We awoke to really bright sun which was promised for the rest of the day with a high of around 17 degrees Centigrade which is a nice temperature when touring. We left the Hotel after a non exciting breakfast at about 9 am and headed of to the gas (petrol) station before heading off on route 10 to New Orleans. On this route we actually went through four separate states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana all of which have waterfront views. The route took us past Biloxi which is a rather rotten looking town which seems to rely on gambling for life as there are casino's everywhere offering 'Slots' and 'Blackjack' and free dinners and drinks etc.
We then returned to the main I-10 where we stopped at the Mississippi State tourist rest area where we obtained a free coffee. About ninety minutes later we came to another rest area just inside the Louisiana border where we stopped for our cheese and biscuit lunch right by a NASA Lunar Module which happened to be in the car park. Then on to New Orleans where there are still some signs of the Hurricane Katrina in evidence with some damaged housing. Our Hotel in New Orleans had been booked on the HOTWIRE site. On this site you choose the city and a grade of Hotel that you wish to book. You do not know which hotel it is until you finish the booking but the rates are quite cheap and you just hope that the hotel is OK. Although we have not used this booking service before we thought we would give it a go. The Hotel that we are booked into is the Le Pavillion Hotel which is an old Historic Building in the business district but only ten minutes walk from the main tourist area. We arrived at the Hotel and there were film trucks everywhere which made it difficult for us to find the Hotel entrance and the car park but eventually all was well. The Hotel is great, a five start Hotel for $70.00 per night. Hotwire is good.
After checking in to the Hotel we went for a walk down to Bourbon Street and also the French Quarter where Noel took many photos and after walking around for about two hours we went into a bar for a couple of Sam Adams beers which were very good. After a decent rest we thought we would eat sparingly and while restaurant hunting we came across a nice looking steak house where the menu outside looked like good value and so in we went. There seemed to be service staff everywhere and we sat down at our table and then realised that the menu outside was the much cheaper lunch menu. Oh well in for a dollar....as they say. Jen had the crab cakes for starters and Noel had the Gulf bay prawns both of which were fantastic, then we both had the prime rib which was absolutely 
wonderful. As we departed the restaurant called Dickie Brennan Steakhouse we discovered that it was listed as in the Top 10 American Steakhouse list. We agree. We then walked back through the nightlife areas where the air was quite thick with the smell of marijuana, that sweet smelling tobacco, before arriving back at the Hotel where there seemed to be so many people waiting around by the film trucks. We then enquired and discovered that Nicholas cage was inside the Hotel shooting a thriller and we had to wait outside until they called 'Cut'. Inside we went and I tried to take a photo of him but the crew were stopping photos and the one that I took was no good.
Back to the room to do the photos and an early night.
Boy what a day!!
