Atlanta, GA

View from our room

Food of the South

We will at this point not report any weight gain or increase in cholesterol level. 

Crab Creole Eggs Benedict at "Desire" in NOLA

Deep fried Quail with Corn at "Parlor" in Jackson, MS (of course chosen by Nadine in honor of her grandfathers Quail farm)

Catfish Foie Gras Mousse at "Parlor" in Jackson, MS

BBQ Shrimp and Gumbo at "Flying Fish" in Little Rock, AR

something called "Pork in the Potato Patch" (tons of shredded BBQ pork on a genetically enlarged potato with bacon, butter and sour cream) at "Jim 'n Nicks" in Birmingham, AL
 

Guilt-struck we did not manage to take a picture of our meal in this Restaurant. However if you happen to pass through Atlanta, GA we can recommend the "Fried Green Tomatoes", "Chicken Livers" and the "Shrimp and Grits"... 

Today we are leaving the South and this is our good-bye meal (notice that it is not fried). 

Little Rock - Arkansas

We did a little detour to Little Rock and visited the Bill Clinton presidential library. 

Reproduction of the Oval Office.

In the egg of power

In the fish restaurant we had dinner close by: 

Do you happen to own one of these singing fish called "Billy Bass"? If yes you probably know that they are insanely annoying and you probably already considered trashing it several times. Before you through Billy out consider that it's not the poor guys fault that he was made to be so nerve-wracking and maybe you will bring him to the Billy Bass adoption center in Little Rock. 


If you are not familiar with Billy Bass, become acquainted with him:

Memphis - Graceland

We wanted to find out if Elvis really lives... therefore we lined up with many fervent Elvis fans to visit the Graceland mansion. 

We tried to get into Elvis mode by listening to Elvis radio on the way there.

Mansion Tour: 

The TV room: 70s at their best

The pool room: I would have felt slightly too distracted by the rainbow colored tapestry to play pool.

The jungle room. Notice the furniture and the custom made waterfall. Please also note the green carpet ON THE CEILING! 

Elvis favorite eagle crested outfit. Below you can see it in action: 

After the Graceland Mansion tour: Nadine is feeling slightly sick due to exposure to many bright yellow and green rooms. And we did not meet Elvis.

Memphis - Beale Street

Before visiting the King of Rock 'n Roll we visited the King of the Blues:

Enjoy a 1975 Memphis performance:

Mississippi Plantations

Oak Alley Plantation

The entry way is lined by oaks that are more than 300 years old. Several movies were  filmed here, for example "Interview with a Vampire". Anyway this is how it looks like on a nice day... 

... when we went there it was rain season (they call it hurricane season) in Louisiana. Every day rain would be pouring for a few hours. We tried to make up for it by drinking Mint Juleps. 

Tour of the plantation house 

A "Southern Belle" in a historic dress and with an incomprehensible accent gave us the tour...  

The house is supposed to be haunted.... Nadine was unimpressed, Checo was freaked out. (Remark: this was written by Nadine)

Dressed for the occasion

New Orleans

Two days in New Orleans Luisiana (NOLA)

Famous Bourbon Street

Beautiful Ironwork on Nola Houses

says it all... 

Checo with Kermit Ruffins

It was actually very good: delicious BBQ shrimp 

Texas

San Antonio and Houston 

Margaritas and dinner at Boudro's at the Riverwalk in San Antonio

In front of the Alamo, right next to our hotel Emily Morgan (named after the famous Yellow Rose of Texas)

Sunset over Downtown Houston

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

White Sands National Monument

On the road to Albuquerque

On our way to Albuquerque we drove along a part of the historic Route 66. In Williams we had a burger in the Cruisers Cafe. 

We drove through Northern Arizona and Nadine could not resist the sign by the road saying "Meteor crater 1 mile ahead" so we "discovered" this:  

Barringer Crater in Northern Arizona (1200 m diameter, 170 m deep and caused by a 50 m  diameter nickel-iron meteorite) 

Grand Canyon

In Grand Canyon we went camping again. 

Our nice little campsite, which we were lucky to have, since Nadine accidentally booked an equestrian campsite (that is a campsite for a horse). The ranger laughed at us and told us that he was wondering how a horse from NY would look.

Our dinner: freshly made guacamole, ribs and beer 

Our desert: campfire marshmallows 

Oh and we also had a look at the canyon... :) 

Monument Valley

Navajo Rider 

On a tour of monument valley

A 95-year old Navajo lady braiding Nadine's hair in typical Navajo fashion (Nadine was the only one in the group with long hair so she had to volunteer...)

Zion National Park

Some impressions from Zion National Park... 

Nadine's beer selection cooled in the campground creek. 

Hiking in Zion

It was worth the climb... what a view! 

Chipmunks: They look cute, but that's just camouflage. Truth is they are evil! This particular one pinched Nadine when trying to steal her sandwich.