Dallas to Natchez, Mississippi

Dallas weather is as changeable as Melbourne - hot and steamy, then half an hour later, cool and windy. And rainy. We had a lazy start to the day then explored the historic West End on foot, around to the famed grassy knoll, from which President Kennedy was (allegedly) assassinated in 1963. 

Dallas has elected to retain/restore the area to the way it was in 1963, even changing the street lights back to the old style. The 6th floor window of the then book repository is highlighted from the street, and you can do a tour of the now museum. 

JFK Memorial, Dallas 

We walked around town, admiring the old buildings of beautiful early 1900's style. It's fascinating to me that these buildings were standing prior to cars being commonplace. We didn't see many people out and about, nor were there many shops. Just offices and apartment buildings. 

We retrieved the car from the hotel and drove to the West Village where there were shops, restaurants and bars. We found a cool bar back near our hotel for pre-dinner cocktails ($3 each) and oysters (50 cents each!). 

The next morning we were keen to get back on the road. The scenery changed from low shrubbery to trees to forests, all lush in various shades of green. The grass looks like silky green fur and there are myriad wildflowers in every color on the roadside. 

From Texas into Louisianna for a short visit, then on to Mississippi. Six states in six days. 

Enroute to Jackson we changed our minds and left the I20 where the view hadn't changed for awhile (lush green forest got a little boring) for the 425 to Natchez, MS. We've stayed in Natchez before and really enjoyed the experience. There's a great hotel on the river's edge and restaurants a short stroll down the road.

Louisianna is very wet. Swollen rivers. Water up to the road edge, as though the whole place is sitting in a bayou. The housing is poorer than in Texas - lots of double wides and shacks. 

We arrived at The Grand Hotel Nachez without a booking, but secured a room with a view of the Mississippi River. We wandered down to the waters edge to a cluster of bars and restaurants called Under-the-Hill Natchez, and ate a fabulous dinner at The Magnolia Grill. I had blackened red fish with a creole meunière sauce!  

On the way back up the hill we stopped at The Camp for a drink, sitting rugged up at the railing bar, watching the wide river course it's way south.