The drive was long, yes, but also (I found) quite lovely. I-85 South took us through Georgia, a lush and hilly state with gorgeous lighting and the occasional mountain. Then, I-65 South took us through Alabama, which was surprisingly attractive to me. The interstate was a rather straight, flat road, but it looked as though it was cut through a rich and dense forest. On either side of the road there were expanses of tall and exotic (to my Midwestern/Northeastern eyes) trees. Quite the change from South Dakota. Mississippi was also incredible, maybe mostly due to the sun setting above our eyes and below the marshes. More tall trees were found along this route, along with spurts of swamps. Then the grand finale drove us over a small portion of the massive Lake Pontchartrain and into New Orleans.
We're staying with one of my dear friends from college, Vanessa, for a few days. She (and her lovely housemates) have a gorgeous house with tall ceilings, huge windows, a courtyard, and great light. Vanessa was lovely and cooked us dinner upon our arrival, because I suppose two girls can't survive on trail mix forever.
We spent yesterday trying to navigate the streets of this city via bike (me) and rollerblades (Aj). The streets are a little rough, which was unpleasant for me, but downright nearly impossible for Miss Aj. But, we're tough girls, and soon we were in the middle of Bourbon Street, lost among the frat boys and drunk tourists.
My dear friend Becca (also a friend from college) then directed us to a different, much more pleasant area of the city, along Frenchmen Street. We indulged in some drinks and sat by the Mississippi for a while, catching up and enjoying the sights.
Today, Aj and I drove the 30-minute drive to Lake Pontchartrain, which was surprising and amazing. This lake is enormous, and to get across it, you drive along the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which is a 24-mile bridge going clear across the water. I suppose this is the closest I'll ever get to driving on water.
Aj did some painting in a nice area along the lake, and I ran off to take photos for a few hours. I found a nice stretch of the lake which was lined with huge, willow-y trees (definitely not something I saw in South Dakota or Pennsylvania).
New Orleans seems to be a great city. The lighting and atmosphere are beautiful, and the people seem friendly and interesting. It's also a bit strange and exciting to be in a city that is quite literally just feet above the water.
We're planning on seeing some live music tonight, if all goes to plan. A long day of art-making warrants a cocktail and a trumpet player, am I right?
I'm leaving you with some photos from the past few days. I'm sure you can decipher the locations yourselves.
Until next time,
Sarah
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