I arrived in New Orleans this afternoon, having taken the Amtrak train from Lafayette. This place feels ALIVE with all sorts of things and people. Maybe even sort of African in a strange and alien way.
I have booked in for 3 nights but already suspect that I will have to prolong my stay even though the actual accommodation is pretty grungy. That's what you get for $18. The girl bunking underneath me arrived on the same train as I did and is now happily drunk out of her mind and singing karaoke outside with 3 guys from New Zealand. I on the other hand take some time to settle in at a new location. The first day requires exploration and the gathering of information before I really step out boldly in any sort of way.
The truth is I'm a bad traveler. I love to travel, it's just the actual getting to part that I absolutely detest. Partly the reason why I've been taking the train all over the place. Driving with someone is way too much of a mind fuck for me, and flying requires tranquilizers. The night before I leave a place I hardly get any sleep worrying about everything that might go wrong on my way to my next location. I am a South African after all. I worry about being vulnerable as I travel, not knowing my new destination, carrying all my belongings with me, but inevitably everything always goes off without a hitch.
Even though it's November this hostel is hot and sticky, fans going all over the place accompanied by loud blues and rock, a pool outside, a bar. I could get very, very stuck here. This could be San Francisco all over again, and here's the kicker: if it is, that's ok.
Tomorrow I'm taking a guided tour of the city and in the afternoon I'll attend a book fair in the French Quarter.
Dahlin.
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