Transamerica 2007: Warm in the south

A night on the train wasn’t bad! The driver kept hooting the horn, possibly for his own amusement, but the gentle rocking was very soothing. The driver wanders past our room now and again. He looks about 90 and wears denim dungarees in a very old-school style.

We’ve left the snow behind in the North East, and the landscape here in Georgia and Alabama is wooded and dry. There are patches of some kind of bind-weed that covers everything, including buildings and lampposts. The gaps between towns are vast, and last night it was pitch-black outside. I woke to a golden sunrise filtering through the trees.

Breakfast was great! Even Hannah’s “lite bite” continental style had to have a side order of sausage (pork or turkey). Not much happened until lunch, and then there was another wait until dinner! The best bit about train travel is that you don’t feel guilty about sitting around doing nothing, because you are doing something! You’re going somewhere!! Thoughts like these come to you after 30 hours on a train.

We got to step off the train at Birmingham, Alabama, where it was lovely and sunny. It was even hotter in New Orleans when we arrived amazingly only 20 minutes late. We got from the train station (described by the guide as being in “no man’s land”) to our hotel (“don’t go in that direction, it’s not safe” said the taxi driver as he dropped off our bags) and then walked down to Bourbon Street.

This is the centre for the nightlife here, with every bar boasting a different live band. You can drink on the streets too so everyone’s walking around with their cocktails (we enjoyed 24oz of frozen margarita in a polystyrene cup). It’s also more than a little scary, with every establishment employing several people to get you inside, but a large police presence (who all wear mountie hats!) makes it feel pretty safe. The whole thing is a bit like Las Vegas but less organised. We scurried home and now I’m watching baseball. It’s the closest thing to cricket I can find.