New York:- Naw 'lins (New Orleans)

I think back to my days of youth (yes, I will admit that they are over, just don't expect me to act like they are) and I look at the way my taste in music has changed. There is a dissertation about my tastes in music, but needless to say, there are very few types of music that I won't listen too. At about 15, I came to really appreciate Jazz. And this has continued since. So the one place that I was not missing when I went to the States: New Orleans.

> From: Geoffrey Campey
> To: Almost_evri1
> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 9:03 AM
> Subject: Party Time!
>
> Well, New Orleans lives up to its reputation as Party
> City #1. I am racking up the flying miles, but not
> nearly as much as my luggage. See I went on the 57
> minute flight from Dallas to New Orleans, my luggage
> went on the 9 hr flight to Lima, Peru. Now its flying
> to Miami and then back here to meet up with me tonite.
> Needless to say, I stink and was mighty pissed at
> American Airlines last nite.
>
> anyway, Dallas was really cool, and New Orleans has
> been a lot of fun and I haven't been here for 24 hrs.
> I am staying in a youth hostel, and I went around the
> corner to get some food last nite at a bar. I met this
> dude, and after several more beers for Geoffrey, we
> went down to the French Quarter. Many more beers later
> at various bars (there are literally thousands in NO)
> and walking down the street with a 1 pint can of
> Fosters (photo to come later), I finally got back to
> the hostel at 4am.
>
> Security at the airport was again really tight, this
> time the National Guard people were walking around
> with their M-16's. If I was a terrorist, I would be
> pretty scared.
>
> I hope all of you are well, keep in touch, i do write
> emails to those who write back (but there may be a
> delay as net access here is pretty patchy).
>
> Stay well, stay cool.
>
> Regards,
> Geoffrey
>

One of the funniest things that happend in New Orleans didn't actually make it into either of these emails. When I arrived (sans luggage) I rocked into the Youth Hostel and proceeded to book in for the week. The guy behind the counter says to me "Have you been to New Orleans before?" I reply that I haven't, and so he pulls out a sheet of paper with a map on it and grabs a highlighter. While marking out the areas on the map with the highlighter, he says "Ok, this is the hostel, this is the main trolley line, this is the French Quarter, and here, this is the CBD. These places are all fine." He then puts down the highlighter, picks up the big black marker and says "OK, don't go here, don't go here, don't go here, and just forget that this place exists, and you'll be fine. Have a great stay!" Needless to say, I was very careful where I walked in New Orleans.

Even so, as you can tell by the next email, I was able to enjoy my time in New Orleans.

> From: Geoffrey Campey
> To: Almost_evri1
> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 12:04 PM
> Subject: This city is cool!
>
> New Orleans is a place that I could live. Forget about
> the amazing amounts of violent crime, this place is
> cool! Live music all day everyday somewhere, great
> food of all different types (falling in love with
> cajun food big time!) and loads of 24 hr bars, it is a
> pretty sweet place. There is a really great vibe here,
> its amazing that everyone is still able to enjoy
> themselves, even though you have to be very careful
> which streets you walk down.
>
> The luggage saga is finally over, after it left Lima,
> Peru it went on to Panama City, Pananma. A short stay
> at Miami Customs and then on to me here in New
> Orleans. The positive was that I now have a lovely set
> out Ralph Lauren socks, boxers and shirt thanks to the
> insurance company. The negative is that there wasn't a
> couple of kilos of cocaine that found its way into my
> bag that could have financed my visit to NO, so
> unfortunately I will have to pay for it myself.
>
> I did my washing last nite. Most of you are wondering
> why this is so important to tell you. Well, it goes
> like this. I walked into the bar with laundry in
> plastic bag over my shoulder. I bought a beer, and
> asked to get the change in quarters. I walked to the
> back of the bar, bought some washing powder and
> proceeded to do my washing in the machines / dryers.
> To fill the time I played pool, drank more beer and
> watched the typhoon warning on TV as it became current
> for New Orleans. It eventually became only a large
> thunderstorm, but still, unnerving. I must say, when I
> get back to Oz I am going to start and Internet Bar
> with laundry facilities - sure to be a big hit! :)
>
> Staying in the Hostel has been a great experience,
> there are so many people from so many countries -
> France, Czech, South Africa, England, Ireland, Canada,
> Oz just to name a couple. I met a girl from NYC who I
> am going to stay with to cut down on some costs which
> is an important thing after spending time in NO. I
> recommend to anyone that comes to the States that they
> must come to NO.
>
> I got my uni results today, and I am glad to say that
> I passed everything (even my thesis! :) so I am
> officially all done! On to the next one!
>
> It is shaping up to be a big weekend here, so you may
> not here from me until I get to Chicago. I hope all of
> you are well, I look forward to hearing from you all.
>
> Regards,
> G
>

It's hot! It's damn hot! Take me somewhere cold please ->