Into the tropics

Another trip to the U.S., our 13th to New Orleans. Our flights could have been a little less nerve-racking yesterday: It started with a 1,5 hour delay in Munich, which caused a very tight connection in Houston. Thanks to Global Entry immigration was accomplished in record time, but still had to wait for the luggage. At arrival in New Orleans, with a pretty rough landing, a thunderstorm was going through and we had to wait on the runway until it was over. Then, already over an hour late, one of our suitcases was missing and we had to wait another 20 min. for the next plane from Houston. At 7:15 pm we finally picked up our rental car, a brandnew Nissan Altima with a button to push instead of a key to turn, and drove straight on a 4-lane west into Cajun Country, to New Iberia, where our friends Dave & Chris are living. After this two-hour-drive and having been awake for over 24 hours, we were pooped, especially since it was hot and very humid (60% +). What a difference to the temps we had at departure in the morning!

It's a tropical world - swamps, gators, a lush vegetation and from where we are sitting we can watch the lizzards on the brick walls and the cardinals, hummingbirds and mockingbirds enjoying themselves. Ventilation is running high speed above us, but doesn't help much. Melons are to be sold at every street corner, it's harvest time, sugar cane fields are closeby and at night you can hear the frogs (besides the A/C, which is a necessity here). It's a different world and a lot has to do with the climate.

Think we have earned a lazy day today, which we mostly spent on the patio recliners, trying to move as few as possible and not to shower every other hour. Just drove to a Walmart in town to get some needed items, but for the rest, we just enjoyed and sweated and worked on our congress itinerary.