southern states - louisiana/mississippi/alabama

mini expected value isn't clouded. I am excited to drive through the wonderful swamp area in Louisiana, see alligators, marvel at the raised houses (we have to build this way since Hurricane Katrina in 2005), swat away mosquitoes on the road, and have my cereal on the beach listening to the sound of the ocean waves. There are also many giant oil and gas companies that bring jobs and good wages to the locals. Although water always floods everything again, it is the main source of livelihood for all locals and therefore a blessing and a curse. Many people live in mobile homes because they cannot afford house insurance and can quickly move away when the hurricane season gets too wet. I can even cross many bridges and take a ferry to New Orleans. The city is known throughout the country for its music, good food, and rich culture. The Mississippi River, primarily seen through the eyes of Huckleberry Finn, is fascinating. It's incredible to see all the cargo being transported back and forth. Traditional steamboats offer sightseeing tours with jazz music and a lunch buffet. I park in a quiet neighborhood and take the ferry to the French Quarter, a must-see area. The history is very interesting and explains the multicultural atmosphere. It was initially a Spanish colony, then 9 very influential French years, and since 1812, it has been part of the USA. For me, it feels like being on a big carnival square. If you cannot decide where to go next, you can write a poetry slam, practice voodoo, admire talented artists, observe caricature artists, or simply listen to gifted musicians. Although there is not a parade every day, the costumed people (who seem to be normal around here) are a common sight in this lively city. Despite the tempting offer for a fun night out, I am glad to be back in my car. I should stop returning every friendly look - it's not the best idea in the epicenter of homosexuality.

After this tourist trip, I arrive in Mississippi to enjoy the rural life in Hattiesburg. Rick and Lois were at a B&B on Vancouver Island last August, and they invited me to visit them in the South. So here I am. Wow, they didn't exaggerate with their acreage; 40 hectares of land, their own pond for fishing, about 20 cows, bees, etc. I get to know 3 out of their 4 children and experience a children's birthday party, church service (which I'm not used to), baseball game, and soccer training. Rick shows me what else he does besides farming (they both work full time), and it definitely won't get boring for him. We watch basketball on TV, the "March Madness" tournament from colleges, and have burgers made from their own beef. In the morning, we have sausages made from the deer they shot, along with eggs from their chickens in the backyard. The town is known for its university, so I take a jogging tour, including an exploration of the campus - beautiful buildings. In general, you can see many impressive houses here, the gardens are usually as big as each other with a riding lawnmower waiting on them, and we either ride a quad or simply drive a pickup truck to the hardware store - a dream for us guys. Equipped with pecans from their garden, I leave after 4 nights and head back to the coast. In the Gulf Island National Seashore, I learn a lot about alligators and, if I'm lucky, I'll see one that is about 3.5 meters long (which I usually do).

These reptiles live in freshwater, they are smaller than crocodiles and have a rounder head. The record length is 4.35 meters and 475 kg. There are the American and Chinese alligators, caimans in South America, and crocodiles in Africa. They can live up to 50 years, their backs work like solar panels, and therefore, they enjoy basking in the sun. They only need to eat for about 2 weeks, and their diet consists of fish, turtles, raccoons, and other animals of that size. They usually fear humans (unlike crocodiles, which are more aggressive), and here's a funny fact: the more eggs are in the nest, the more female hatchlings there will be. The alligator is no longer endangered.

In Alabama, I am a little disappointed because most of the scenes of Forrest Gump were filmed in Georgia and South Carolina. But at least I drive through the town where his father was born and where they filmed the scene with the shrimp boat. It's full of seafood restaurants and vendors. The sand on Dauphin Island is beautiful, but I still don't get a real beach feeling. A military park that I pass by is unfortunately closed, so I can only take a photo from a distance. I quickly pass through Mobile, and that's already it with "Sweet Home Alabama".

It is definitely a different culture to experience, for example, in California: more African Americans, the food pyramid is likely reversed, recycling? environment? And most likely, the majority voted for Karl* (name known to the editorial). Although this might sound a bit negative, it was definitely refreshing to see these three states, and the accent is just lovely. I definitely got a taste of the Southern states vibe:)

I grab my swimsuit and head out to the sun, Florida is calling..