A State with it's own Constitution.

Ever wondered what make Texas so special? Well its got a little bit to do with politics and a lot to do with egos, hats, boots and old Levis. The people here are just plain strange. I think it's the first state where I didn't even have a conversation with a local for more that 5minutes. 

HOUSTON

Kind of glad I didn't get a job here with DOF, this town sucks. It has got to be more boring than Perth. Luckily, when I was in New Orleans a few thousand people advised against me staying there for the 3nights I planned, so I switched around my trip and stayed there for only 1 night. Its just honestly a boring place, so this is how I spent the 1 day I had there:

The houses are HUGE!

Took a stroll along the river...

The main tourist attraction - the aquarium.

Houston trying to be artsy. 

The most hideous wedding dress.

AUSTIN

Austin was significantly better than Houston! Ended up making friends with a lot of Aussies because the hostel I stayed at was filled with them. Honestly the most Australian's I've had in a hostel yet, it was ridiculous! So the highlights of Austin: cool shopping, $1 vodka mixers, $1.50 pints, $1 shoots, shuffleboard. That pretty much wraps up how I spent my week. 

This is South Congress Ave which has all of the cute Austin Stores:

Holly - this is where I got your present!

Austin has food vans on almost every corner. 

Downtown. 

The Colorado River but not the one that runs through the Grand Canyon apparently. Texas just had to have their own. 

Austin actually is artsy. The live music capital of the world. 

The Texas Capitol

Favourite Liquor Store and Favourite Burger Store.

When we went to this burger place they were shooting a commercial for this brand gecko, which they pronounce gi-co. Its so weird. 

YESSSS! The 1st Whole Foods! Was so amazing, got the best BBQ pulled pork sandwich and sampled so many things. Best way to spend your whole pay cheque in America.

The River behind the hostel, so lovely. 

Austin Bars Decorations.

Totes making this!

Typical people in Austin - hoping for fame & fortunes!

Shuffleboard! Spent waaaay to much time at this bar playing/watching this, apparently it's Canadian. Luckily we had one Canadian at the hostel who taught us all the 'real' rules. 

Overall spent a lot of time hungover here, because the nightlife is too much fun! The University of Texas is right in the middle of the city so there is people partying every night of the week, wish I went to uni here! Except for the fact that all the boys where faded Levis, cowboy boots, tucked in checked shirts, ridiculous hats, leather beats with big texas silver buckles. It is the most unattractive choice of apparel. 

More blogs coming and its my last night in America today =(

xxx

Possibly the best place in North America.

Its a pretty big claim - I know - but seriously if you are ever in the USA do not miss New Orleans!  I was thinking that it might not be as good in the winter as the summer but in fact its better. During the winter all of the fun stuff happens: mardi gras + NFL + NBA = crazy amounts of drinking. Yes, in New Orleans Americans actually get drunk, like sex in the streets drunk. But NO isn't just drinking its amazing food and beautiful streets too. I don't think there was 1 thing I ate which I didn't love: fried chicken, BBQ, creole, po' boys, waffle fries. Sometimes its a little bit too much to handle all of the goodness! Don't be scared off by the extremely high homicide rate about 700/800 in 100,000 people. Its worth risking your life for. 

Swamp Livin'

Saw a few Gators. 

Went on a Airboat.

That stuff in the trees is called Spanish Moss. 

Went to this amazing old school theatre by myself to see Dragon Tattoo which may I add was the biggest let down of the century. Shittest Movie. Read the Books. FU Hollywood for ruining something amazing. 

City of the Dead

In NO there is a high water table so they don't bury the bodies in some areas underground. So they build these amazing tombs. 

They shove A LOT of bodies in these, because of the humidity they decay really super duper fast and so they can just keep shoving 'em in. Gross. So there is even more bodies in this tomb than listed on the plaque because sometimes they run out of room. Cremation please.

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Totes went inside this house too but you couldn't take photos it was so beautiful. The husband & wife who owned it were Chicago? millionaires and 2 years before the wife died she decided "F the children's inheritance I'm making this home a museum" 

Paddle Steamer River Boat Cruise

I know how romantic. But I was alone. Totes made friends with these 2 Aussies from Perth who own the Harley Store in Osbourne Park and drank beers all afternoon with them. Best weather that day so it was actually super great. 

The boat stopped at this battlefield, it was pretty crap. 

Domino Sugar!

The Highway in NO that I walked under everyday from my Hostel to the French Quarter. 

Houses like this are on every second corner! So beautiful!

St Charles Avenue. 

The most prestigious of addresses in New Orleans. 

All of the Mardi Gras beads in the trees. These are EVERYWHERE like all over the ground and you end up slipping/tripping on them so much!

Typical New Orleans sidewalk. Between these and the beads its impossible to stay upright in NO.

Its a school. Met a girl who went here, she was really nice for a bazillionaire. 

The local Library. 

Audubon Park

I'm obsessed with Wood Ducks. They are so perfect. 

SO CUTE!

My crappy attempt at photographing the French Quarter on my last night. It really is very beautiful and historic, but I guess you'll just have to go yourself to see it =D

Most photographed corner in NO.

Tennessee Williams house when he was writing 'A Streetcar Named Desire' there is no streetcar named desire =(

Unfortunately these pictures in no way come close to conveying the greatness of New Orleans. I couldn’t take my camera out and my point&shoot was flat (lost the charger) so the best times will remain undocumented. But let me tell you this before you die make sure you go to NO for either:    the superbowl

the college championship

the mardi gras

If you attend all 3 of these you will have the best time of your life I would imagine. I attended the college championship and here is the story of how the night went down. This is a photo from 1 of the 100000 bars we went to.

 

It was the most absolutely fucked up insanely intoxicated unadulterated fun I’ve had in a long time. Here’s a brief breakdown of how the night played out…. 

So I went on a swamp tour that day it was running late getting back so I didn’t get back til like 6pm which meant everyone at the hostel had already gone to the tailgate (Google it) so I was all alone =( So I got ready and headed to Bourbon Street (the craziest street in NO, but more on that later) & the French Quarter to find some fun. Anyways everyone was absolutely fucked by the time I got there like 7pm (kick off was at 8pm) so I wandered around for like half a hour feeling sorry for myself swigging my flash of vodka. Ended up in Maccas eating nuggets and drinking water and vodka. Then started heading back to the hostel. This guy Hi-5s me on the street and was like why are you drinking water? And lets say from there we became besties and partied for the rest of the night. We went to Bourbon Street, to the Warehouse district to a Louisiana State University (LSU) party (he goes to LSU) to watch the game and LSU lost 29 to 0, EPIC! Then ended up at a Australian Bar. Then broke into a Alabama tailgate of RVs partied with some 60year olds did shots, stole a couple of bottles of wine, stumbled into countless bars. Ended up at HJs getting whoppers. Rolled into back into the Hostel about 4/5am. Don’t know this guys name but thanks random Hi-5er for befriending me and showing me that Americans can party just as hard as Australians.

Oh yeah Bourbon Street. Lucky we didn't hang around there 14 people got shot in the brawl that started between Bama and LSU. Guess thats why people think NO is dangerous. 

Plenty More Blogs Coming!

xxxx