known what that meant!)

I had to transfer buses in Mobile Alabama. The last twop hours of the trip I actually got to sit next to a cute guy, for once. He even made sure I was awake when it was time to get off in Fort Walton Beach. I was awake already though by a beautiful sunrise and the picture doesn't do it justice



The nice lady at the bus station allowed me to leave my backpack with her while I went to Destin. However, I had to be back at 1.30pm. Today were special closing times, it's the 4th of July after all, National Holiday!

I found the bus stop to go to Destin. I had checkt the Internet to make sure the buses where actually running, and the net told me yes. Apparently, the Internet isn't always right!!! NO BUSES!!!!! How on Earth was I going to get to Destin now, it's a 20 minute ride so walking was out of question and anyway, walking along the highway is no fun. So the only thing I could do was to take the expensive opption. I considered not doing it but after all I had come here to get my T-Shirt so I had to go. I went into the grocery store and the friendly lady at the ccustomer service called me a taxi.
5 Minutes later I was sitting in the oldest car I have ever been in with the unfriendliest driver I had ever met. And all that cost me 30 bucks one way! I did not give him a tip though. U want one, be nice to ur customers dude!!!

The Hard Rock Cafe is located in yet another openaire mall, which I really like. I also made a stop at starbucks to check e-Mails. A guy came in and started asking me about my mini computer, if it was good to work with etc. I told him english wasn't my mother tongue when he started throwing computer words at me I didn't undersatnd. Of course he wanted to know what I speak. When he heard German he stared to congratulate me on the success in the wolrd cup. I informed him that Germany isn't the only place where people speak German. I was however, suprised that he follwes the World Cup. Americans usually don't really care for soccer.
He helped me find a taxi number later and called for me, that was nice.



The taxi picked me up at the beach. Beautiful white sand without oil on it!!! This driver was really very friendly and he got a tip :)

Destin is a cute place, but very touristy and to day, also a bit rainy





Back at the busstation I still go an houer before she would close the place. I used it to charge my laptop. Suprisingly I found an internet connection at the busstation, this was the first time that had happened. I got to skipe with Mum and Dad in Ireland.

When she did close I moved all my stuff outside and updated my blog until my battery gave up. Then I stored Johnny into an outside locker the lady had opened up especially for me and went for a walk through Fort Walton Beach (Destin is way nicer!)

Then it was time to take the bus again to get to Savannah.

It was a day that has me recalculating my budget because of this damn taxis, I'm still mad that the buses didn't operate. I'm sorry to say so but public transport in the states is really not reliable, it sucks!!!

That's it for now

xox

July 3 2010 - The joys of going Greyhound

Good day everyone

We got to Atlanta almost one and a halg hour later than planed and what is the first thing I find when I get of the bus? This:



Yep, somehow the Greyhound people had mannaged to rip out the buckles of my beloved bagpack!!!!!! I was so freaking mad and didn't really know how to fix it right now. So I stored the whole thing into a locker and left the station. The goal was the Hard Rock Cafe and a place where I could find safety pins to fix Johnny.

So I get out of the station and hit Peachtreestreet (Sandy, who had lived in Atlanta had told me everything here was called peachtree and she was right!). I felt like the only white person in that bus station yesterday but walking in Atlanta is really just walking among black people or black guys. I have to admit that I didn't really feel comfortable with being spoken to every two seconds by wierd black dudes. So I pulled out my cell phone and plaied Paris Hilton. Only difference was, I didn't play "being on the phone" I really called somebody. First my parents in Ireland and then my brothers at home (just to check if the house was still there :) just kidding)

I got my TShirt and also safetypins and a satrbucks (free wifi internet, can u believe this? something for free!!!!) so here I am, having a very quick breake before
going back to the station to take the bus to Fort Walton Beach. I had actually planned to go to the World of Coca Cola, the Coca Cola museum but thanks to the bus latenes, that was cancelled. But there was still something that showed me that Coca Cola was produced here:



back at the station I patched up Johnny and got in line to make my way to Florida:



I'll need to find one of those belts people but around their suitcases to make sure Johnny will survive all the coming trips. We'll see how this one goes to start with.

xoxo

July 2 2010 - Gettin' ready to hit the road again!

Hello there,

So after having staied with family for a while now, today would be the day to get on the road again, meaning, smelly buses, akweard people and no comfy bed to sleep in. Anyway, the bus can be annoying at times, but it gets me everywhere I want to go, almost.

Because this was the last time for a while that I was sleeping in a bed, I slept in again :) No suprise there, I know. Then I spent the afternoon at the mall (after having picked up the credit card from the other store!) to find shoes for Jacque's wedding in August. I had seen some nite ones on the internet so I wanted to go check them out! The store however, didn't have them.

Sunshine picked me up later and suggested going to DSW, I think Sarah and I talked about that AMAZING store on our blog last year. It's a really really great shoe store where they have different brands for little money. I did found shoes for the wedding, along with two other pairs :) and needless to say I could easily have gotten more because there are hundrets of amazing kinds in there. So here are the newest additions to my shoe family:





Kind of SJP's SATC 2 shoes, with out the red bottom of course!



Something a bit more eccentric (not to say the golden ones aren't :)). They might not look like it but they are so freakin' comfy!



Finally, the ones I actually really needed :)

After my credit card had done it's excercise for the day, it was back home, pack up and off to the bus (It rained like crazy on the way there!).

The Dallas bus station is not my favourite, it is the one where my luggage got lost three years ago! It was really busy tonight and there were soooooooo many black people. Anyway, I got my ticket and tried to find a place in line. I found out that they have no lines here. As soon as the bus is called, everyone just runs. I cannot tell you how messy this was. We were supposed to leave at 7.15pm however, we did not pull out till 8.30pm.

The bus was full to it's last seat and I got stuck next to a really big lady. I felt like my right but cheek was gonna fall over the seat anytime. Luckily I had heard that she was gonna get of at the first stop, that's why I actually decided to go sit next to her. So if u ever travel greyhound, don't forget to eavesdrop on other people's conversations :)

We had various stops on the way and instead of shortening them to make up time, we kept loosing time! We are supposed to arrive in Atlanta at 2pm. We'll see how that goes.

xoxo

July 1 2010 - Credit Card's gone, shit!!!

Hey there,

It's the first of july, which means I'm officially 23 in just 25 days :(
I did not really do a lot today, I was stuck in front of the TV cause one channel showed the whole 11th (yes, 11 and now i think they're already on their 13th) season of America's next Topmodel.

Oh and of course I used the hair dye I bought yesterday, however, there's no big difference in my haircolor. Oh well, I tried.

When Sunshine was home we went to a little Italian restaurant to have dinner. I chose the ravioli, very good!

The day took a bad turn when I wanted to take out my credit card, it was not there!!!! I emtied my whole bag but it was not there. I decided not to panick until I had checked the room and the sofa (I had unpacked my purse earlier today, maybe it fell yout)at the house.

Before going back home, Sunshine decided that I had to be introduced to Dairy Queens' blizzard ice cream.

We found the closest one but when we got there, guess what, no DQ instead, a huge shopping mall. So we figured it mus be inside. It took a while to find the right entrance to the mall but we eventually made it. I had a cookie dough blizzard. Man I love cookie dough!!!!!!!!!!!

Back home I looked everywhere for the freaking credit card but, nowhere to be found!!!! Sunshine called up the store I had bought the hair dye in yesterday and suprise suprise, somebody had turned it in (I couldn't believe it, i was sure that if i lost it there it would be gone! Thank God for the honest people in the world!!!)

I could go to sleep without worring about the card anymore, YAY!!!!!!!

xoxo