Escaping Mississippi

After leaving Little Rock, Arkansas in the afternoon, we entered the final leg of our journey toward New Orleans. But little did we know, a heart-stopping experience awaited us in the heart of Mississippi... 🏞️ Crossing the Mighty Mississippi | Journey to the "Lost Capital" Soon after departing Little Rock, we crossed the legendary Mississippi River. The sky's reflection shimmered on the vast, rippling water – everything looked deceptively peaceful. We wound through backroads flanking Mississippi's rural fields, finally reaching the state capital, Jackson, as dusk settled in. My first impression? Devastating decay, eerie emptiness, and a suffocating silence. The main street's potholes were crater-sized, like bomb sites from a forgotten war. We had to swerve constantly to avoid them – one wrong hit and we'd be looking at a blown tire or a car swallowed whole. 😰 🕯️ Police Memorial | Sunset Solemnity At the State Capitol building, we stumbled upon a heartbreaking police memorial service. Uniformed officers on horseback stood at attention while a quiet crowd gathered to honor fallen colleagues. The setting sun stretched every shadow long and thin across the golden-domed building and solemn flags. In that moment, Jackson felt even heavier – a city draped in sorrow. 😔🐴 🧟‍♂️ The Horror: Gas Station Zombie Our scariest moment happened just before leaving Jackson. We stopped at a rundown gas station to refuel when pure nightmare fuel appeared. As we finished pumping gas, a man who seemed heavily intoxicated/high suddenly emerged from the shadows, roaring incoherently and charging straight at us. His movements were jerky, eyes glazed over – like a real-life zombie from The Walking Dead. We leapt into the car and floored it, tires screeching as we escaped that hellscape. 💨 In that moment, Mississippi's raw reality – the poorest state in America – stared us dead in the face. 🔥 Arrival in New Orleans | Sweet Relief After fleeing Jackson, we finally hit the highway. That night, we stopped at a roadside shack for authentic fried seafood – massive shrimp, crispy fish, cornbread... Instant resurrection! ✨🍤 We drove through the darkness as dense forest gradually transformed into city lights. When French Quarter balconies and neon signs flickered in the distance, we knew: We'd made it to New Orleans! 🎉🎭 #US #Florida #Jacksonville