Jonola14

LOCATION: New Orleans (Louisiana).
DATE: 09/08/01.

TIME: 14.00

Ow. Hungover again. No idea what time it is. Shocked when we find out.

TIME: 15.00

We finally get our arses in gear and head off to do a bit of sightseeing. We search out the French quarter and the famous market and cathedral there. We find them but are not particularly impressed, nor are we in the right mood to undertake such touristy exercises. We decide we are in need of something less strenuous, something that requires little brain power or skill. We make for the casino.

TIME: 15.30

The first thing that is particularly striking about the casino is the sheer number of lights and machines inside. Everywhere you look you see people (usually older) sticking quarters in neon-ridden machines in the hope that they might just get lucky.

We get ourselves $10 worth of quarters and choose a machine to waste it on. We sit ourselves down and study the chosen machine. It tells us there are many combinations to win, involving the movement of candy bars onto the win line. We don't understand the game at all, but pump in 50 cents anyway. We press the 'go' button and win $10. Splendid! We resist the urge to cash in on our stroke of luck and continue to throw away all our money. It is a good experience though.

TIME: 20.00

Dinner at Thai restaurant. Excellent food. Cafe Siam.

TIME: 22.30

We install ourselves in a relaxing bar, no doof-doof music, just pleasant soft-rock. Clearly fatigued, we credit card rounds of Budweiser, accompanied by Captain Morgan Spiced Rum in the hope that we will feel in a more lively mood. No such luck, we hang around until late, but concede defeat and head back to the hostel, wary of our early morning start.