06.30 we left Place De Armes our New Orleans home for the last 4 nights.
We were on the freeway when this taxi pushed us across the carriageway. It emerged from a filter lane into a queue of stationary traffic , clearly going too fast.

Our car door was severely damaged as you can see, as well as our drivers side front quarter.

This Hyundai was travelling in the right lane & we were pushed into it , creating the door damage you can see on ours.
We waited on the hard shoulder for a State Trooper to arrive. he quickly got us off the next exit ramp & interviewed all participants in a gas station parking area, which was to be our home for the next 3 hours.
The taxi driver denied responsibility suggesting we had veered one way and then the other , causing all the damage...The Trooper made no secret of the fact he didn't believe a word the taxi driver was saying.
A tow truck eventually arrived, with an unbroken car for us.

We had no chance of getting to The Space Centre for our pre booked 2pm tram ride.

However the 4pm space shuttle tour was for a while a possibility.

A phone call to the reservation line secured us a spot on the 4.15.

We arrived on site at 4.15 to the second, thanks to Ians fabulous driving.

A well needed space loo... Fortunately we had a moment to go before the exhibit.

The Boeing 747 stripped out & used to launch the " reusable " shuttle, required 7000 pounds of pea shingle to act as ballast.

Many of the exhibits offered an insight into the development of the shuttle & its many crew members from 16 countries, to its decommisioning in 2011.

The replica shuttle is the newest exhibit at the space centre.

These 2 are a temporary exhibit : )

The best view , oddly is from the car park !

This  is our new car.

Finally a curry for our hero. Saw a roadside advert for a funeral dirctor today .."Drive carefully , we can wait. " very prophetic !

Thankfully we are all well & have a nights sleep in our Days Inn before the long haul home.

Goodnight all xxxxx