My trip to Mississippi (Jackson, Greenville: rental car, rental, homes)

[Repubocrat]

I arrived in MS yesterday and I have got to say, this has been one of the most interesting trips I have ever done in my life. I flew into Jackson yesterday and just decided to drive around the state.

As I was heading north of Jackson, I decided to stop in Yazoo City, why? I am not sure but as I got closer to Yazoo City, I realized something was wrong, I started to see trees down and when I got closer to Yazoo City, I could not believe what I said.

Someone said a tornado had just passed through town, I had never seen anything like what I saw yesterday, when I got to Yazoo City, I could not believe what I saw, so I parked my rental car over there by that Wendys and the gas station and decided to walk around to see some of the destruction, I was shocked.

As I headed out of Yazoo City, I got back on 55 and once again I realized something was wrong, traffic was not moving. As I got closer to Durant, what I saw was surreal, a bunch of trees down and a bunch of cars totally destroyed, windshields cracked but it did not look like a crash, I later found out that a tornado had crossed 55 and blew some of the cars away, I later found out that 6 people died.

Then, I continued driving and got to Greenwood, I spent a couple hours in Greenwood and saw a lot of interesting things, it is definitely a poor town, I saw a lot of shacks and run down buildings but the place has a lot of character, I loved it.


I got back on 82 heading West and ended up spending the night here in Indianola. I am planning on going to Greenville and then heading down to Vicksburg before I get to go home.

So far, I have absolutely loved this state, the people here are very nice and although this state has some problems, I am fascinated by it. I had a lot of misconceptions about the state of Mississippi based mainly on stuff you hear from the media, exaggerated stereotypes and the history of the state but I am definitely returning.

Attached is a picture of the Double Quick gas station in Yazoo City a few minutes after I got there.

[mccarley]

No racist activity? No lynchings? No KKK rallies? Thats strange.

[gr8 r8z]

I hope you continue to enjoy our state. While it may have it's problems, it is home and I love it.

[Repubocrat]

UPDATE: I left Indianola this morning and decided to take Highway 61 S to Vicksburg. This was one of the most fascinating drives I have done in my life, some of those towns along Highway 61 are very poor, but the simplicity, the character and the history is fascinating. I am heading back to Iowa tonight but this was one of the best road trips I have done in my life.

[Tama]

Originally Posted by mccarley

No racist activity? No lynchings? No KKK rallies? Thats strange.

There you go again. Like none of the things you mentioned ever actually existed? People are just supposed to know without personal experience. Your sarcasm stinks.

[Robert_J]

You are on the Tamale Trail - Greetings from the Tamale Trail | An SFA Documentary Project . You have already missed a LOT of good places to eat.

[FLW1938]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

UPDATE: I left Indianola this morning and decided to take Highway 61 S to Vicksburg. This was one of the most fascinating drives I have done in my life, some of those towns along Highway 61 are very poor, but the simplicity, the character and the history is fascinating. I am heading back to Iowa tonight but this was one of the best road trips I have done in my life.

It is a different world in the small towns. In the 70s & 80s I drove for Greyhound & made many trips on U S 61, U S 49W & U S 49E.
Such towns as Midnight, Rolling Fork, Alligator, Tchula, & of course Yazoo City.

I just had family here visiting from England & they spent the night in Greenwood & drove around through the delta & said they found many friendly people.

Glad you enjoyed your trip.

[poptones]

Wow you were RIGHT HERE in Winona! Too bad we couldn't meet and greet somewhere here in town. You're on your way back now, ah well...

[SoBelle]

I recently moved to coastal Mississippi and I never want to leave. I'm a Southern Belle, born and bred in Tennessee, so I'm "used to" the hospitality, friendliness, nice neighbors, helpfulness and such, but NEVER have I been so royally welcomed, treated so well, received so many offers of help, been smiled at, been answered "Yes, ma'am", etc. as I have here in Gautier and Ocean Springs. My husband and I love it here. When we've mentioned that we are new here, the automatic response has been "Well, welcome to Mississippi!" We moved here for my husband's new position as COO for a non-profit that is helping rebuild homes for Katrina victims, so this is not just a "job opportunity" it is an opportunity to help our fellow man/woman/child...we are so glad we were called here. We hope to help these people, our fellow Mississippians, in some way, big or small. We certainly love them in a very short time and we NEVER want to leave. We love ALL these good people regardless of their walk of life or color of their skin. (And I do NOT like sarcastic, racist remarks like those posted by mccarley above...people like you are who keep the wounds open and separation of people a perpetual problem; the whole world does not feel as you do.)

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by SoBelle

(And I do NOT like sarcastic, racist remarks like those posted by mccarley above...people like you are who keep the wounds open and separation of people a perpetual problem; the whole world does not feel as you do.)

If it came across as sarcastic,racist then I apoligize. I lived in Ocean Springs for 3 years and I agree with your comments concerning the area.
If you travel around in the USA, tell everyone you are from Mississippi and take note of the response. You will find that a lot of people expect to find all of what I said in my first post. If you search this forum, you will find people who are scared to come to Mississippi because of stuff they see in the movies and news media.