h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm here to warn you that when you come to the gulf south , New Orleans in particular, that you may experience a unique form of culture shock.The poor town has been through the clash of culture ringer for a couple hundred years.What with the French and the Spanish and the Americans, whatever that means. You will learn that the quaint sound of the calliope, that grand organ of yesteryear is not pronounced as cul-i-upee when referring to the street of the same name. No, you will learn to say CALEE-OPE. That drink and the color you love so much, burgundy is not pronounced as two syllables with the accent on the first.You will quickly learn that the accent is on the second.This is just getting you started in New Orleans , the town that doesn't even know how to pronounce its own name. You will learn that the Cajuns call it N'AWLINS,the old timers call it NEW ORLEENS and most people call it Norlins. It is a strange place with wonderful architecture and colorful characters, once you get past the culture shock.