Going anywhere....nice?

[red devil]

...are you sure that wasn't a dim and distant night out at Watlthamstow dogs?

[Cedges]

If you enjoyed New Orleans, you'd love Vegas. (I have been to both!). Just make sure you stay mid strip for the best location and don't go in high summer when the pavements melt. Actually it probably way more bearable that N'orlens in summer.

[RhubarbGarden]

I recommend Prato di Sotto in Umbria, if you decide Italy is the winner. Beautiful spot.

[Alan Medic]

Go bloody fishing then!

[maxxi]

If Italy's on your list take a look at the BBC2 prog on Sicilly - a bit arse-clunching in the embarrassment stakes but there are some good bits. Went there some years ago and it has everything from mummified monks to a live volcano, fine beaches and good food.

[Salsaboy]

Also did Vegas last year. Different to say the least but worth doing for the oooh factor of the hotels and the fatness of the Americans.

[MrBen]

Thanks all for some excellent suggestions. Moos and Snr Chevalier - two excellent links there (I'm loving the modernhouse.net especially).

My early January optimism has already been tempered by a nasty bank balance and a distinct lack of phones ringing at work (a second recession is already underway). So three planned trips have now become one and it's all been spunked on a musical trip to NY for weekend (village + harlem jazz bars) then flights to Memphis for 2 nights of blues on Beale then hire car south to New Orleans for 5 days of Jazz Fest, Kermit Ruffins and general bar life.

I was last in NOLA 2 weeks before Katrina hit so it's time to go back. And after watching the whole HBO box set of series 1 of The Treme (if you liked The Wire...) it was a no brainer. It's unlike anywhere else in America or anywhere else in the world for that matter... and if you like the music it's magical.

[sazzle]

Hey MrBen,

I'm also heading to New Orleans this year. If you have already been i would love some tips. I'm going via friends in Austin and Houston. Is Baton Rouge worth a visit?

Sazzle

[MrBen]

Sazzle - I will do, many of the classic spots are still going strong but I'm due a refresh. Like anywhere else you can have a very tacky, tourist spew-on-Bourbon St experience OR you can do some of that but combine it with some places (real gems) off the beaten track.

On my last visit for example I went to a neighbourhood bar on my tod and ended up joining a table at a Crawfish boil with a friendly but totally plastered cop (who put his loaded handgun down next to his beer) a dodgy property developer and a clarinet player. And all they wanted to do was show me how to eat Crawfish, talk about Crawfish recipes and music. It's that kind of place.

[sazzle]

Ha that sounds like my kind of place... :-)