Leaving NOLA

I know that I wrote it because Annette fixed up all the alphamabetical errors and probably the grammies as well.

So its 930pm 48 hours later and I have to go back and try to recreate the magic. Once a holiday I get it right so here I go.

We had a morning of leisure so slept a bit longer. I believe the  hot meal of the day was pancakes, eggs and bacon. Which takes me back 2 more days when I was asked how I wanted my eggs. I was confused. Cooked would normally have been how I would answered. "Haven't you ever had eggs before?" was what I got. She was after scrambled or over easy (whatever the hell that means).
This   is promising. I've gone back further than expected. Looks like I haven't eaten any remaining brain cells, just everything else I've seen.

I had 3 New Orleans  breakfasts. Each time scrambled.

So after breakfast, we stowed our ever expanding luggage and took a walk down a street starting with M that I can't recall. There were a lot of art/antique shops on the way, but I won the budgeter's equivalent of winning lotto. The shops don't open until after 10.
We headed to the only shopping haven that would be open - Walmart. A 10 minute walk turned to 40 as we missed our turnoff and ended up in the industrial area asking the lady in the Doggy Day Camp how to get there. Why is it so hot? Oh yeah, it's summer.

The air conditioning is so good and cold as it immediately turns to sweat on your body to smelly ice.

I really didn't need anything but got a shirt that would later come in handy.

But "thank you Lord" (I hope you appreciated the Southern Baptist lilt I put on that), we found bras. Specifically Annette, but the way I feel and look at the moment, I could probably do with a bro or manzier.

Then, because they were cheap, we pied up (translation: bought mini pies and ate them) and got 2 of the slowest lemonades ever to be purchased at Maccas.

We went  back to Magazine st (I told you it started with an M - I wonder if Annette filled in the name before). I didn't look in any shops, I preferred to pretend that sweating in the heat was sort of a way to lose weight. Annette went in them all, but with the pressure of excessive luggage, didn't buy anything.

Back to get our bags and to Amtrak New Orleans. Checked in our bags and was impressed by how closed our attendant got to guessing both weights for the bags. So impressed that I helped pop his shoulder  back in after lifting Annette's.

I changed into my new Breaking Bad shirt to give the people on the train some sort of fresher air. We sat trying to book our Graceland tickets for tomorrow before we had to board. It wasn't happening. Subway was across the hall but rather than do what I was told and get Annette's order, I left it to her. Had I accidentally left on pickles or chosen the wrong bread, I could have been in big trouble. The moment she gets up, boarding starts. Lucky its fast food. Not. Down these parts they work slow. The guy in front was on the phone taking orders from the caller. Eventually he made an order but walked away with nothing. Finally we got our order and hurried to join a line that hadn't moved for 10 minutes.

The train trip. The tax deduction part.  The little kid across from us on his mother's knee was crying. Oh dear. But he finally settled down and we relaxed in our huge seats with lots of space. We went past a lot of swampland.  Lots of road crossings so the horn is always going off. Each seat has 2 powerpoints. There is a lounge car with glass ceilings and chairs that face outside. We are upstairs and there are lots of toilets below.

After eating the world's slowest subs, we made our waay to the cafeteria. This is where languages collided. She asked "what's for dinner?". He didn't understand.  She repeated. He said "I don't understand what you're saying". Finally he pointed to a woman hoping she could figure it out. She made us a dinner reservation for 615pm. We left still not knowing what was for dinner.

We read and listened and napped and waved at the now awake child until 615.

We were seated with two women at dinner. Not much was being said, which is always fine by me. Then as conversation sprouted, I'm glad I don't talk much. They said that they were in horse racing. I was ready to say something witty  and topical, but didn't. Good thing, as later back in our seats I found out that horse racing was actually human resources. 

One of the  women was wearing a Harry Potter tshirt. It turns out she travels with  dvds, books and a Harry Potter blanket, and had been to Harry Potter World several times. 

Dinner was ok but a bit pricey.

I am leaping forward 2 days. I'm on the same train, this time in a sleeper. I've just done something to regret relating to air quality.
Back to the past. We got in a bit late, found a taxi, checked in, collapsed and got ready for Memphis.