After Camp travels... NYC to New Orleans.

8/27- Goodbye my friends from camp!!! Big tears today when saying goodbye to all the wonderful people I met at camp this year. I truly made an amazing family in my cabin this year (Who runs the camp?... BIRCH). It was sad to say goodbye and watch them all go their separate ways but I believe I will have the opportunity to meet up with some of them on this trip around the world.

After arriving in New York and hugging everyone on the streets Carys and I made our way to the hostel where about 20% of the camp followed us (didn't have to say goodbye to some after all). We then met up for dinner with some of the people in my Cabin Family and had Mexican food. After that we said goodbye at the train. Got on the wrong train before making our way safely to the hostel.

8/28- Woke up to have my interview for my Christmas Elf job in Lapland where I found a few days later I have been unsuccessful. Very sad but a true believer in everything happens for a reason so I am obviously meant to be somewhere else this christmas. Which I guess I'll figure out someday soon.

After that Carys and I made our way to the airport to check in to our flight to New Orleans. We're going to meet three of our friends from camp when we get there. The flight was quite fast and a good time to catch up on some much needed rest after camp.

When arriving in New Orleans we arrived at our hostel checked in and then headed straight to the French Quarter where we headed down an alley and heard some street jazz playing and headed to the hard rock Cafe. Our friends Charlie, Caleb and Esme then caught up to us and we walked down the street with them before heading back to bed.

8/29- Woke up in New Orleans this morning to call Carys and I's friend Megan who we did camp with in 2023. She is currently in Australia but originally from the UK so good to catch up with and her travels. She has decided to go back to camp next year so I may be persuaded to follow her there for my third year (I believe it would be my last, but I did say that this year).

We then headed out to try some Beignets, walk along the river, see Jackson square and visit the Mardi Gras World musuem where we got to learn all about the history of Mardi Gras, how the floats are created and the different steps taken. It was also really cool to hear how when they use Styrofoam they are able to recreate specific parts of a Statue in order to recreate it and its meaning. We then went to try some more Beignets before finishing at the hostel for a hand-made dinner made by Charlie and a game of uno before bed.

8/30-

Another day in New Orleans and were going down the Bayou....

Alligator tour, within the first 5 minutes of being on the boat saw two. One very small and one very big- Bubbles. It was awesome to also see wild pigs for the first time and watch as my friend Esme fed a Racoon. This was a super cool experience to do! After that we headed for an Indian dinner where I had a goat curry. Finishing the night with a beautiful yellow curved moon over the city. Before collapsing in bed. Still recovering from camp!

8/31-

Got up at 9 this morning to pack my bags and get ready to leave. Went to the Sazerac house free musuem tour of the history of the distillery and alcohol in New Orleans. It was fantastic 5/5. Got to sample alcohol throughout the tour (so glad I'm 21) and learn about its history and facts.

We then took the very short ferry to Algiers where we walked the small town streets, tried to do the jazz walk of fame but the facts wre all on lamp posts way too high and small. We had some sandwhichs at a pub and tried some alligator sausage- it was very nice in my opinion not as good as Crocodile.We then had a drink in a bar and listened to some live Jazz music which was pretty cool.

We then headed back to New Orleans where we were meant to catch up with Chalrie, Caleb and Esme but ended up coming across a Gay parade. This was a  great experience after the Mardi Gras world musuem and wanting to experience a New Orleans parade. It definitely didn't have big floats but it was great to see them throwing out gifts, dressing up, singing to the music and how the whole town came to support on the sidelines. We then got some Ice Cream with the whole group before relaxing in the hostel for a few hours.

We then said goodbye to Esme, Charlie, Caleb and Isobel who arrived just hours before we left.

Before getting on the bus....

Now at 11:30pm driving away from the city I don't think I'll ever see again... but never say never. Thank you to the place that my favourite Disney Princess comes from!

See you later alligator(s) in New Orleans.