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Down here, the life seems simplified; the big-hearted folks
of the Deep South seem genuinely pleased to see you. The beer
is cold, the food comes piled high on your plate. The region
is a little at odds with time and life seems to have slowed
down. The Deep South is like a jammed little juke box bursting
with the sounds of times gone by. It is the place that North
America left behind in the wake of its whirlwind of progress
and business, and the pulsing heart at the Mississippi
River's end.
Cash
The currency of the United States of America is the US
Dollar ($). Approximate conversion as of 2002 are:
UK£1 = $1.50 US
EUR€1 = $0.90 US
Check with your local currency exchange bureau for up to
date conversions.
Costs vary greatly all over the Deep South, but prices tend
to go up during festivals, the summertime and in city centres.
Prices compare favourably with other US states. New Orleans
has the highest costs for most things, and during the Jazz
Fest and Mardi Gras, rates in the region can double or even
triple.
Climate
In the lower part of the region the weather is hot, sticky
and very wet for most of the year, whilst in the higher mountainous
areas it is cooler. In spring it can be colourful, with wildflowers
and gardens in full bloom. June - September is the high season
to visit, although the winter is fairly mild and pleasant
to visit the cities.
Dress
Dress is modern and relaxed, remember that some small towns
are far more conservative than other US states so try not
to dress immodestly and keep legs moderately covered when
visiting churches.
People
The most populated states are Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana
with a population of around 5 million each and half this number
in Mississippi. White people are still in the majority in
the Deep South, and cultural heritage is very different along
the coast from the inland areas.
New Orleans and the coast were colonised by French and Spanish
Catholics, almost a century later the inland areas were settled
by Anglo-Saxon Protestants from Virginia, and today the city
is the black centre of the region. Over the last 200 years,
there has been much inter-racial mixing, so people of the
Deep South tend to be quite hard to put into distinct racial
or cultural categories.
Language
The most widely spoken language in the USA is English, although
there is no official designated tongue. Folks in the Deep
South have a distinctive 'twang' to their accent which is
unmistakable. French and Creole are spoken in
parts, particularly New Orleans.
Travel
Because of the inflexibility and comparatively high cost
of the coach and train, if there are a couple of your travelling,
the best way to go is in a hired car. A gallon of petrol
in the States costs less than a litre of water and car rental
is available for around $50 a day, though prices vary greatly
according to location and type of car. This option will afford
the traveller the most flexibility, but to rent a car anywhere
in the states you must make sure you have a valid driver's
licence and be at least 25 years of age.
Food
The Deep South is famed for its food and its high sugar and
fat content - this is no place to start a diet! Savoury dishes
are often sweetened sugar or honey and desserts are legendary
like the pecan pie and Mississippi mud pie (actually
made from sticky chocolate!). Fried Chicken from Kentucky
is a popular dish of Creole origin, and corn on the cob,
okra (ladies fingers) and black-eyed peas are traditional
staples, as is 'grits' a tastless corn porridge. Barbecue
ribs or other meat smoked on the fire and served with
a hot and sweet southern sauce is great summer food fayre.
Soul Food and Creole cuisine are rich legacies
of the African-American slave tradition, dishes include chitterlings
(pig's tripe), catfish, crawfish and Gumbo soup.
Cajun food is from a poor, white man's tradition and a
jambalay, spicy rice with assorted seafood and veg
in a hot tomato sauce is about the most hearty meal you could
desire.
Visas
Most western nationalities and some Asian nationalities don’t
require visas granted they are
travelling as tourists and have a return ticket to their home
country. These visas are given on arrival at the airport andare
valid for 90 days. After September 11th these regulations
are very much in flux so its very important to check with
the nearest US embassy or consulate for the latest information.
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