Where in the World..
First off.. happy new year, folks! I’ll keep my explanation for my silence short: my blogging muse is on permanent hiatus or visiting more exciting blogs on the planet. After 4 years of blogging, I’m not too disappointed. I haven’t decided what I will do with “lucid in deutschland” but luckily I have other projects away from my computer to keep me from pondering this question for very long.
In the meantime, Alex and I are on a roadtrip in the South. Current location: Houston. First impression: bleh. So why bother: We are visiting a ex-gee friend of Alex’s. Next stop: Austin, whoot! We’ll celebrate my birthday surrounded by music lovers this weekend. I’m tickled with anticipatory glee.
So far we’ve been to Pensacola and New Orleans. Pensacola was as cold as a witches’ tit but the beaches were nearly deserted and exceeded all beach loving expectations. Bright sun, white sand and blue-green gulf water – an aah moment.
New Orleans, although a bit dirty compared to Munich, has a charm that cannot be matched in Munich. You can see people really struggle here and yet they still give you a smile and will warmly talk we you ask how you are doing. We ended up putting our loose change in our pockets because we were asked so many times for a quarter for a food, booze or charity. It’s hard not to run into someone trying to sell you something. When we asked a random fruit stand woman where the nearest city-run tourist office was, she immediately wanted to sell us a swamp and ghost tour combo for $44 a person.
Not to fret. I do recommend going to Jean Lafitte Museum for a free city tour and check out the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park for free music from very talented park ranger musician.
Do avoid visiting the plantations. They are privately owned and designed to make money off of Gone-With-The-Wind buffs. They aren’t friendly to people who opt not to take their $18 tour per plantation and don’t expect to learn about all sides of life on a plantation. A new tree planted under an old oak framing the Laura Plantation obstructs the view of the house from the street.
I’m awfully lazy right and wrapped in sadness over the images in Haiti, so I’m not uploading any photos. I do have photos of our roadtrip on my facebook.
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You post as you feel like it and we will read it when you do. I am also doing a lot more reading (of books as well as blogs) rather than writing and it started at about the same time.
In Houston, there is an adorable restaurant called the Hobbit Hole, the museum (art) is ok and otherwise I have been there only to visit friends or take training. I’ll be interested to see photos of NO if you post them as I haven’t been there since before Katrina and I have been sad to think of what may be left.
Have missed you and wondered how you were. Seems like you are having fun!
I was wondering how y’all are doing.
I would be sad if LiD gave up the ghost in favor of teh facebook. Much nicer to read your stuff here!
Hugs,
Cliff
P.S. – I’m unclear on your travel plans, but if you keep up your southwest arc and time it just right, you might meet up with us in Puerto Vallarta next week. Let me know.
Happy Birthday Hezamarie, alles Gute zum Geburtstag! We all miss you…
“Cold as a witches tit”? You really have been down South.
Glad to see a post from you!